In a new Vanity Fair video released Dec. 17, Paltrow reunited with her Great Expectations costar Ethan Hawke to reflect on their first meeting nearly 30 years ago. The pair starred together in the 1998 film adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic novel, and during the conversation, they shared a surprising behind-the-scenes story.
According to Hawke, the film’s director, Alfonso Cuarón, once pitched a bold sex scene between their characters. The idea? A highly stylized moment in which Hawke’s character would perform oral sex on Paltrow’s, with the camera dramatically tracking the moment as she reached ecstasy.
Paltrow’s reaction was immediate — and firm.
“I was like, ‘Oh, my God, my father’s going to have a heart attack,’” she recalled, laughing now but clearly serious at the time. She said she was deeply uncomfortable with the idea of her father and grandfather seeing her in such an explicit scene, especially so early in her career.
Hawke remembered the moment clearly, joking that Paltrow’s expression said it all. “Alfonso, I’m never going to do that,” she told the director.
For Paltrow, the issue wasn’t just modesty — it was family. “I felt really self-conscious about my dad and grandfather seeing this kind of stuff,” she explained. “It really bothered me.” While she admitted that she wouldn’t feel the same way today, at the time it was a line she wasn’t willing to cross.
Hawke praised how his costar handled the situation, saying she stood her ground without being difficult. He noted that Paltrow understood how powerful images in movies can be — and how they can be interpreted or reused in ways actors can’t control.
“You weren’t being petulant,” Hawke told her. “You were aware of how the business works and what it meant to your dad.”
Paltrow briefly wondered aloud if she had been “too prudish” back then, but Hawke quickly shut that down. “I don’t think you were,” he said.
The moment offers a glimpse into the pressures young actors face, especially women navigating fame, family expectations, and creative demands. For Paltrow, saying no was about protecting herself — and the people closest to her.
In Great Expectations, Paltrow played Estella, the emotionally distant woman who captures the heart of Hawke’s character, Finn Bell. While the film leaned heavily into romance, one explicit idea never made it to the screen — and Paltrow has no regrets.
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