Gwyneth Paltrow
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Gwyneth Kate Paltrow ( ; born September 27, 1972) is an American actress and businesswoman. The daughter of filmmaker Bruce Paltrow and actress
Blythe Danner Blythe Katherine Danner (born February 3, 1943) is an American actress. Accolades she has received include two Primetime Emmy Awards for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Best Supporting Actress in a Dra ...
, she established herself as a leading lady appearing in mainly mid-budget and
period film A historical drama (also period drama, period piece or just period) is a dramatic work set in the past, usually used in the context of film and television, which presents history, historical events and characters with varying degrees of fiction s ...
s during the 1990s and early 2000s, before transitioning to blockbusters and franchises. Her accolades include an
Academy Award The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence ...
, a
Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Janua ...
, and a
Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Owned and operated by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the P ...
. Paltrow gained notice for her early work in films such as '' Seven'' (1995), '' Emma'' (1996), '' Sliding Doors'' (1998), and '' A Perfect Murder'' (1998). She garnered wider acclaim for her role as Viola de Lesseps in the historical romance '' Shakespeare in Love'' (1998) which earned her the
Academy Award for Best Actress The Academy Award for Best Actress is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It has been awarded since the 1st Academy Awards to an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a lead ...
. This was followed by roles in '' The Talented Mr. Ripley'' (1999), ''
The Royal Tenenbaums ''The Royal Tenenbaums'' is a 2001 American tragicomedy film directed by Wes Anderson and co-written with Owen Wilson. It stars Danny Glover, Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Bill Murray, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, Luke Wilson, and Owen Wilson. ...
'' (2001), and ''
Shallow Hal ''Shallow Hal'' is a 2001 American romantic comedy film directed by the Farrelly brothers, Farrelly Brothers. The film stars Gwyneth Paltrow and Jack Black, with Jason Alexander, Joe Viterelli, and Susan Ward in supporting roles. Filming took pla ...
'' (2001). She made her West End debut in the David Auburn play ''
Proof Proof most often refers to: * Proof (truth), argument or sufficient evidence for the truth of a proposition * Alcohol proof, a measure of an alcoholic drink's strength Proof may also refer to: Mathematics and formal logic * Formal proof, a co ...
'' (2003) earning a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress nomination, and reprised the role in the 2005 film of the same name. After becoming a parent in 2004, Paltrow reduced her acting workload by making intermittent appearances in films such as '' Two Lovers'' (2008), '' Country Strong'' (2010), and '' Contagion'' (2011). Paltrow's career revived through her portrayal of
Pepper Potts Virginia "Pepper" Potts is a Character (arts), character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writers Stan Lee and Robert Bernstein (comics), Robert Bernstein, and designed by artist Don Heck, the character Firs ...
in the
Marvel Cinematic Universe The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on List of Marvel Cinematic Universe films, a series of superhero films produced by Marvel Studios. The films are based on characters that appe ...
from ''
Iron Man Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, the character first appearan ...
'' (2008) to '' Avengers: Endgame'' (2019). On television, she had a recurring guest role as Holly Holliday on the Fox musical television series ''
Glee Glee may refer to: * Glee (music), a type of English choral music * ''Glee'' (TV series), an American musical comedy-drama TV series, and related media created by Ryan Murphy * ''Glee'' (Bran Van 3000 album) * ''Glee'' (Logan Lynn album) * Gle ...
'' (2010–2011) for which she received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. After starring in the
Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
series '' The Politician'' (2019–), she took a break from acting. In 2005 Paltrow became a "face" of Estée Lauder Companies; she was previously the face of the American fashion brand Coach. She is the founder and CEO of the lifestyle company Goop, which has been criticized for promoting
pseudoscience Pseudoscience consists of statements, beliefs, or practices that claim to be both scientific and factual but are incompatible with the scientific method. Pseudoscience is often characterized by contradictory, exaggerated or unfalsifiable cl ...
, and has written several cookbooks. She received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Spoken Word Album for Children for the ''Brown Bear and Friends'' (2009). She hosted the documentary series '' The Goop Lab'' for
Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
in 2020.


