Richard Gere has said he regrets turning down the lead role in Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1987 film *The Last Emperor*, describing its protagonist as “a wonderful character”. The part eventually went to John Lone, whose performance as China’s last emperor, Puyi, helped the film become a major awards success and cemented its place in cinema history.

Gere had reportedly met Bertolucci but declined after reading the script, later saying he could not see how the story would work dramatically. *The Last Emperor* went on to win all nine Academy Awards for which it was nominated, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor for Lone, while its large-scale portrayal of Puyi’s life also earned acclaim for its visual ambition.