Gwyneth Paltrow Said Robert Downey Jr Would ‘Complain’ About Getting Up Early For Her Award, But He Made The Loveliest Comment

Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts and Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark in Spider-Man: Homecoming
(Image credit: Marvel)

Gwyneth Paltrow may have been mostly retired from acting for the last few years, but she’s clearly made some good friends in her time in Hollywood. Paltrow recently received the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award at the THR Women in Entertainment 2025 gala, and her friend and co-star Robert Downey Jr. was on hand to sing her praises and also roast her a bit. Not bad for a guy who apparently would rather have been in bed.

The award presentation was apparently very early, leading ET to remark to Paltrow that she had gotten Downey out of bed to present the award. Paltrow expected to get an earful on that, but then she praised her co-star’s talent and admitted how happy she was that he was there. Paltrow said…

I’m sure he’ll complain about it, by the way. It feels amazing. He’s truly like a brother to me. He knows me so well. We’re like family. I adore him, and he’s such an inspiring artist. I can’t believe he’s coming all the way from Malibu.

For the record, Robert Downey Jr. didn’t complain about having to wake up during his introduction of Gwyneth Paltrow. What he did do was poke a bit of fun at her, amidst a flood of praise. Specifically he teased her over the fact that, despite the fact that Paltrow was a constant part of the first three phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, she seemingly never had a clue what was going on with it. Paltrow had a tendency to forget which movies she was in and even forget one of her other co-stars. Downey joked about a conversation he had with Paltrow, saying…

‘He said his name was Peter.’ ‘No, his character’s name is Peter. He’s Tom Holland. You’ve done four movies with him.’

Despite the jokes from both sides, what was clear from both of their comments was how much these two actors clearly adore each other. Downey praised Paltrow's ability to juggle both Hollywood and her wellness empire while also being a mother. One needs only look at a picture of the two of them together to see how much they enjoy being together.

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 03: Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow attend The Hollywood Reporter Women In Entertainment Presented By Lifetime at The Beverly Hills Hotel on December 03, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California

(Image credit: Getty Images - (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images))

Downey himself posted a picture of the pair from the event, with a caption of his own celebrating his MCU co-star in the sweetest way, saying simply…

Pepper & Tony 4Ever

While Downey is set to return to the MCU next year, though not (as far as we’re aware) as Tony Stark, there’s no confirmation that Gwyneth Paltrow will be reprising her role as Pepper Potts, or perhaps as a multiverse variant of her. Although considering how little Paltrow seems to know about the franchise, maybe she’s in it but isn’t aware.

Dirk Libbey
Content Producer/Theme Park Beat

CinemaBlend’s resident theme park junkie and amateur Disney historian, Dirk began writing for CinemaBlend as a freelancer in 2015 before joining the site full-time in 2018. He has previously held positions as a Staff Writer and Games Editor, but has more recently transformed his true passion into his job as the head of the site's Theme Park section. He has previously done freelance work for various gaming and technology sites. Prior to starting his second career as a writer he worked for 12 years in sales for various companies within the consumer electronics industry. He has a degree in political science from the University of California, Davis.  Is an armchair Imagineer, Epcot Stan, Future Club 33 Member.

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