Early life and education

Gwyneth Kate Paltrow was born on September 27, 1972, in
Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
, to actress
Blythe Danner Blythe Katherine Danner (born February 3, 1943) is an American actress. Accolades she has received include two Primetime Emmy Awards for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Best Supporting Actress in a Dra ...
and film producer-director Bruce Paltrow. She has a younger brother,
Jake Jake may refer to: Name * Jake (given name), including a list of persons and fictional characters with the name * Katrin Jäke (born c. 1975), German swimmer * Jake (gamer), American ''Overwatch'' player and coach * Jake, a member of the band Enhy ...
, who is a director and screenwriter. Paltrow's father was
Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
, while her mother is Christian. She was raised celebrating "both Jewish and Christian holidays." Her brother had a traditional
Bar Mitzvah A ''bar mitzvah'' () or ''bat mitzvah'' () is a coming of age ritual in Judaism. According to Halakha, Jewish law, before children reach a certain age, the parents are responsible for their child's actions. Once Jewish children reach that age ...
when he turned 13. Her father's
Ashkenazi Jewish Ashkenazi Jews ( ; also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim) form a distinct subgroup of the Jewish diaspora, that Ethnogenesis, emerged in the Holy Roman Empire around the end of the first millennium Common era, CE. They traditionally spe ...
family emigrated from
Belarus Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an a ...
and
Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...
, while her mother has
Pennsylvania Dutch The Pennsylvania Dutch (), also referred to as Pennsylvania Germans, are an ethnic group in Pennsylvania in the United States, Ontario in Canada, and other regions of both nations. They largely originate from the Palatinate (region), Palatina ...
(German) as well as some Irish and English ancestry. Paltrow's paternal great-great-grandfather was a
Rabbi A rabbi (; ) is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi—known as ''semikha''—following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of t ...
in Nowogród, Poland, and a descendant of the well-known Paltrowicz family of rabbis from
Kraków , officially the Royal Capital City of Kraków, is the List of cities and towns in Poland, second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city has a population of 804,237 ...
. Paltrow is a half-cousin of actress Katherine Moennig, through her mother, and a second cousin of former U.S. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords ( AZ-08) through her father. (Giffords' husband is U.S. Senator and retired astronaut
Mark Kelly Mark Edward Kelly (born February 21, 1964) is an American politician, retired astronaut, and former United States Navy, naval officer serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States senator from Arizona, a seat he ha ...
of
Arizona Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...
.) Paltrow's godfather is director
Steven Spielberg Steven Allan Spielberg ( ; born December 18, 1946) is an American filmmaker. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, Spielberg is widely regarded as one of the greatest film directors of all time and is ...
. Her uncle is opera singer and actor Harry Danner, whose daughter, actress Hillary Danner, is Paltrow's cousin and close friend. Paltrow recalls their family gatherings: "Hillary and I always had this in common, and to this day ... cooking for people we love, eating, hanging out as a family. It's how we were raised. It's what we do." Another cousin is Rebekah Paltrow Neumann, whose spouse is the Israeli-American billionaire
Adam Neumann Adam Neumann (; born April 25, 1979) is an Israeli-American billionaire businessman and investor. In 2010, he co-founded WeWork with Miguel McKelvey, where he was CEO from 2010 to 2019. In 2019, he co-founded a family office dubbed 166 2nd Fi ...
, founder of
WeWork WeWork Inc., headquartered in New York City, is a provider of coworking spaces, including physical and virtual shared spaces, in approximately 600 buildings in 125 cities. WeWork was founded in 2010 by Adam Neumann and Miguel McKelvey. Ove ...
. Paltrow was raised in
Santa Monica, California Santa Monica (; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast (California), South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 United Sta ...
, where she attended Crossroads School, before enrolling in the Spence School, an all-girls private school in Manhattan. Later, she studied art history at the
University of California, Santa Barbara The University of California, Santa Barbara (UC Santa Barbara or UCSB) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Tracing its roots back to 1891 as an ...
, before dropping out to act. She is an "adopted daughter" of Talavera de la Reina (Spain), where at 15, she spent a year as an exchange student and learned to speak Spanish. She is also conversant in French, as her family frequently traveled to the
South of France Southern France, also known as the south of France or colloquially in French as , is a geographical area consisting of the regions of France that border the Atlantic Ocean south of the Marais Poitevin,Louis Papy, ''Le midi atlantique'', Atlas e ...
throughout her childhood.


