Oh, to stay in a world the place an unique rom-com like Pretty Woman (1990) is the fourth-highest home field workplace success of its yr. Occasions might have modified in that respect, however the modern-day Cinderella story is an ideal snapshot (for higher and for worse) of social and sexual dynamics within the early-'90s.

However let's face it, Fairly Lady's best achievement is serving because the launching pad for Julia Roberts to change into the defining film star of a technology. Together with her megawatt smile, plucky angle, and hints of vulnerability, it was inconceivable to not fall for her as Vivian Ward, a intercourse employee employed by Edward Lewis (Richard Gere), a slick company raider, to accompany him to numerous social occasions. Over the course of per week, the pair develop emotions for one another (naturally), with Roberts and Gere having the type of scorching chemistry generally lacking from immediately's rom-coms.

As we speak, on its thirty fifth anniversary, learn on to see what the forged of Fairly Lady has been as much as for the reason that film premiered on March 23, 1990.

01 of 09

Julia Roberts (Vivian Ward)

Julia Roberts flashes her $20 million smile as Vivian, the working girl with a coronary heart of gold who goes from road to stylish.

The actress was born in Smyrna, Ga., to a pair of performers who ran the one built-in theater faculty within the Atlanta space. In consequence, her dad and mom turned associates with Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Actually, the star revealed in 2022 that the Kings helped pay the hospital invoice for her beginning. She ultimately caught the performing bug and had her first massive break within the romantic dramedy Mystic Pizza (1988). The traditional tearjerker Metal Magnolias (1989) quickly adopted, alongside along with her first Academy Award nomination.

Roberts instructed EW in 1991 that she almost lost out on Pretty Woman when Disney took over the movie. "They had been going to have Garry Marshall direct it. And at that time I not had something to do with it," she mentioned. "Garry mentioned to me that half the folks at Disney had been involved that you simply couldn’t costume me up — that I may have on denims and look type of soiled or no matter however you couldn't costume me up — and the opposite half had been saying the other."

After proving them incorrect, Fairly Lady made Roberts a worldwide celebrity and earned her a second Oscar nomination. Following field workplace successes with Hook (1991), Sleeping With the Enemy (1991), and The Pelican Transient (1993), she starred in a string of rom-com hits like My Greatest Buddy's Marriage ceremony (1997), Notting Hill (1999),and — her reunion with Gere and Marshall — Runaway Bride (1999). The actress was quickly dubbed America's Sweetheart and has since earned the title of PEOPLE's World's Most Lovely Lady a file 5 occasions. She labored once more with Marshall on Valentine's Day (2010) and Mom's Day (2016).

Roberts added Oscar winner to her listing of achievements with the drama Erin Brockovich (2000) and was nominated once more for August: Osage County (2013). Along with her 4 Academy Award nods, Roberts has acquired three Golden Globes and been nominated for 2 Emmys. She returned to rom-coms alongside George Clooney in Ticket to Paradise (2022), starred within the apocalyptic Netflix thriller Go away the World Behind (2023), and can star in Luca Guadagnino's upcoming movie After the Hunt.

Roberts has been in a number of high-profile relationships with actors like Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Patric, and Benjamin Bratt. She was married to nation singer Lyle Lovett from 1993 to 1995 and later wed cinematographer Daniel Moder in 2002. The couple has three youngsters collectively.

Julia Roberts thinks Dorit's Pretty Woman-inspired anniversary gift on RHOBH was 'very strange' 02 of 09

Richard Gere (Edward Lewis)

Richard Gere performs Edward, the chilly, dashing businessman who reluctantly falls for charismatic Vivian.

"I'd by no means completed something so brazenly charming," Gere instructed EW in 2012 about starring in Fairly Lady. "Julia had already been forged. She got here to see me in New York and I nonetheless hadn't determined [to do the film]. You couldn't meet this woman and never fall in love along with her. We received Garry on the cellphone. She was sitting throughout from my desk and he or she begins writing on a chunk of paper. She shoves it towards me and it says, 'Please do that film.' It was like, 'How will you say no?'"

