Do you know what my favorite acting stories are? The ones that reveal a glimpse of what they look like in real life. Behind all the PR talk and smiles to sell a project (both completely understandable), it’s fun to see them being themselves, or at least to hear about it. Now this kind of story comes to us about Pepper Potts herself, Gwyneth Paltrow. The actress has had an illustrious career, but is perhaps best known for portraying Potts in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Being a part of Hollywood’s biggest franchise would be a memorable experience for most people…but not for Paltrow. Over the years, the actress has built a reputation for not really investing in the superhero movie genre. And you know what? We love it for that. Now, thanks to Iron Man/Doctor Doom’s Robert Downey Jr., we have an incredibly funny example of Paltrow’s nonchalant attitude toward comic books.
The actress received the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award (which recognizes “pioneers and philanthropists in entertainment and media”) on December 3 at the Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment 2025 gala breakfast. The award ceremony was Paltrow’s Iron Man co-star, Robert Downey Jr. The actor gave an emotional speech, which began by referencing his co-star’s lack of interest in the MCU, revealing a hilarious time when she didn’t remember Spider-Man actor Tom Holland and was convinced his name was “Peter”:
“Maybe…she’s a bit of a dichotomy. Incredibly intelligent, but still confused by the basics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its inhabitants. “‘Who is she?’ He said his name was Peter. [Downey Jr. replied] “No, his character’s name is Peter. It’s Tom Holland. You did four movies with him.'”
Paltrow returned to the MCU after a several-year absence in 2017 Spider-Man: Homecoming. She made an appearance in the third act of the film, where Pepper led a press conference intended to announce Peter Parker as the newest member of the Avengers. She next appeared alongside Holland in Avengers: Endgame. After the climactic battle against Thanos’ forces, Pepper pulled Peter away from a near-death Tony Stark. So “four movies” was a superlative on Downey Jr.’s part, but they were definitely together in two.
Downey Jr. then spoke about the actress’ many endeavors while working in Hollywood: “I pulled her out of her first unannounced retirement from filmmaking. In 2007, she was giving birth and building Goop between takes on the set of Iron Manafter spending the previous decade and a half gobbling up the Oscars and Globes. Always choosing directors at these critical junctures in their careers – both Anderson – Paul Thomas and Wes, Minghella, Soderbergh, Fincher, while also becoming a devoted mother and wife. »
After Downey Jr. finished his speech, Paltrow took the stage to accept her award. THE Marty Supreme The star expressed her appreciation for her longtime co-star: “Robert, I love you so much. You’re the older brother I never had and… I wasn’t sure I wanted it, but I guess… I’m so grateful to you for being the best partner on screen – for always being the most honest and brightest reflection, not just on me but on us, our families, the world.”
Oddly enough, Paltrow’s other major display of indifference towards the MCU involved Spider-Man. In 2019, the actress appeared in the first episode of the Netflix series. The chef showwhich featured Iron Man directs Jon Favreau.
While they were cooking, the manager reminded Paltrow that they had both been in Spider-Man: Homecomingto which she replied: “We weren’t in it Spiderman“. The director insisted that was the case, but Paltrow responded: “No, I was in Avengers“. Favreau later described his scene in Return hometo which she finally realized: “Oh yes! […] It was Spiderman?! Oh my God!”
The moment went viral at the time, so much so that it was brought up by Jimmy Kimmel during Paltrow’s appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2019. On this subject, she explained: “I’m just confused. There are so many of these wonderful interconnected Marvel movies. And I thought this was a Avengers movie, but it wasn’t.”
Paltrow was then asked if Tom Holland was offended by her forgetting her role in his film, to which she revealed: “I’ve never seen the movie.” She then jokingly said: “I mean, wait! Stop that! Take that back!”
Most recently, Paltrow revisited some of her most popular films for Vanity Fair. In the Iron Man section. The actress was asked if she ever imagined, when she first signed on as Pepper Potts, that she would go on to appear in seven MCU films. Paltrow had no idea this was the case, responding: “That can’t be true. I can’t have been seven. Is that true?” She was then asked if she could appear in Brave New Worldto which she asked: “What is this?”
Gwyneth Paltrow can be seen in Josh Safdie’s film Marty Supremereleased on December 25, 2025. Robert Downey Jr. will return to the MCU – this time as Dr. Doom – in Avengers: Apocalypsewhich is scheduled for release on December 18, 2026. He will then reprise the role in Avengers: Secret Warsin theaters December 17, 2027.
What did you think of Downey Jr.’s speech about Gwyneth Paltrow? What is your favorite performance of hers? Leave your thoughts in the comments!
