LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Renowned director Quentin Tarantino and actress Uma Thurman have been collaborating on various projects since the 1990s, including critically acclaimed films like 'Pulp Fiction' and the triliogy 'Kill Bill'. Tarantino was so enthralled by Thurman while working with her that he affectionately referred to her as his "muse," recognizing the undeniable chemistry and synergy they shared on set. However, it may come as a surprise to some that Tarantino once openly expressed his desire to marry the actress who inspired him.

In a 2009 interview with Elle, Tarantino faced a hypothetical question about which famous actress he would choose to marry if his life depended on it. "Famous woman? Uma. I don't know what she'd think about that, but it's my life that's at stake in this question," the Oscar-winning director humorously responded.

'It was like a marriage in every way'

The media has frequently raised questions about the nature of Tarantino's relationship with Thurman. Throughout their early careers, both of them faced incessant inquiries about whether their connection extended beyond a professional level. "We’ve talked about it," Tarantino once said. "She knows I wouldn’t say anything like that. The easiest way to piss Uma off is to talk about her personally to the press."

However, Tarantino revealed that their experience working on 'Kill Bill' felt akin to being married. "I’m not saying that we haven’t and I’m not saying we have," he said. "We love each other but we’re almost too close now to be a couple. We had our life together on 'Kill Bill'. It was like a marriage in every way."

'We were practically married!'

Thurman herself has recently addressed the ongoing rumors about her and Tarantino being romantically involved. In line with Tarantino's previous statement, she firmly asserted that their relationship was strictly that of friends and there was never anything more between them. "I was discussing the rumors with Mr. Tarantino last night. He was angry at me for not calling him back because he said, 'According to the papers we were practically married!' And he laughed hysterically," Thurman said. "So our relationship is pretty much what it’s always been; people are just having fun with it."

Labeling Thurman as his muse, Tarantino said, "It’s just this cool connection that happened while we were doing Pulp Fiction," Tarantino explained to Rolling Stone. "I mean, von Sternberg had Marlene Dietrich, Hitchcock had Ingrid Bergman, Andre Techine had Catherine Deneuve. It’s a special bond that I’m proud to have, and hopefully, one day, people will reference me and Uma like they do the others. But the thing is, it just kind of is, and there are certain things I don’t really want to understand subtextually. I just want it to be and do."

'I didn’t spend a lot of time on a pedestal, musing'

Thurman, on the other hand, expressed uncertainty about being anyone's muse. "Actually, I don’t know how I feel about it," she said. "I mean, what does muse mean? Someone who inspires? I am serious. I don’t know what it means. Anyway, I don’t think I did any musing. I think I listened to a lot of scenes and gave Quentin my opinions and killed myself trying to help him make the movie great. But I didn’t spend a lot of time on a pedestal, musing."