Quentin Tarantino`s muse: 5 roles that made Uma Thurman a Hollywood icon

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She could have not played Mia Wallace. But she agreed — and changed everything.

It seemed like just yesterday she burst onto the scene with a daring smile and eyes full of secrets. She is now 55, yet she remains the same enigmatic muse of Tarantino, whom we want to watch over and over again.

But what lies behind the iconic images of the Hollywood actress—and why do they still captivate us?
Actress Uma Thurman close-up
Uma Thurman
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"Pulp Fiction": The role that almost went to someone else

Can you imagine that initially didn't want to star in "Pulp Fiction"? Quentin Tarantino spent an entire day trying to persuade the young actress.

He wasn't yet that revered director-demigod he later became. Now no one can believe I hesitated at all. I can't either, looking back., Thurman admitted.
Uma Thurman in a white shirt drinks a milkshake in a café in a scene from the movie 'Pulp Fiction'
Uma Thurman in 'Pulp Fiction'
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To Uma's surprise, the role of crime boss's wife Mia Wallace took her career to a new level—and brought her first (and so far, only) Oscar nomination (1995). The film instantly became popular and remains at the top even decades later—its IMDb rating of 8.9 speaks for itself.

"Kill Bill": How Uma almost died on set

Yellow suit, katana, and a hit list. After these two films, Tarantino's Thurman was cemented as a cinema icon. But not everything in the story was so smooth.

Earlier, editors at zoomboola.com reported that Thurman almost died on set. The director insisted that Uma perform the car stunts herself, but the actress lost control. As a result of the accident, she sustained serious neck and leg injuries.
Uma Thurman in a yellow sweater with black stripes holds a katana in front of her face in 'Kill Bill'
Uma Thurman in 'Kill Bill'
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The on-set incident nearly ruined the actress's relationship with the director — after the final take, they didn't speak for a long time. But time healed all wounds, and now the conflicts are in the past. The films themselves are timeless: on Rotten Tomatoes, the first part of "Kill Bill" holds a solid 85%, the second — 84%.

"Gattaca": Love by script and for real

For the actress renowned for her sharp-edged roles, "Gattaca" (1997) was an unexpected yet precise fit. Here, Thurman is restrained, almost ethereal, but it is her character who voices the film's main conflict: who do you want to be versus who does society define you as?

The film has long become a classic of science fiction, and Uma's contribution to its atmosphere is difficult to overestimate. Moreover, "Gattaca" gave the actress a romance that blossomed into a family.
Uma Thurman fearfully clung to Ethan Hawke in 'Gattaca'
Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke in 'Gattaca'
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During filming, feelings sparked between Thurman and the lead actor Ethan Hawke. They soon married and became parents to two children — Maya and Levon. Although their marriage ended in 2005, "Gattaca" remains forever a connecting link in their shared past — both in their careers and in their lives.

"Batman & Robin": A cult failure (that everyone loves anyway!)

Critics slammed Joel Schumacher's 'Batman & Robin' (1997), and audiences didn't particularly disagree. But here's the strange thing: Thurman's portrayal of Poison Ivy turned out to be... too good for this movie.

Uma herself (and we at zoomboola.com) really like her character in this film. Oh my God, it was amazing! I had a whole bunch of costumes! I didn't wear masks, but they stuck some rubber pieces on my face, recalls the star.
Collage: Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy from the movie 'Batman & Robin' in full height and close-up
Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy
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And yes, this villainess's costume still pops up at Halloween parties. Well, sometimes failures become part of the legend.

"Nymphomaniac": How to surprise everyone again

In 'Nymphomaniac' (2013) by Lars von Trier, the actress appears in just one episode — but it's enough to overshadow half of the cast. Her Mrs. N. is not just an abandoned wife, but an explosion of emotions, pain, and irony that is impossible to argue with. This scene was shot with 15 takes — and each time Uma gave her all, demonstrating the full range of her acting skills.
Exclusive clip from Nymphomaniac Director's Cut - Mrs. H
By the way, Thurman arrived on set just a few weeks after the birth of her third child, so she felt slightly insecure. Gaining 13 kg is not something anyone would enjoy, Uma noted. Nevertheless, her work made a powerful impression on the audience, and critics remarked that the scene with Thurman is "Oscar-worthy." Which role of Uma Thurman do you remember the most?