Career


1989–1995: Early work

Her career beginnings can be credited to her acting family, as her acting debut was in ''High'' (1989), a TV film her father directed, and after spending several summers watching her mother perform at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in
Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...
, Paltrow made her professional stage debut there in 1990. Her film debut followed with the musical romance film '' Shout'' (1991), starring
John Travolta John Joseph Travolta (born February 18, 1954) is an American actor. He began acting in television before transitioning into a leading man in films. List of awards and nominations received by John Travolta, His accolades include a Primetime Em ...
, and she was cast by her godfather
Steven Spielberg Steven Allan Spielberg ( ; born December 18, 1946) is an American filmmaker. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, Spielberg is widely regarded as one of the greatest film directors of all time and is ...
in the commercially successful adventure feature ''
Hook A hook is a tool consisting of a length of material, typically metal, that contains a portion that is curved/bent back or has a deeply grooved indentation, which serves to grab, latch or in any way attach itself onto another object. The hook's d ...
'' (1991) as the young
Wendy Darling Wendy Moira Angela Darling is a fictional character and one of the main protagonists of the 1904 play and 1911 novel ''Peter and Wendy'' by J. M. Barrie, as well as in most adaptations in other media. Her exact age is not specified in the origina ...
. Paltrow's next roles were in the made-for-television movies '' Cruel Doubt'' (1992) and '' Deadly Relations'' (1993). Her first plum feature film role was in the noir drama '' Flesh and Bone'' (1993) as the much younger girlfriend of James Caan. Janet Maslin of ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' described Paltrow as a scene-stealer "who is
Blythe Danner Blythe Katherine Danner (born February 3, 1943) is an American actress. Accolades she has received include two Primetime Emmy Awards for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Best Supporting Actress in a Dra ...
's daughter and has her mother's way of making a camera fall in love with her." In 1995, she starred in the thriller '' Seven'', as the wife of a young detective (
Brad Pitt William Bradley Pitt (born December 18, 1963) is an American actor and film producer. In a Brad Pitt filmography, film career spanning more than thirty years, Pitt has received list of awards and nominations received by Brad Pitt, numerous a ...
), who is partnered with the retiring William Somerset ( Morgan Freeman) and then tasked with tracking down a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as tropes in his murders. The seventh highest grossing film of the year, ''Seven'' earned her a nomination for the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress. She appeared in '' Moonlight and Valentino'', as a grieving chain-smoker, and in '' Jefferson in Paris'', portraying Martha Jefferson Randolph.