Earlier than Fairly Lady, Gere was greatest recognized for the crime drama On the lookout for Mr. Goodbar (1977), his personal flip as a intercourse employee in American Gigolo (1980), and the hit romance An Officer and a Gentleman (1982).

Following Fairly Lady's field workplace success, the actor had a profession resurgence all through the ‘90s, culminating with the title of PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive in 1999. Along with his reunion with Roberts in Runaway Bride (1999), he starred within the thrillers Closing Evaluation (1992), Primal Worry (1996), and Untrue (2002). Gere leaped to musicals with Chicago (2002) and danced away with a Golden Globe and SAG Award for his pitch-perfect efficiency as slick protection legal professional Billy Flynn. In 2023, the actor had a "full circle" second when he costarred as the daddy of Julia's niece Emma Roberts within the rom-com Maybe I Do. He took on a uncommon TV function in 2024 on the Paramount+ With Showtime collection The Company.

Gere, a practising Buddhist, has publicly supported a number of philanthropic causes all through his profession together with HIV/AIDS consciousness and human rights organizations just like the Worldwide Marketing campaign for Tibet. He was married to supermodel Cindy Crawford from 1991 to 1995, and Legislation & Order star Carey Lowell from 2002 to 2016. He and his third spouse, activist Alejandra Silva, have been married since 2018. The star has one son with Lowell and two with Silva.

Julia Roberts says Richard Gere's Pretty Woman character is dead now 03 of 09

Jason Alexander (Philip Stuckey)

Jason Alexander tries to drive a wedge between Edward and Vivian as sleazy lawyer Philip Stuckey.

The actor instructed PEOPLE in 2020 that "it appeared like Julia had somewhat crush on Richard, which is sensible. I had somewhat crush on Richard. Richard's very arduous to not have somewhat crush on."

Alexander had a prolific theater profession earlier than being forged in Fairly Lady. He made his Broadway debut in Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Alongside in 1981, starred within the musical The Rink in 1984, and received a Tony award in 1989 for Jerome Robbins' Broadway. He reached one other profession milestone that yr when he landed the function of George Costanza on the long-lasting sitcom Seinfeld.

Between 1992 and 1998, Alexander earned eight consecutive Emmy nominations, seven for Seinfeld and one for a visitor look on the HBO collection Dream On. Regardless of these achievements, he has by no means taken residence the prize. The actor returned to romantic comedies as one other antagonist straight out of the jerk retailer, this time within the Jack Black/Gwyneth Paltrow film Shallow Hal (2001).

Alexander additionally introduced his musical abilities to the Disney animated movie The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) and the TV film Cinderella (1997). He made his directorial debut on Broadway in 2023 with the screwball comedy The Cottage, which earned an A from EW's critic.

Alexander and his spouse, Daena Title, have been married since 1982 and have two youngsters, Gabriel and Noah.

04 of 09

Laura San Giacomo (Package De Luca)

Laura San Giacomo performs Vivian's streetwise roommate and fellow intercourse employee, Package De Luca.

Wanting again on the long-lasting film, San Giacomo instructed PEOPLE in 2020, "I keep in mind filming on Hollywood Boulevard in our fuzzy slippers many of the night time, as a result of the high-heel footwear, you may't put on these for too many hours."

The New Jerseyan first labored with Garry Marshall in a Los Angeles manufacturing of the play Flawed Flip at Lungfish earlier than touchdown her breakout function in Steven Soderbergh's Intercourse, Lies, and Videotape (1989). The sleeper hit received the Palme d'Or on the Cannes Movie Pageant, earned her a Golden Globe nomination, and received her an Impartial Spirit award for Greatest Supporting Feminine.

