Gwyneth Paltrow: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

2. Pepper Potts - Iron Man

Robert Downey, Jr. was the obvious "that's so ballsy it might just work" casting for the debut of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which often distracts from the smarts of having Paltrow play Pepper Potts, the movie's obligatory love interest. Far from just another Lois Lane, Potts feels like she has some actual substance - she ends up in peril come the final act, but there's enough to come across as a plucky foil for Tony Stark, rather than just eye-candy. The relationship between Potts and Stark is one of the more subtle elements of the early MCU. There's no grandiose shows of love or angsty detours; instead the pair keep it seriously casual., which is a refreshing change. Paltrow has reprised the role in the subsequent films in the series, although is conspicuously absent from Avengers: Age Of Ultron's hefty cast-list, suggesting she may not be long for the universe.