Robin WrightandAndre the Giantshared a special bond during their days on set ofThe Princess Bride.
The actress, 57, reflected on her relationship with the late wrestler, who died just six years after the film came out in 1987, during anappearanceonThe Tonight ShowStarringJimmy Fallonon Wednesday.
“He was such a gentle giant,” Wright said of her costar, who played rhyme-obsessed Fezzik and helped Westley (Cary Elwes) rescue her character, Buttercup.
“We were so cold shooting outside, England — raining constantly. I was freezing and I was shivering and he just came over to me and palmed my head like a basketball,” she recalled of the funny moment on set. “And it was so hot because he was always sweating, he was hot all the time because he’s such a big man.”
“It was like having a sauna on my head. It was fantastic, it was great,” she said with a laugh of how the 7-foot tall, 520-pound Heavyweight Champion helped warm her up. “It was very nice of him.”
The role of Andre the Giant was, quite literally, perfect for him, both due to his size and his nature as a “gentle giant,” in Wright’s words.It almost went to someone else, though, asLiam Neesonrevealed onJimmy Kimmel Live!several years ago.
“I didn’t audition, but I was living in London, and I was asked to go meet Rob Reiner, the director, and I was quite nervous, because I knew this was a big film,” Neeson recalled of the almost-role.
“I had entered the office in London, and Rob Reiner looked at me and said, ‘He’s not a giant! What height are you?’ I said six foot-four. ‘That’s tall. He’s not a giant!’ ”
He continued of the interaction, “So there was no ‘Hello, thank you.’ I thought, ‘OK, the next time I see Rob Reiner, I’m gonna tell him he was very rude.’ ”
Neeson, 71, said he’s since “forgiven” the director.
For Wright, the role inThe Princess Bridemarked her breakout film role after she’d starred as Kelly Capwellon the soap operaSanta Barbara.
It’s since come with some funny consequences, though, as her daughter,Dylan Penn, who she shares with ex-husbandSean Penn,along with son Hopper, recalled to PEOPLE a particularlyembarrassing moment when the movie played in school.
“The teacher put on a movie for the class to watch and it wasThe Princess Bride,” Dylan said. “All the boys in my class started talking about how pretty my mom was!”
Robin Wright at the Netflix’s “Damsel” photo call held at The Plaza Hotel on February 29, 2024 in New York City.John Nacion/Variety via Getty
John Nacion/Variety via Getty
Princess Elodie is but the latest in a “long line of women who have helped to build this kingdom,” Wright’s character tells her in the teaser trailer. Should she survive the cave she’s trapped in — and its inhabitant, a fire-breathing dragon — she’ll receive the ultimate prize: Prince Henry’s hand in marriage.
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Damselpremieres on Netflix March 8.
source: people.com
