According to Julia Roberts, getting Richard Gere to co-star with her in the romantic comedy film “Pretty Woman” took some convincing.

Despite the fact that the two actors are widely celebrated for their on-screen chemistry in the 1990 film, Roberts reveals that she had to “plead” with Gere to take the role of Edward, her love interest in the movie.

During an interview with Entertainment Weekly editorial director Jess Cagle, the 50-year-old actress spoke about her initial struggles to cast the role of Edward.

Roberts said that she and the late director of the film, Garry Marshall, “couldn’t find anybody we wanted” for the part at first. But soon both began focusing on Gere.

“I just said, ‘You have to do this movie … And I kind of pleaded with him in a very real way,” Roberts recalled, adding that she and Gere eventually met up in New York to discuss the project further.

“He’s a very serious actor, and he had very specific thoughts about the movie and the part and what worked and what didn’t work for him,” Roberts said.

“And I think I just nodded and smiled a lot and agreed with everything he said.”

Gere initially turned down the role, according to Marshall, who revealed in a 2015 interview.

But after the trio shared a meal together, Gere changed his mind.

“All three of us went out to dinner and had a great time,” Roberts remembered, “and he changed all of our lives forever by agreeing to do this movie.”

Despite the challenges in casting the lead male role, “Pretty Woman” became a smash hit, grossing over $463 million worldwide.

The movie has remained a beloved classic in the years since its release, with Roberts earning an Academy Award nomination for her performance as Vivian, a down-on-her-luck prostitute.

In the same interview, Roberts reflected on her experience working with Gere and Marshall on “Pretty Woman.” “It was great because we both came from the theater,” she said of her co-star.

“I think there was a mutual understanding of how to rehearse and how to run lines and how to do all that stuff that doesn’t seem like it should be that important, but sometimes it can be really important.”

Roberts and Gere would go on to star in another romantic film, “Runaway Bride,” in 1999.

The two actors have remained friends over the years, with Roberts presenting Gere with an award at the 2019 Hollywood Film Awards.

Meanwhile, Marshall, who directed both “Pretty Woman” and “Runaway Bride,” passed away in 2016 at the age of 81.

Reflecting on the late director, Roberts told Cagle, “I miss Garry a lot. He was such a good friend and mentor to me.”

Despite Marshall’s absence, the legacy of “Pretty Woman” lives on. The film has spawned a Broadway musical adaptation and remains a cultural touchstone for romantic comedies.

Roberts herself has continued to have a successful career in Hollywood, most recently starring in the Amazon Prime series “Homecoming.”