Director: Paltrow sought 'Iron Man' role

NEW YORK, April 30 (UPI) -- Hollywood film director Jon Favreau said he didn't immediately think of Gwyneth Paltrow for a role in "Iron Man," but was thrilled to hear she wanted a part.

"I didn't even think of her, but she wanted to do this movie. She sort of reached out through her representation. That happened overnight because I knew her. She's classy and smart," Favreau told UPI in New York this week.

In the film, Paltrow plays Pepper Potts, assistant to Tony Stark aka Iron Man, who is portrayed by actor Robert Downey Jr.

"That was the one role where we had to really deviate from what was in the books because she couldn't just be the fawning secretary who loves her boss," Favreau noted.

"We needed someone who was keeping his life together, who he depended on. ... (Paltrow) was a person who could go toe-to-toe with Robert, was comfortable improvising, and who really balanced his energy out well. I think she really appreciated doing a movie like this where she could be with her family, not be on the set every day, and as Robert said to her, 'Wouldn't you like to work on a movie that more than five people see?'"