Gwyneth Paltrow confirmed on “Hot Ones” that a rumor about Bill Clinton sleeping through a screening of “Emma” at the White House is true. The 1996 Jane Austen adaptation was directed by Douglas McGrath and featured Paltrow in the title role. She earned critical acclaim for the performance, which continued her hot streak as one of the most recognizable actors of the 1990s indie film boom.
“Is it true that Bill Clinton passed out asleep during a White House screening of ‘Emma’?” host Sean Evans asked Paltrow.
“True!” Paltrow answered. “He was snoring right in front of me. I was like, ‘Wow, I guess this is going to be a real hit movie.’ But it was! So fuck you, Bill Clinton!
“Emma” was a box office success with nearly $40 million worldwide on a production budget under $8 million. The film picked up two Academy Award nominations, one for costume design and another for original score. It won the Oscar in the latter category.
Variety raved about Paltrow’s performance in its review, writing: “Paltrow shines brightly as Jane Austen’s most endearing character, the disastrously self-assured matchmaker Emma Woodhouse. A fine cast, speedy pacing and playful direction make this a solid contender for the Austen sweepstakes…It helps that Paltrow’s accent is stunningly spot-on, but beyond that, she invokes sweetly subtle feelings.”
The success of “Emma” made Paltrow a huge star for Miramax, a studio she’d find additional success with in films such as “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and “Shakespeare in Love.” Her performance as Viola de Lesseps in “Shakespeare in Love” won her the Academy Award for best actress.
Watch Paltrow’s full appearance on “Hot Ones” in the video below.
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