After Fairly Lady, she starred within the motion pictures Quigley Down Beneath (1990), Beneath Suspicion (1991), and the miniseries The Stand primarily based on the postapocalyptic Stephen King novel. San Giacomo returned to TV as photographer Maya Gallo for seven seasons on the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me, which earned her one other Golden Globe nomination. She then joined Holly Hunter for the TNT fantasy crime drama Saving Grace and made a number of recurring visitor appearances on reveals like NCIS, Animal Kingdom, Barry, and The Santa Clauses.

San Giacomo had one son along with her first husband, actor Cameron Dye, whom she was married to from 1990 to 1998. She later wed actor Matt Adler in 2000.

05 of 09

Héctor Elizondo (Barnard "Barney" Thompson)

Héctor Elizondo performs Barney, the compassionate supervisor of the Regent Beverly Wilshire Resort who additionally serves as Vivian's fairy godfather. Regardless of solely having round 10 minutes of display time, the function nabbed him a Golden Globe nomination.

Elizondo started his profession within the early-'60s and shortly starred in The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974). The actor later appeared in American Gigolo (1980) with Richard Gere and within the Garry Marshall comedy Younger Medical doctors in Love (1982). Actually, following this primary collaboration, Marshall forged Elizondo in each one in every of his movies.

Talking with PEOPLE for Fairly Lady's thirtieth anniversary, the actor mirrored on the scandalous premise. "I mentioned, 'Garry, this can be a Disney film? That is very darkish.' And he says, 'Don't fear, Hector; we'll make it good. We'll make it enjoyable.' And I mentioned, 'Good luck with that, pal.'"

After Fairly Lady, Elizondo reunited with Gere and Roberts in Runaway Bride (1999), and once more with Roberts in Valentine's Day (2010) and Mom's Day (2016). He additionally performed Joe, Queen Clarisse's (Julie Andrews) head of safety, in The Princess Diaries motion pictures. Other than his many movie roles, he received an Emmy for taking part in Dr. Phillip Watters on David E. Kelley's medical drama Chicago Hope, portrayed therapist Dr. Neven Bell on the USA detective collection Monk, and performed Ed on Last Man Standing. He reprised his Monk function in 2023 for Peacock's Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie.

Elizondo was married to Marie Rivera from 1956 to 1957, then to Marie Mandry from 1963 to 1964. He’s been together with his third spouse, actress Carolee Campbell, since 1969. His son Rodd, from his first marriage, died in 2017.

06 of 09

Ralph Bellamy (James Morse)

Ralph Bellamy performed James Morse, the proprietor of a troubled shipbuilding firm that Edward needs to accumulate.

Bellamy had an extended and illustrious Hollywood profession that started within the early-Thirties with the gangster drama The Secret Six (1931) alongside Clark Gable and Jean Harlow. Through the subsequent decade, he filmed greater than 50 motion pictures and acquired an Academy Award nomination for Greatest Supporting Actor for the screwball comedy The Terrible Reality (1937) with Cary Grant. All through his practically 60-year profession, he starred in iconic movies akin to His Woman Friday (1940), The Wolf Man (1941), Rosemary's Child (1968), and Buying and selling Locations (1983).

A fierce advocate for actors' rights, he was a founding member of the Display screen Actors Guild and four-time president of Actors' Fairness. He acquired a Tony award in 1958 for the play Dawn at Campobello and was awarded an Honorary Oscar in 1987 for his contributions to the business, together with serving to to ascertain the primary pension fund for actors. He made his ultimate onscreen look in Fairly Lady.

Bellamy was married 4 occasions and had two youngsters. He and his fourth spouse, Alice Murphy married in 1949. He died in 1991 at age 87 attributable to a lung ailment.

07 of 09

Amy Yasbeck (Elizabeth Stuckey)

Amy Yasbeck performs Philip's bitter spouse, Elizabeth, whose bottom Vivian claims, "you possibly can freeze ice on…"

Earlier than Fairly Lady, Yasbeck had predominantly labored in tv. She portrayed Olivia Reed on the cleaning soap Days of Our Lives from 1986 to 1987, and visitor starred on reveals like Dallas and Magnum, P.I. She performed the lead function within the TV film Splash, Too (1988), a sequel to the 1984 hit mermaid comedy starring Daryl Hannah and Tom Hanks.

