Delphine Valloire

Gene Hackman turned down the title role in The RoyalTenenbaums — a role that had been, according to Wes Anderson, “written for him against his wishes" — several times before giving in to Anderson's pestering and agreeing to do the film. Hackman was leery of the fact that Anderson had written the part specifically with him in mind, because he said he felt Anderson must then want something specific from his performance, which he saw as limiting — i.e. that he wouldn't be free to create his own interpretation of Royal. He also admitted that Royal's relationship with his children in the film made him look back at when his own three children were young, and question whether he himself had been insensitive and made poor decisions as a father. According to Hackman, he discussed the matter with his kids and his agent, and finally decided to accept the role. As it turned out, it would be an iconic role for him, and landed him the Golden Globe award as Best Actor.