1996–2001: Breakthrough and film stardom

In 1996, Paltrow played the title character in the period film adaptation '' Emma'', based on the 1815 novel of the same name by
Jane Austen Jane Austen ( ; 16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) was an English novelist known primarily for #List of works, her six novels, which implicitly interpret, critique, and comment on the English landed gentry at the end of the 18th century ...
. Director Douglas McGrath decided to bring in Paltrow to audition for the part of Emma Woodhouse, after a suggestion from his agent and after seeing her performance in '' Flesh and Bone''. On his decision to cast the actress, McGrath revealed: "The thing that actually sold me on her playing a young English girl was that she did a perfect Texas accent. I know that wouldn't recommend her to most people ... I knew she had theater training, so she could carry herself. We had many actresses, big and small, who wanted to play this part. The minute she started the read-through, the very first line, I thought, 'Everything is going to be fine; she's going to be brilliant.'" While she recovered from wisdom-tooth surgery, Paltrow had a month to herself to do research for the part; she studied horsemanship, dancing, singing, archery and the "highly stylized" manners and dialect during a 3-week rehearsal period. The film was released to critical acclaim and commercial success through arthouse cinemas. '' Variety'' proclaimed: "Gwyneth Paltrow shines brightly as Jane Austen's most endearing character, the disastrously self-assured matchmaker Emma Woodhouse. A fine cast, speedy pacing, and playful direction make this a solid contender for the Austen sweepstakes." Paltrow starred in the crime film '' Hard Eight''. 1998 marked a turning point in Paltrow's career as she took on leading roles in five high-profile film releases in the year'' Great Expectations'', '' Sliding Doors'', '' Hush'', '' A Perfect Murder'' and '' Shakespeare in Love''. In the adaptation of the
Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and Social criticism, social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by ...
novel '' Great Expectations'', also starring
Ethan Hawke Ethan Green Hawke (born November 6, 1970) is an American actor, author, and film director. He made his film debut in ''Explorers (film), Explorers'' (1985), before making a breakthrough performance in ''Dead Poets Society'' (1989). Hawke starr ...
,
Robert De Niro Robert Anthony De Niro ( , ; born August 17, 1943) is an American actor, director, and film producer. He is considered to be one of the greatest and most influential actors of his generation. De Niro is the recipient of List of awards and ...
, Anne Bancroft and Chris Cooper, she played the unrequited and haughty childhood love of a New York City painter. The British drama ''Sliding Doors'' saw her star as a woman whose life could take two central paths depending on whether or not she catches a train, causing different outcomes. ''Great Expectations'' and ''Sliding Doors'' both grossed over $55 million worldwide. Paltrow starred opposite
Jessica Lange Jessica Phyllis Lange (; born April 20, 1949) is an American actress. With a career spanning over five decades, she is known for her roles Jessica Lange on screen and stage, on stage and screen. She has received List of awards and nominati ...
in the thriller '' Hush'', as an unsuspecting woman living with her psychotic mother-in-law. The film made $13.5 million domestically and was generally panned by critics. In another thriller, ''A Perfect Murder'', inspired by
Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English film director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featu ...
's 1954 film, '' Dial M for Murder'', Paltrow starred alongside Michael Douglas, playing Emily Taylor, who was based on Grace Kelly's character from the original film. Despite a mixed critical response towards ''A Perfect Murder'', the film grossed $128 million globally. She was also considered for the role of Rose DeWitt Bukater in the 1997 film ''
Titanic RMS ''Titanic'' was a British ocean liner that sank in the early hours of 15 April 1912 as a result of striking an iceberg on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City, United States. Of the estimated 2,224 passengers a ...
''. Her most critically acclaimed role in the year was that of the fictional lover of
William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
in '' Shakespeare in Love'', opposite Joseph Fiennes in the titular part. ''
Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...
'' commented, "Best of all is Gwyneth Paltrow, who, at long last, has a movie to star in that's as radiant as she is." ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' summed up her performance as Viola thus: "Gwyneth Paltrow, in her first great, fully realized starring performance, makes a heroine so breathtaking that she seems utterly plausible as the playwright's guiding light." ''Shakespeare in Love'' made $289 million in box office receipts, and won Paltrow the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role, Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical, and
Academy Award for Best Actress The Academy Award for Best Actress is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It has been awarded since the 1st Academy Awards to an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a lead ...
, among other honors. The pink Ralph Lauren dress she wore to the 71st Academy Awards in collecting her Oscar was extremely popular and was credited for bringing pink back into fashion. In 1999, Paltrow co-starred alongside
Jude Law David Jude Heyworth Law (born 29 December 1972) is an English actor. He began his career in theatre before landing small roles in various British television productions and feature films. Law gained international recognition for his role in An ...
,
Matt Damon Matthew Paige Damon ( ; born October 8, 1970) is an American actor, film producer, and screenwriter. He was ranked among ''Forbes'' most bankable stars in 2007, and in 2010 was one of the highest-grossing actors of all time. He has received va ...
and
Cate Blanchett Catherine Élise Blanchett ( ; born 14 May 1969) is an Australian actor and producer. Regarded as one of the best performers of her generation, she is recognised for Cate Blanchett on screen and stage, her versatile work across stage and scre ...
in the psychological thriller '' The Talented Mr. Ripley'', as the fiancée of a rich and spoiled millionaire playboy (Law) whose identity is adopted by a con artist (Damon). While ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'', noting the "very underwritten" female roles in the story, found her to be "peaky and pallid", the film received positive reviews and grossed $80 million in North America. She showcased her singing ability in 2000s '' Duets'', which was directed by her father and co-starred singer Huey Lewis. In the film, about "the little known world of karaoke competitions and the wayward characters who inhabit it", she portrayed the estranged daughter of a hustler (Lewis). She performed a
cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...
of Smokey Robinson's " Cruisin', which was released as a single and went to number one in Australia, while her rendition of the
Kim Carnes Kim Carnes (; born July 20, 1945) is an American singer and songwriter born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles. A veteran writer of many of her own hits, as well as those for numerous other artists, she began her career in 1966 as ...
classic "
Bette Davis Eyes "Bette Davis Eyes" is a song written and composed by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon in 1974. It was recorded by DeShannon that year but made popular by Kim Carnes in 1981 when it spent nine non-consecutive weeks at the top of the U.S. Billboard ...
" reached number three. Also in 2000, Paltrow co-starred with
Ben Affleck Benjamin Géza Affleck (born August 15, 1972) is an American actor and filmmaker. His accolades include two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, and three Golden Globes. Affleck began his career as a child when he starred in the PBS educatio ...
in the moderately successful romantic drama '' Bounce'' as Abby Janello. She starred with
Jack Black Thomas Jacob "Jack" Black (born August 28, 1969) is an American actor, comedian, and musician. He is known for roles in family and comedy films, in addition to his voice work in animated films. His awards include a Children's and Family Emmy ...
in the comedy ''
Shallow Hal ''Shallow Hal'' is a 2001 American romantic comedy film directed by the Farrelly brothers, Farrelly Brothers. The film stars Gwyneth Paltrow and Jack Black, with Jason Alexander, Joe Viterelli, and Susan Ward in supporting roles. Filming took pla ...
'' (2001), about a shallow man falling in love with an overweight woman. Her role required that she wear a specially designed 25-pound fatsuit and heavy makeup. ''Shallow Hal'' opened with $22.5 million and grossed $70.7 million in North America and $141.1 million around the globe.
Roger Ebert Roger Joseph Ebert ( ; June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013) was an American Film criticism, film critic, film historian, journalist, essayist, screenwriter and author. He wrote for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' from 1967 until his death in 2013. Eber ...
remarked that she was "truly touching" in the film, which he described as "often very funny, but ... also surprisingly moving at times." In the
Wes Anderson Wesley Wales Anderson (born May 1, 1969) is an American filmmaker. Wes Anderson filmography, His films are known for themes of grief, loss of innocence, and dysfunctional families. Due to his films' eccentricity, distinctive visual and narrative ...
dramedy ''
The Royal Tenenbaums ''The Royal Tenenbaums'' is a 2001 American tragicomedy film directed by Wes Anderson and co-written with Owen Wilson. It stars Danny Glover, Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Bill Murray, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, Luke Wilson, and Owen Wilson. ...
'' (2001), co-starring Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller and Luke Wilson, Paltrow took on the role of the adopted daughter in an estranged family of former child prodigies reuniting with their father. A positive critical response greeted the film upon its release, and it made $71.4 million worldwide.


