Almost imagine giving up an Oscar-winning role. Gwyneth Paltrow almost gave up on Shakespeare in Love because of her complicated breakup with Brad Pitt. Heartbroken and overwhelmed, she couldn’t even read the script. “The idea of ​​going to England seemed…” she shared, proving that her heartbreak almost rewrote Hollywood history.

Yes, the same Shakespeare in Love that won her the Oscar for best actress in 1999 almost slipped through her fingers. Julia Roberts was initially attached to the film, but that version fell apart and Miramax came knocking on Paltrow’s door. “I was the first person they offered it to,” she said. Yet a broken heart almost made him give up what turned out to be the role of his life.

But back to the drama of the breakup. Paltrow and Pitt, Hollywood’s golden duo, broke off their engagement in 1997. Heartbreak is central. While Gwyneth Paltrow tried to piece itself together, Shakespeare in Love was waiting in the wings. It wasn’t until she finally opened the script that everything clicked. “I just couldn’t let go of him,” she admitted. “It was perfect.”

Even then, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. One agent rejected the role, calling it “more of a guy’s role.” (Clearly, they hadn’t seen Viola de Lesseps working her charm!) Luckily, Paltrow ignored the noise and said yes; the rest is history. His performance became the talk of Hollywood and this shiny golden statue became his.

But this is where it gets more interesting. Paltrow hasn’t exactly buried her memories of Pitt. In fact, she still sings his praises. During an interview with Howard Stern, she dropped a bombshell about how Pitt stood up to Harvey Weinstein for her. After Weinstein allegedly made a pass at him, Pitt intervened. “It was like the equivalent of throwing him against the wall, forcefully,” Paltrow revealed. “He said, ‘If you ever make her uncomfortable again, I’ll kill you.’ » » Classic protective energy of a boyfriend, right?

Fast forward to today and Paltrow can even laugh at herself Brad Pitt era. Last year, she joked on Instagram about the actor’s uncanny ability to transform into lookalikes of his girlfriends. “Or we like to look like him, let’s face it,” she teased, in response to a post titled Brad: The man who likes to look like his girlfriend.

Looking back, it’s crazy to think that heartbreak almost robbed us of one of Paltrow’s most iconic performances. From Shakespeare From the romantic heights of Love to the roller coaster of real life, Paltrow’s journey proves one thing: sometimes, lost love gives way to career gold. And in his case, literal gold.

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