When they first met in 1952‑53 (Woodward was about 22, Newman about 27‑28) in the office of their mutual agent, she described him as looking “like an ice cream soda ad” — perfectly neat, in a seersucker suit, hair curled, eyes bright, not a bead of sweat despite New York heat.  Despite that striking appearance, Woodward didn’t think much of him at the time. She thought that image was a bit much, even “disgusting.”

Woodward saw Newman as handsome, certainly — but also perhaps too clean-cut, too polished, and not particularly substantial at first glance. He seemed somewhat superficial to her initially. Newman himself later admitted that though he looked the part, he was shy and reserved — Woodward, on the other hand, was “modern and independent,” and it took some time for Newman to convince her he wasn’t as “dull as he looked.”

So in short: while many think of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward as a classic, romantic Hollywood couple, Joanne wasn’t swept off her feet at first. She saw the handsome exterior, but was unimpressed — or even put off — until she got to know him better. Over time, her view changed, and the two developed the deep bond they are celebrated for.