Richard Gere has revealed that he only starred in An Officer And A Gentleman because he needed the money.
However the role of Zack Mayo in 1982 remains one of his most famous parts and cemented him as a romantic lead, as well as winning him many female fans.
He told the Scotsman newspaper: "I didn't want to do 'An Officer and A Gentleman' but I was broke.
"50 per cent of my decision was, 'I need to make some money.' But it turned out well, and I was lucky."
Over the years Gere has become one of Hollywood's biggest names with Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride and Chicago but admits that he wouldn't encourage people to take up the profession because of the rejection that comes hand in hand with it.
"Maybe one per cent of actors actually get work. It's a job with an enormous amount of rejection right from the start, and it doesn't stop.
"Then there's the enormous focus on external factors, so if there's anything else that you can do instead of act, do that. There are healthier ways for people to live."
But Gere is back on the big screen this week with his latest movie Brooklyn's Finest, which sees him work with Training Day filmmaker Antoine Fuqua.
Brooklyn's finest is out now.
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