Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr. recently shared a hilarious behind-the-scenes story involving his co-stars Gwyneth Paltrow and Timothée Chalamet. The amusing anecdote came to light during a special Q&A event for their new film, Marty Supreme, held at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles.
The Priceless On-Set Confusion
Downey Jr., who was joined by Timothée Chalamet at the event, recounted a conversation he had with Gwyneth Paltrow. According to him, the Oscar-winning actress was completely fooled by the special-effects makeup used to transform Chalamet for his role. Paltrow genuinely believed the character's acne-scarred skin and beady eyes were Chalamet's real appearance.
"Paltrow told me when she met you, she was like, 'Oh my God, I didn't know he had bad skin,'" Downey Jr. said, addressing Chalamet directly. He then revealed his own blunt response to her, joking, "And I was like, 'It's f—ing makeup, Gwyneth.'" The audience at the event erupted in laughter at the revelation.
Paltrow's Unwanted Skincare Advice
Gwyneth Paltrow later confirmed the story herself on The Run-Through with Vogue podcast. She explained in detail how convincing the prosthetic makeup was for Chalamet's character, Marty Mauser. The look included pockmarks, special contact lenses to make his eyes appear beady, and glasses.
"In Marty Supreme, Timothée has pockmarks, and they made his eyes beady with contacts and glasses. And it's all makeup. And, in real life, he has beautiful skin," Paltrow admitted. The confusion went so far that she even offered the young actor some unsolicited skincare advice.
"Oh, you know, you can do microneedling for that," Paltrow recalled telling him. Chalamet's response was a simple, "This is makeup!" Paltrow laughed about the moment, saying, "I was like, 'Oh, s—.' I didn't realize. The makeup was so good that I thought he had little acne scars."
A Testament to Transformative Artistry
This funny incident highlights the incredible skill of the makeup and prosthetic team working on Marty Supreme. The transformation was so seamless that it tricked a seasoned actress who has worked on numerous film sets. It also shows the lighthearted and genuine camaraderie among the cast during production.
The film, directed by Josh Safdie, is currently showing in theaters. It stars Timothée Chalamet as Marty Mauser, a 1950s shoe salesman with an obsessive dream of becoming the world's best table tennis player. The supporting cast includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A'zion, Kevin O'Leary, Tyler Okonma, Abel Ferrara, and Fran Drescher.
Downey Jr.'s playful story offers fans a charming glimpse into the relationships formed on set. It underscores how even in big-budget Hollywood productions, simple misunderstandings can lead to memorable and funny moments between co-stars.
