You know that feeling when you flip through cable channels and there she is? That 1,000-watt smile, the wild red curls, and those over-the-knee boots. It’s hard to imagine anyone else as Vivian Ward. But honestly, the story of who stars in Pretty Woman is way more chaotic than the polished Disney-fied version we see on screen today.
Back in 1990, the movie wasn't supposed to be a fairytale. It was a dark, gritty drama called 3000—named after the price Vivian was paid for the week. In that version, Vivian was a drug addict, and the movie ended with Edward throwing her out of a car and driving away. Yeah, not exactly "happily ever after." Because the tone was so different, the casting process was a total mess.
The Leading Duo: Julia Roberts and Richard Gere
The movie basically lives and breathes on the chemistry between Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. It's legendary. But here's the thing: neither of them was the first choice. Not even close.
Julia Roberts as Vivian Ward
Julia was only 22 when this movie came out. She’d done Mystic Pizza and Steel Magnolias, so she had some buzz, but Disney (who owned Touchstone Pictures) wasn't sold on her. They wanted a "big name."
Molly Ringwald was offered the role. She turned it down because she thought the story was "icky." Looking back, she’s been super gracious about it, saying Julia was the only one who could have made that movie work. Other actresses like Michelle Pfeiffer, Karen Allen, and even Winona Ryder were in the mix. Pfeiffer reportedly didn't like the "tone" of the script, which makes sense if she was reading the darker, original version.
👉 See also: Album Hopes and Fears: Why We Obsess Over Music That Doesn't Exist Yet
Richard Gere as Edward Lewis
Richard Gere was already a massive star, but he almost didn't do it. He turned the role down multiple times. He felt the character of Edward was "just a suit"—there was no soul to him.
Director Garry Marshall had to get creative. He flew Julia Roberts to New York to meet Gere. While Marshall was on the phone in another room, Julia slipped a Post-it note across the desk to Richard. It simply said: “Please say yes.” He said yes.
Before Gere signed on, the list of potential Edwards was wild. Al Pacino actually did a screen test with Julia before deciding it wasn't for him. Imagine that movie. Sylvester Stallone, Denzel Washington, and Daniel Day-Lewis were all considered at various points. It’s kinda hard to picture Denzel as a corporate raider in 1990, but hey, it was a different time.
The Supporting Players Who Stole the Show
While the leads get the glory, the supporting cast is what makes the world feel real. Honestly, without Hector Elizondo, the movie loses its heart.
✨ Don't miss: The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads: Why This Live Album Still Beats the Studio Records
Hector Elizondo (Barney Thompson)
Elizondo plays the manager of the Beverly Wilshire, and he is the ultimate MVP. He’s the one who teaches Vivian how to use a shrimp fork and treats her with dignity when nobody else will. Fun fact: Hector Elizondo was in every single movie Garry Marshall ever directed. They were best friends, and Marshall considered him his "lucky charm."
Laura San Giacomo (Kit De Luca)
Kit is the roommate we all need. Laura San Giacomo brought so much fire to this role. She was the one who kept the "street" energy in the movie even after it shifted into a rom-com. She actually had a lot of the darker character traits that were originally meant for Vivian, like the drug use, which helped keep the film from becoming too "bubblegum."
Jason Alexander (Philip Stuckey)
Before he was George Costanza on Seinfeld, Jason Alexander played the absolute worst person in Beverly Hills. He plays Edward’s lawyer, Stuckey. He’s sleazy, aggressive, and serves as the primary antagonist. He’s so good at being bad that you almost forget he’s a comedic genius.
The Uncredited and the Newcomers
If you look closely, you’ll see some familiar faces in tiny roles.
🔗 Read more: Wrong Address: Why This Nigerian Drama Is Still Sparking Conversations
- Hank Azaria: This was his film debut. He plays a detective. You might know him better as the voice of Moe Szyslak or Chief Wiggum on The Simpsons.
- Ralph Bellamy: He plays James Morse, the old-school businessman Edward is trying to bankrupt. This was actually Bellamy’s final film role before he passed away.
- Larry Miller: He plays the sycophantic clothing store manager who tells Vivian, "I like him so much!" when Edward shows his credit card. He’s a Garry Marshall regular too.
Why the Casting Still Matters Today
The reason we still talk about who stars in Pretty Woman is because the movie shouldn't have worked. On paper, a story about a corporate raider and a sex worker is a hard sell for a romantic comedy.
The "magic" came from the actors. Gere played Edward with a certain "lonely billionaire" vulnerability that made you forgive his ruthlessness. Roberts played Vivian with such infectious joy that you forgot the "darker" implications of her job.
There was an 18-year age gap between them (Gere was 40, Roberts was 22), which raised some eyebrows even back then. But their chemistry was so "lightning in a bottle" that they reunited nearly a decade later for Runaway Bride.
Actionable Takeaways for Movie Buffs
If you're a fan of the cast, here is how you can dive deeper into their work:
- Watch the "reunion" movie: If you love the Gere/Roberts dynamic, Runaway Bride (1999) is essential viewing. It’s not a sequel, but it uses the same director and leads.
- Look for the Garry Marshall cameos: The director himself has a tiny uncredited cameo as a man scavenger-hunting in the trash behind the hotel.
- Check out the original source: Research J.F. Lawton's original script 3000. Reading about the deleted scenes gives you a whole new perspective on how much the actors had to change their performances to make the movie "sweet."
- Follow the "Waiter" connection: The waiter who catches the "slippery little suckers" (escargot) is played by Allan Kent. He plays a nearly identical role in The Princess Diaries (another Garry Marshall film), where he tells Anne Hathaway, "It happens all the time."
Pretty Woman remains a staple of the genre because it found the exact right people at the exact right moment. Whether it was a Post-it note or a lucky charm actor, the stars aligned to create a classic.
To see how Julia Roberts transitioned from this breakout to an Oscar winner, look into her performance in Erin Brockovich, which showed the same "scrappy underdog" energy she first displayed in the halls of the Beverly Wilshire.