In a revealing moment on the “Hot Ones” YouTube series, where celebrities tackle spicy culinary challenges while answering questions, Gwyneth Paltrow confirmed longstanding whispers that former president Bill Clinton dozed off, complete with snoring, at the debut of her historical comedy, “Emma,” in 1996.
During her chat on the show, as reported by The Independent, host Sean Evans probed Paltrow about the authenticity of the anecdote involving Clinton. She affirmed, “True – he was snoring right in front of me.”
Paltrow said, “I thought, ‘Well, this must mean the film’s going to be a blockbuster.’ And it was! So, f**k you, Bill Clinton!”
Despite Clinton’s inadvertent critique, “Emma,” which is an adaptation of Jane Austen’s 1815 literary classic, turned out to be a box office hit, raking in close to $40 million globally on a modest budget of $8 million.
The film, which boasts an 84% approval rating from critics and a 76% score from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, saw Paltrow receiving acclaim for her portrayal of the charming yet overconfident matchmaker, Emma Woodhouse. Variety’s Ken Eisner praised the film, noting, “Gwyneth Paltrow shines brightly as Jane Austen’s most endearing character… A fine cast, speedy pacing and playful direction make this a solid contender for the Austen sweepstakes.”
“Emma” went on to be recognized at the Academy Awards, earning nominations for Best Costume Design and Best Original Musical or Comedy Score, winning the award for the latter.
Paltrow, also known for her role in “Avengers: Endgame,” offered insights into the superhero film genre during the interview. She observed a significant industry tilt towards superhero films, commenting, “There’s this sort of big push into superhero movies.”
She continued, “You can only create so many that truly feel fresh and original. Yet, the effort to captivate as wide an audience as possible sometimes compromises the quality, uniqueness, or distinct perspective,” reflecting on the challenges of maintaining high-quality storytelling within the genre.
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