Gwyneth Paltrow Talks Her MCU Appearances: “I can’t have been in seven? Is that true? One time I didn’t realize I was in Spider-Man”

Gwyneth Paltrow recently reflected on her long career, including her long run as Pepper Potts in the MCU. She first stepped into the role in 2008 with “Iron Man,” a film that launched the MCU. Since then, she has appeared as Pepper in six more movies, a fact that caught her off guard during the interview. “That can’t be right. I can’t have been in seven. Is that true?” she said, genuinely shocked.

Looking back at “Iron Man,” Paltrow shared how much she enjoyed the experience. “We had so much fun on this movie. It felt like an independent movie,” she explained. She worked closely with director Jon Favreau and co-star Robert Downey Jr., spending mornings in Favreau’s trailer improvising scenes.

“Jon [Favreau], Robert [Downey Jr.] and I improvised all day every day. There was a lot of rewriting,” she recalled. This casual approach was unusual for a big action film, but it paid off. Paltrow noted that no one expected the movie to succeed. “There was no pressure on us,” she said. “Nobody thought it would turn into anything.” Yet, it became a massive hit, reshaping the studio’s future.

Paltrow’s memory of her MCU journey isn’t perfect, though. She famously forgot she was in “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” where she filmed a scene thinking it was just a cameo. “One time I didn’t realize I was in Spider-Man. I was like doing a scene with Robert and Jon Favreau so I thought it was a cameo. They’re like, ‘it’s another…’ Anyway. And it turned out I was in Spider-Man and I didn’t even realize,” she admitted.

She blamed Marvel’s secrecy for the mix-up. “They keep it all very top secret,” she said. “They think they’re the CIA over there, like it’s national secrets. That’s why I didn’t know I was in ‘Spider-Man.’ ‘Cause they never said. There were no signs that said ‘Spider-Man’. The script didn’t even say ‘Spider-Man’. It’s all a secret.”

Her confusion continued when asked about “Captain America: Brave New World.” “What is that?” she responded, puzzled. She added, “Oh, no. I don’t think so. I think I would’ve known by now. I may. We’ll see.” Pepper Potts has been a key figure in the MCU, appearing in “Iron Man 2,” “The Avengers,” “Iron Man 3,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” and “Avengers: Endgame.”

In “Iron Man 3,” she battled Aldrich Killian in the final fight, and in “Endgame,” she wore the Rescue armor Tony Stark designed for her during the huge final showdown. Still, Paltrow doesn’t seem as connected to the MCU as some of her co-stars.

Beyond Marvel, Paltrow is gearing up for a new role in “Marty Supreme,” an A24 film marking her return to non-MCU movies after a long break. She last felt fully immersed in a role with 2010’s “Country Strong.” “It’s different when you’re reprising an Avengers thing,” she said, hinting that “Marty Supreme” feels more personal.

The film, co-written by Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein, stars Timothee Chalamet and others. It’s described as a wild mix, loosely inspired by ping-pong legend Marty Reisman, blending styles like “Wolf of Wall Street” and “Catch Me If You Can.”

Reflecting on “Iron Man,” Paltrow also critiqued her look. Watching an old clip, she laughed, “It’s not a great wig, guys. Let’s face it.” Her time in the MCU might be a blur to her, but her work as Pepper Potts has left a lasting mark, even if she’s surprised by how many films she’s been in.

You can watch the whole interview here:

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