Gwyneth Paltrow Says Robert Downey Jr. 'Could Probably Always Get Me Back' into Acting

Paltrow previously told PEOPLE of her 'Iron Man' costar, "I feel like I was able to find an incredible, lifelong, inspirational partner and friend"

Gwyneth Paltrow could be persuaded to return to the big screen.

The Goop founder revealed to Entertainment Tonight on Monday at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards in New York City that while she has been fully immersing herself with her work at her lifestyle company, she may consider returning to acting — especially if the right person asked.

"Well, it would be very hard for me to do any acting right at the moment, just because of my job," said Paltrow, 51. "But I guess Robert Downey Jr. could probably always get me back."

Of her Iron Man costar's influence on whether she would be open to acting again, she added with a laugh, "You know, to some degree.”

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Related: Gwyneth Paltrow Jokes About Why She Hasn't Rejoined the MCU After 'Avengers: Endgame': 'Iron Man Died!'

The Emma actress has “forged” a close friendship with Downey, 58, over the years after the pair starred in multiple Marvel films as Pepper Potts and Tony Stark/Iron Man, respectively.

In 2021, Paltrow told People in 10 that after working together in numerous movies together, "I feel like I was able to find an incredible, lifelong, inspirational partner and friend.”

In turn, Downey also joked during a 2016 interview on The Howard Stern Show that Paltrow was his "free pass" thanks not only to their bond, but her friendship with his wife Susan.

"My free pass is — because her and Susan are such good friends — is Paltrow," the actor said, before jokingly adding, "I gotta get her back in these movies so I can make out with her onscreen again."

However, Paltrow has almost entirely stepped away from acting after growing more heavily involved with Goop and taking on the company's CEO role in 2016. She also told ET that she’s been proud of what she’s been able to accomplish at the brand over the past year.

"It's taken a lot of hard work and perseverance, but you know, I do it with so much love, and so I'm glad to see that we've been able to build year over year. It's thrilling," the Oscar winner said.

Last month, Paltrow admitted during a Q&A at the launch event for good.clean.goop. that having now-19-year-old daughter Apple (whom she shares with ex-husband Chris Martin, alongside son Moses, 17) was what made her slowly pivot away from acting into entrepreneurship.

"I think especially women have very different chapters in their lives, and I think we should feel free to lean into whatever incarnation comes with the next chapter," the actress said. "For me, it was a couple of things. Once I had Apple, I really didn't want to fly off and go [on] location, and I wanted to be home."

Related: All About Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin's 2 Kids

"And I was really lucky that I was able to do that and take this pause and be home and have my little kids," she continued. "And then I had this voice inside me: 'I don't know if I really want to go back to doing that.' "

Paltrow also said on Sunday TODAY during an interview last year that she had fully immersed herself into her role at Goop and didn't “miss” her acting career "at all."

"I think I'm so lucky that I got to do it, and I'm sure I still will at some point," she said of acting during the interview.

Paltrow added, "The team is always trying to get me to do a movie, but I really love what I do and I love how immediate it is and how … we're able to create product out of thin air that we believe in so much."

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