Pretty Woman is one of the most beloved romantic comedies of all time, a film that has charmed audiences around the world for decades. Its rags-to-riches storyline, unforgettable characters, and iconic scenes have made it a timeless classic. However, even a movie as famous as Pretty Woman has its secrets—and recently, fans have discovered a giant blooper that no one seemed to notice until now. It’s surprising that after all these years and countless re-watches, this slip-up managed to fly under the radar. But once you spot it, you can’t unsee it, and it adds another layer of fascination to a film already full of behind-the-scenes stories and little-known facts.
For starters, many fans may not realize that the famous Pretty Woman movie poster doesn’t feature Julia Roberts’ body at all. Sure, it’s her smiling face we all recognize, but the body belongs to someone else entirely. The poster designers superimposed Julia Roberts’ face onto the body of professional body double Shelley Michelle. It was Shelley’s figure that posed alongside Richard Gere, whose hair was also digitally altered to appear darker in the poster. This creative decision was made to capture a certain look for the promotional materials, and although Julia starred as Vivian Ward in the movie, her likeness on the poster was a clever mix of her face and someone else’s figure. Most fans had no idea for years, and it’s only recently that people have started to talk about this little bit of movie magic.
But the surprises don’t stop there. While Pretty Woman is remembered as a heartwarming Cinderella story, the original script was far from a fairy tale. In fact, the initial screenplay was much darker, focusing on Vivian’s struggles with drug addiction, particularly cocaine. The tone of the early drafts painted a much grimmer picture of life on the streets, and instead of a happy ending, the story concluded with Vivian being left alone and heartbroken. It was a bleak and raw portrayal of her life, far from the romantic comedy millions have come to know and love. Fortunately, when Disney acquired the script and Garry Marshall stepped in as director, they transformed the story into the uplifting romantic tale that became a worldwide sensation.
One of the movie’s most memorable moments features Vivian wearing a stunning red evening gown, complete with an elegant diamond necklace. What many people don’t realize is that the necklace was the real deal. Valued at $250,000, the necklace wasn’t just a prop—it was genuine jewelry loaned for the scene, and it came with its own security detail.
An armed guard was on set at all times, ensuring the necklace stayed safe throughout filming. During the scene where Edward snaps the jewelry box shut on Vivian’s fingers, Julia Roberts’ reaction was completely spontaneous. Richard Gere did it as a joke to make her laugh, and director Garry Marshall loved the moment so much he kept it in the movie. It ended up becoming one of the most iconic and endearing scenes in Pretty Woman.
Another fun fact is the song that plays during one of the most emotional scenes in the film. Roxette’s “It Must Have Been Love” wasn’t part of the original plan. Garry Marshall decided to include it during the editing process, and it played over the scene where Edward and Vivian part ways. The song’s bittersweet tone perfectly captured the emotions of the moment and added a deeper layer of feeling to their story. It’s hard to imagine Pretty Woman without that song, but it was a last-minute addition that helped define the film’s emotional impact.
These behind-the-scenes details reveal just how much went into making Pretty Woman the classic it is today. From body doubles in the poster to last-minute changes in music and script rewrites that turned a dark drama into a lighthearted love story, the film’s history is as fascinating as the movie itself. And now, with the discovery of a blooper that went unnoticed for years, fans have yet another reason to revisit this beloved film. So next time you watch Pretty Woman, keep an eye out for the subtle mistakes and fun facts that make it even more entertaining. If you enjoyed learning these secrets, feel free to share them with your family and friends—you never know who else might be surprised by what went on behind the scenes of one of Hollywood’s most iconic movies.
