The 1998 adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations remains a touchstone of 1990s cinema, remembered as much for its lush, emerald-hued cinematography as for the palpable chemistry between its leads, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ethan Hawke. However, as the two stars recently revealed in a retrospective conversation, the film nearly featured a sequence far more provocative than the "tender moments" that eventually made the final cut. Decades after the film’s release, Paltrow and Hawke reunited to discuss the creative visions of director Alfonso Cuarón and the personal boundaries that shaped one of the era’s most stylish romantic dramas.
During a deep-dive discussion for Vanity Fair, the duo reminisced about the production of the film, which relocated Dickens’ classic tale to modern-day Florida and New York. Hawke, now 55, recalled a specific pitch from Cuarón—whom he affectionately described as a "wonderful lunatic"—regarding a pivotal love scene between their characters, Estella and Finn. According to Hawke, the director’s vision was nothing short of operatic. He mimicked Cuarón’s passionate delivery, describing a sequence where the camera would move intimately over the actors’ bodies, capturing a moment of "ecstasy" so intense that the lighting would "explode like the sun."
Paltrow, now 53, laughed as she recalled her immediate and visceral reaction to the proposal. At the time, her career was skyrocketing, but her personal life was deeply influenced by her close relationship with her father, the late director and producer Bruce Paltrow. "I was like, ‘Oh my god, my father’s going to have a heart attack!’" she remembered. Her father, who passed away in 2002, was a foundational figure in her life, and the thought of him or her grandfather witnessing such an explicit performance was a deal-breaker.
Hawke complimented Paltrow’s firm but professional stance during those early years. He noted that she wasn’t "petulant" about the refusal but simply clear about her boundaries. Looking back, Paltrow admitted she might have been "too prudish" in the moment, noting that with the perspective of age, she likely wouldn’t harbor the same reservations today. "In my early career, I was really self-conscious," she explained. "Now, I wouldn’t care."
The conversation also touched upon the enduring legacy of their onscreen romance, specifically the famous scene where Estella and Finn share a lingering kiss at a water fountain in Central Park. The location recently became a point of playful contention when Paltrow was spotted filming a kiss with Timothée Chalamet for the upcoming film Marty Supreme. Hawke joked that he felt "scorned" by the idea of her returning to their "spot" with a new co-star. Paltrow was quick to reassure him, insisting that she would never "desecrate" the location of their iconic cinematic moment and that the new scene took place elsewhere in the park.
Interestingly, the Central Park fountain wasn’t actually the first time the two actors had locked lips. Their history predates Great Expectations, stemming from a circle of friends that included Paltrow’s then-boyfriend, Robert Sean Leonard, who had starred alongside Hawke in Dead Poets Society. The pair once shared a kiss during a high-stakes game of Truth or Dare at Paltrow’s former apartment on Prince Street. While Paltrow remembers the moment as a "highlight," Hawke admitted with a grin that he had hoped for a more romantic setting than a "stupid game."
While Paltrow and Hawke’s onscreen chemistry was a success, the history of Hollywood is littered with instances where romantic scenes were anything but romantic for the actors involved. From hygiene mishaps to technical nightmares, many stars have shared tales of "onscreen smooches" that went spectacularly awry.
One of the most frequent complaints among actors involves the "culinary choices" of their co-stars. Dane Cook famously called out Kate Hudson for her behavior on the set of the 2008 comedy My Best Friend’s Girl. Cook alleged that Hudson purposefully consumed a "feast of onions" immediately before their kissing scene, a move he believed was a deliberate prank. Similarly, Liam Hemsworth faced a recurring gastronomic challenge while filming The Hunger Games with Jennifer Lawrence. Hemsworth revealed that Lawrence, one of his closest friends, would make a point of eating garlic or tuna fish without brushing her teeth before their scenes, jokingly warning him of the taste just seconds before the cameras rolled.
Hygiene issues aren’t always intentional, however. Robert Pattinson recalled a particularly unappealing experience while filming Water for Elephants with Reese Witherspoon. Dealing with a severe head cold during additional photography, Pattinson admitted his nose was running uncontrollably. In a moment far removed from the glamour of the circus-themed drama, he confessed to accidentally wiping his nose on Witherspoon’s wig during their embrace. Witherspoon later confirmed the experience was "not pleasant."
For young actors, the awkwardness often stems from a lack of experience or the presence of watchful eyes. Selena Gomez, who experienced her first-ever kiss on the set of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, recalled the technical failure of the moment. Just 12 years old at the time, she closed her eyes too early and missed half of Dylan Sprouse’s lip. Adding to the discomfort was the fact that she actually had a crush on his twin brother, Cole.
Similarly, Millie Bobby Brown’s first kiss occurred on the set of Stranger Things with Finn Wolfhard. The experience was magnified by the fact that her entire family, including her father, was standing just off-camera watching the scene unfold. She described the ordeal as "the most awkward thing in the world."
Technical difficulties have also turned romantic milestones into survival tests. Tobey Maguire’s upside-down kiss with Kirsten Dunst in 2002’s Spider-Man is considered one of the most iconic images in superhero cinema, but for Maguire, it was a near-drowning experience. Hanging upside down in the rain, he had water rushing up his nose, and when Dunst peeled back his mask to kiss him, she effectively cut off his remaining air supply.
Dunst herself has been on both sides of the "awkward kiss" spectrum. As an 11-year-old on the set of Interview with the Vampire, she had to kiss Brad Pitt, who was then in his early thirties. Because Pitt had taken on a protective, older-brother role on set, Dunst found the experience "gross" and "weird," a sentiment she firmly stood by decades later, noting that any other reaction from a child would have been concerning.
Even established relationships don’t guarantee a smooth experience. Penn Badgley and Blake Lively were a real-life couple during the early seasons of Gossip Girl, which Badgley said made their onscreen chemistry effortless. However, the show continued long after their real-life breakup, leading to what Badgley jokingly categorized as some of his "worst" onscreen kisses due to the lingering social awkwardness of working with an ex.
Sometimes, the discomfort comes from the person behind the lens. Colin Farrell found himself in a "dodgy" situation on the set of the 2012 Total Recall remake. His romantic interest was played by Kate Beckinsale, whose then-husband, Len Wiseman, was the director. Farrell noted that the experience was "moderately uncomfortable" primarily because Wiseman remained in the room to supervise every take of their intimacy.
From Miles Teller’s complaints about Shailene Woodley’s "dirt supplements" on the set of The Spectacular Now to Zac Efron’s lesson in carrying a toothbrush after a salmon-scented encounter on Summerland, the reality of movie-making often strips away the magic seen by audiences. Yet, as the candid reflections of Paltrow and Hawke suggest, these moments—whether refused, awkward, or perfectly executed—become the stories that define a career, offering a glimpse into the human boundaries that exist even in the world of make-believe.