"I used to be so shocked to be on this film and dealing with the beloved Garry Marshall, and to be hanging out with all of these folks," Yasbeck told Australia's The Morning Show in 2020 about her time on Fairly Lady. "He allow us to improvise, and I used to be simply on cloud 9…I initially went in there and auditioned for one of many store girls that's imply to Vivian. Then [Garry] says, 'Are you able to learn this different half as a substitute?' And I did, and it was thrilling."

She has since costarred in Drawback Youngster (1990) — the place she met her husband John Ritter — the Mel Brooks parodies Robin Hood: Males in Tights (1993) and Dracula: Useless and Loving It (1995), The Masks (1994), and Jodie Foster's Thanksgiving comedy House for the Holidays (1995). She additionally joined the NBC sitcom Wings for its ultimate three seasons.

In 2003, Ritter died all of the sudden from an undiagnosed congenital coronary heart defect. Following his loss of life, Yasbeck based the John Ritter Basis for Aortic Well being and has devoted most of her time to the trigger and their son, Noah, writing a ebook in 2010 referred to as With Love and Laughter, John Ritter. In the meantime, Yasbeck has made a couple of visitor appearances over time on reveals like That's So Raven and Pretty Little Liars.

08 of 09

Alex Hyde-White (David Morse)

David Morse, the grandson of businessman John Morse, is performed by Alex Hyde-White.

Hyde-White made his display debut on the unique Battlestar Galactica collection in 1978. He later starred within the miniseries The First Olympics: Athens 1896 (1984) and had supporting movie roles all through the '80s, together with enjoying younger Henry Jones Sr. in Indiana Jones and the Final Campaign (1989).

Following Fairly Lady,Hyde-White was forged because the elastic hero Mr. Improbable, a.ok.a. Dr. Reed Richards, within the infamously unreleased Improbable 4 film (1994). Regardless of it by no means seeing the sunshine of day, he did ultimately be part of the MCU as a visitor star in season 3 of Brokers of S.H.I.E.L.D. in 2015. Hyde-White additionally appeared within the Jordan Peele horror hit Nope (2022) and the Netflix true crime restricted collection Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. The actor has labored behind the digital camera as nicely, directing the award-winning documentary Three Days (of Hamlet) (2012).

Hyde-White was married to Mary Poppins actress Karen Dotrice from 1986 to 1992. He and his second spouse, Shelly Bovert, have been married since 1997. He has two sons, Garrick and Jackson.

09 of 09

Dey Younger (Snobby Saleswoman)

Dey Younger performs the small however memorable function of the snobby saleswoman who makes the "Large! Large!" mistake of refusing service to Vivian throughout her buying spree.

She first graced the massive display as Ramones superfan Kate Rambeau within the musical comedy Rock 'n' Roll Excessive College (1979), then went on to look within the dystopian Arnold Schwarzenegger motion flick The Operating Man (1987) and the Wes Craven horror film The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988) earlier than shedding out on that hefty fee.

"I used to be solely on the set for someday, however Garry turned a good friend," Younger instructed PEOPLE in 2020. "I do know he was actually taken with Julia and noticed how magnetic she was. It appeared like a really joyful set, and I feel she and Garry had been accountable for that."

After her run-in on Rodeo Drive, she reunited with Marshall for the drama Frankie and Johnny (1991) starring Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer. Along with her recurring function on Melrose Place as antagonistic neurosurgeon Dr. Irene Shulman, Younger has visitor starred on Bones, This Is Us,and made a short look within the Marvel superhero threequel Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023). Past performing, Younger can also be a sculptor and has exhibited her work at galleries throughout the nation, together with the Los Angeles County Museum.

Younger was married to producer David Ladd from 1982 to 2012. They’ve one daughter, Shane. She married Hugo van Seenus in 2021.

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