Richard Gere was reportedly sad after being labelled a “sex symbol” following his performances in 80s films corresponding to American Gigolo, An Officer and a Gentleman and The Cotton Club.
The Hollywood star made an look on British discuss Aspel and Company again in 1989 when discuss present host Michael Aspel referred to him as such – and Gere didn’t prefer it.
According to the veteran TV host, the actor threatened to file a lawsuit towards the present until the phrase “sex symbol” was faraway from his introduction.
“When Richard Gere came on the show, I introduced him and at the end I said, and ‘he’s done this, he’s done that,’ and I used the phrase ‘sex symbol,’” Aspel, now 90, recalled this week to the Daily Mail.
“After the interview, we had a phone call from his agent saying if I didn’t remove the sex symbol thing, they were going to take it up with their lawyer.”
Aspel stated he discovered the demand jarring however revered Gere’s needs.
“He would not be known as a sex symbol. It was very odd. But he took himself very seriously because he did a lot of stuff for the people of Tibet,” he added of Gere, who on the time was turning into a outstanding advocate for human rights in Tibet, co-founding the Tibet House in 1987.
Gere went on to cement his intercourse image tag in 1990 when he starred in Pretty Woman reverse Julia Roberts — enjoying a dashing businessman who sweeps Roberts’ character off her toes. However, he by no means actually embraced the title because the years went on, simply tolerated it.
“I have to be pleased to hear that — who wouldn’t be?” he instructed the Sunday Post in 2017.
“I don’t take it seriously, of course. I have never actually wanted to be a celebrity, let alone a sex symbol, but it goes with the acting career if you are successful.
“Films are all about image and box office. When you come into the movie business, be prepared for that. I enjoy acting and movie production, it’s what I do, so I accept what goes with it.”
Aspel additionally opened up about one other of his movie star interviews to the Daily Mail.
The host fronted Aspel & Company from 1984 to 1993 throughout which he interviewed the likes of Barbra Streisand, Jack Nicholson, Paul McCartney and Elizabeth Taylor, who he stated was “the only person I ever sent a fan letter to”.
“She was absolutely perfect, and at the end of the interview, which was very honest, funny and quite bawdy, as we were having our photographs taken, she said: ‘Is there any lipstick on my teeth?’” he recalled.
“And I thought the interview had gone very well and I could be cheeky, so I said: ‘No, but I wouldn’t mind some on mine.’ She just smiled and we went for a drink with everybody.”
Later as he was “chatting with someone else”, Taylor walked as much as him and “took my face between her hands and gave me this tremendous kiss and it was magenta all across my cheek.”
Source: www.news.com.au
