"When Jon explained to me how he saw the relationship between Pepper and Tony, he kind of described it as that sort of 1940s screwball comedy. And so I didn't look to one specific film for inspiration, but I think growing up, watching all those films is kind of a world that I understood and sort of pulled certain things from them. "
The character of assistant Pepper Potts in the "Iron Man" comic books frequently served as the balance and moral compass for playboy and CEO industrialist Tony Stark. Thus, it's no surprise that director Jon Favreau and Marvel sought a cordial and classically beautiful, talented actress as Gwyneth Paltrow to star opposite Robert Downey Jr.
Gwyneth joins a cast which includes Downey Jr., Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard and Leslie Bibb in this weekend's blockbuster "Iron Man," which is based on the comic books created by Stan Lee. As Pepper Potts, Paltrow plays Tony Stark's assistant and witness to his spiritual transformation from a shallow billionaire to a man with a mission.
We talked to Gwyneth at the New York City press day about working with Downey Jr. and bringing Pepper Potts from paper to film.
Q: So is it true your husband [Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin] lent you "Iron Man" comic books to help prepare for this role?
GWYNETH: That is totally fabricated! I don't know where that's from. So many people have asked me this question, and I'm like, "No." I have no idea where that's from. That's very weird.
Q: Did you read any of the "Iron Man" comics in preparation, though?
GWYNETH: Not until I took the job. That's when I started reading them and familiarizing myself with the world of Iron Man and Tony Stark and Pepper Potts and everything. Basically, I asked Marvel to send me comics that they thought would best because there are a lot of books and obviously I couldn't read 40 years worth of comics. And they sent me a couple of big binders, and a lot of them were old, very old comics that they had Xeroxed. Some were just partial bits of comics they thought were important, and then some of the later ones, and I would read the whole thing. It was very interesting -- she had a lot of different hairstyles, colors, outfits. She made quite a transition over the years.
Q: Your character is reminiscent of the vintage woman we celebrate today. How did you interpret who you wanted her character to be?
GWYNETH: When Jon explained to me how he saw the relationship between Pepper and Tony, he kind of described it as that sort of 1940s screwball comedy. And so I didn't look to one specific film for inspiration, but I think growing up, watching all those films is kind of a world that I understood and sort of pulled certain things from them. I really like the texture of their relationship. I love that time too. It's such an innocent yet sexy time, so it was really fun to kind of recreate that.
Q: There's an understatement between Pepper and Tony, and Pepper obviously has a life outside Tony, which is something that's missing from a lot of romantic comedies. What do you think about their relationship as compared to other romances in other films?
GWYNETH: Well, what I think is different about it is it's complicated. They have so many dynamics. She's his assistant and so he is her boss. He's a very powerful, serious guy, so there's that dynamic. But then there's also, she's a little bit of his Jiminy Cricket in a way, and she keeps trying to pull him back to center. And there's also a bit of a mothering tenderness that she has for him where she worries about him. And there's also kind of a sexual kick to all, so that's what I loved about it because there was so much that was kind of real and fun and it wasn't just one note.
Q: The scene where Pepper gives Tony the old device that says "Proof That Tony Stark Has A Heart" is a great moment. What's the best gift you've ever been given?
GWYNETH: I think my favorite gifts have really been books. Like when people have been really touched by something or moved or inspired or changed. To get a book that someone has read and loved, I think that's a great gift. Also, it makes you understand that person more.
Q: After "Sky Captain," this is the second sci-fi fantasy that you've done. Do you have any sort of affinity for the genre?
GWYNETH: I think I have an affinity for working with people I think will be inspiring and that could be any genre. It could be a horror film but [if] it was Martin Scorscese, I would do anything. Maybe porn I would skip, but other than that, I'm open to anything.
Q: Pepper keeps Tony's life together. Do you have someone like that in your life? Are you that organized in real life?
GWYNETH: I'm very, I try to be very organized. I like things to be organized. I'm a Libra, so if things go off balance, they go really off balance, so I try and maintain balance, and for me, that's knowing where everything is, what everyone's doing, having all the doctors' numbers. And you know, I think that's just women though, isn't it? We're like the brain of the house, the multi-taskers.
Q: With all the back and forth between you and Tony, were there any moments that you kind of broke because it got funny or awkward?
GWYNETH: No, we sort of stayed right in it. A lot of it was improvisation and so it was all kind of part of the thing we were creating and he is hilarious, so luckily I was able to not ruin it.
Q: Are you signed to do anymore "Iron Man" films?
GWYNETH: Well, when we signed on for this one, we signed on for 2 and 3. They like to kind of scoop you up for the whole thing all at once. And I would be totally thrilled if there was another one, basically because my work experience was such fun and the people involved were so talented. It's not your run-of-the-mill superhero movie in a way. The talent is so incredible. And everyone's so nice too! Sometimes you work with people who are talented, but they're tricky people. These guys were so nice to be around, and I just had the best time. So if it doesn't bomb, then we'll do another one!
Q: If you could have a superhero power, what would you choose and why?
GWYNETH: Well, I've been asked this question a lot as you can imagine, so I've actually really thought about this. At first I was thinking, oh it might be cool to be invisible, because if you're me, then you feel like you can't observe as much as you want to because you're being observed more. And then I thought if you're invisible, that's kind of shady, like it's kind of unethical. It's weird. It's like you're spying on people. So then I thought that wasn't so good. And then I thought it would be good to be able to start a fire because I'm always looking for matches to light candles and I can never find them because I'm so afraid my kids will find them, and then I hide them from them and myself, so I can never remember where. But then I thought, well, that's only kind of one specific power and where is that really gonna get you? So then I decided flying would be the best one.
Q: Does being a mother affect what roles you choose? Like you did "Sky Captain" and now this and I can see these two films as being the first two that your kids will see. Do you look for movies that your kids might like?
GWYNETH: Well, probably "Emma" before that because… Well, "Sky Captain" they could see. But no, I don't choose movies because of them. When I work, that's the part of my life that's for me because I give to them all day every day, and when I work, that's my time to kind of recharge as an artist and feel inspired and do something that's interesting and so that I feel nourished as a woman, as an artist, as a person, and then I can bring that back home.
Q: That's a healthy attitude. What kind of stories do you want your kids to hold on to? They say comic books stay with people for the rest of their lives.
GWYNETH: That's true! You know, it's really interesting to be a mother and to watch imaginations develop and to see kind of innately what your kids gravitate towards. My son will be an Iron Man fan, I'm sure. He's chopping everything down with swords and running around like a maniac. He's very testosterone-fueled, so I'm sure he's gonna be into comics and be into that whole world. My daughter is very imaginative and she likes to sit for hours and she creates her own worlds. She loves to be read stories and she adores everything, so I'm sure she'll be more into fairy tales and novels and kind of kind of thing.
"Iron Man" opens in theaters on May 2nd.
