Uma Thurman had one of the wildest experiences of her career when she joined alongside veteran director Quentin Tarantino for the 1994 movie Pulp Fiction. Portraying the role of the wife of a gangster, Thurman had the golden opportunity to star alongside John Travolta.
Since it was a Quentin Tarantino movie, blood, and mature themes were bound to be a part of the contract. Before starring in the film, Uma Thurman revealed that she was very hesitant about joining the film, especially after reading a r*pe scene that she felt was just inhumane.
Uma Thurman Was Hesitant To Join Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction
Before Tarantino took on the directorial seat of Pulp Fiction, he had already created a reputation with his 1992 film Reservoir Dogs. With mature themes, blood, guts, and, gore, Tarantino established certain obligations that his films must contain for the audience.
Uma Thurman, before signing the contract for Pulp Fiction, had to understand that this was Tarantino’s style and it wasn’t going to change. In an interview with Vanity Fair, the actress revealed that she was a bit hesitant to join the film earlier on. Especially referring to the scene where her on-screen husband Marsellus Wallace gets r*ped, Thurman revealed that it was too much for her to bear.
“I wasn’t sure I wanted to be in the movie. I was 23, from Massachusetts. He [Quentin Tarantino] wasn’t this revered demigod auteur that he has grown into. And I wasn’t sure I wanted to do it, because I was worried about the Gimp stuff,”
She further continued that she had some intense discussions regarding the r*pe scene that was going to happen.
“We had very memorable, long discussions about male r*pe versus female r*pe. No one could believe I even hesitated in any way. Neither can I, in hindsight.”
Despite being such a chaotic movie, Uma Thurman revealed that she was more nervous about performing one of the most iconic scenes in Hollywood. The iconic diner scene where John Travolta and Thurman dance to You Never Can Tell was one of the most nerve-wracking scenes for Thurman to shoot opposite Travolta.
Uma Thurman Was Nervous To The Dance With John Travolta
Being a notable dancer, John Travolta had no problem doing the iconic diner dance scene where he and Thurman’s on-screen character take part in the competition. Talking about the iconic dance scene, Thurman revealed to Vanity Fair that she was quite nervous about that scene.
“Because I [Uma Thurman] was so awkward and embarrassed and shy.” John Travolta replied,“Quentin recommended the Twist. And I said, ‘Well, Little Johnny Travolta won the Twist contest when I was eight years old, so I know every version. I said, ‘I’ll teach Uma the steps, and when you want to see a different step, call it out.’”
Lucky for the world, both actors found a comfortable dance pattern for the movie, and the world was gifted the iconic scene where John Travolta and Uma Thurman dance on You Never Can Tell in Pulp Fiction. The 1994 movie is available to stream on Max in the U.S.
Source: Vanity Fair
