Richard Gere makes rare comment on being banned from the Oscars for 2 decades

In his heyday, Richard Gere was everywhere, cementing himself as a Hollywood heartthrob and leading star thanks to roles in American Gigolo, Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride, Unfaithful, The Hoax, and Arbitrage , among others.

However, there is one place, one of great significance of any actor, that he wasn't in — for 20 years — and that was the Oscars, which banned him in 1993.

Now, just over ten years since it's the ban has been lifted, the 76-year-old has given rare insight into how he reacted to the Academy's blacklisting.

© Getty Images Richard at the 1993 Oscars

In an interview with Variety about his new documentary on the Dalai Lama , a longtime friend of his, The Wisdom of Happiness , Richard, for years an advocate for Tibetan rights, confessed he "didn't take it p