Gwyneth Paltrow Says One ‘90s Film Moment Crossed a Line for Her
- - Gwyneth Paltrow Says One ‘90s Film Moment Crossed a Line for Her
Jane LaCroixDecember 28, 2025 at 12:20 AM
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Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images
Gwyneth Paltrow is looking back on one of the more awkward “what if” moments from early in her career—and why she chose to trust her instincts.
In a recent Vanity Fairvideo published December 17, Paltrow reunited with her Great Expectations costar Ethan Hawke to reflect on their 1998 film nearly three decades later. During the conversation, Hawke reminded her of a scene pitched by director Alfonso Cuarón that never made it to the screen.
“Do you remember Alfonso pitching you the love scene?” Hawke, 55, asked, prompting Paltrow, 53, to groan before explaining that the proposed moment involved her character receiving oral sex. “I was like, ‘Oh, my God, my father’s going to have a heart attack,’ ” she recalled.
READ MORE: Gwyneth Paltrow’s True Feelings About Brad Pitt Marrying Jennifer Aniston Revealed
Hawke then described the director’s vivid vision for the scene. “The camera is going to go down your belly, and then it's going to go up your breasts, and then it's going to go in your face as you reach ecstasy. And then when you reach ecstasy, the light will explode like to the sun!” he said.
Paltrow didn’t hesitate. “‘Alfonso, I'm never going to do that,’ ” Hawke remembered her saying, as she laughed along. At the time, Paltrow said she felt “really self-conscious about [her] dad and grandfather seeing this kind of stuff.” “It really bothered me,” she added, though she noted, “Now, I wouldn’t care.”
Hawke praised how she handled the situation, telling her she understood “the ways in which those kinds of images could be manipulated and what it meant to your dad.” Paltrow later admitted, “Maybe I was too prudish in the moment,” to which Hawke replied, “I don’t think you were.” “I was definitely worried about it,” she said.
These days, Paltrow seems just as comfortable owning her preferences off-screen. On the Goop podcast, she recently joked that while she “love[s] Christmas,” her husband Brad Falchuk is “a little bit of a Grinch.” “Brad is the worst. He hates Christmas music. He hates Christmas decorations. He hates roast turkey,” she said. “He looks forward to it being over. I feel very alone in my house in my love for Christmas; although, all the kids love it, so they’re on my side.”
This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