2002–2007: Career fluctuations

In 2004, it was noted that since her Oscar win for ''Shakespeare in Love'', Paltrow's film career had been less noteworthy, and critical acclaim had waned. She said she was unequipped for the pressure, leading to several bad film choices, agreeing with peers who believe the win is, in some ways, a curse. During this time, Paltrow rarely appeared in films, having taken a hiatus to raise her two children. In ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'', she said she divided her career into movies for love and films for money: ''The Royal Tenenbaums'', ''
Proof Proof most often refers to: * Proof (truth), argument or sufficient evidence for the truth of a proposition * Alcohol proof, a measure of an alcoholic drink's strength Proof may also refer to: Mathematics and formal logic * Formal proof, a co ...
'', and '' Sylvia'' fell into the former category, while she signed on to '' View from the Top'' and ''Shallow Hal'' for the latter. In 2002, Paltrow made small appearances in the documentary '' Searching for Debra Winger'' and the action satire comedy ''
Austin Powers in Goldmember ''Austin Powers in Goldmember'' is a 2002 American spy comedy film directed by Jay Roach. It is the third and final installment in the ''Austin Powers'' film series and stars Mike Myers in four different roles: Austin Powers, Dr. Evil, Goldme ...
'', while she starred in the thriller-drama '' Possession'' with Aaron Eckhart as a couple of literary scholars who unearth the amorous secret of two Victorian poets as they find themselves falling under a deepening connection. The film made a lukewarm $14.8 million worldwide. In the following year, she headlined the romantic comedy '' View from the Top'', where she played the part of a woman from a small town who sets out to fulfill her dream of becoming a flight attendant. Budgeted at $30 million, the film only earned $7 million in its opening weekend; it eventually grossed $15.6 domestically and $19,526,014 worldwide. She later disparaged the film, calling it "terrible". Paltrow starred as the titular role in '' Sylvia'' (2003), a British biographical drama directed by Christine Jeffs and co-starring Daniel Craig chronicling the romance between prominent poets Sylvia Plath and
Ted Hughes Edward James Hughes (17 August 1930 – 28 October 1998) was an English poet, translator, and children's writer. Critics frequently rank him as one of the best poets of his generation and one of the twentieth century's greatest writers. He wa ...
. Distributed for a limited release in most markets, ''Sylvia'' made $2.9 million internationally. ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', in its review of the film, wrote that "her performance goes well beyond mimicry. She has a vivid, passionate presence, even when her lively features have gone slack with depression and her bright blue eyes have glazed over." In 2004, she starred with her ''The Talented Mr. Ripley'' co-star Jude Law and
Angelina Jolie Angelina Jolie ( ; born Angelina Jolie Voight, , June 4, 1975) is an American actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian. The recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Angelina Jolie, numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards ...
in the science fiction film '' Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow''. Her role was Polly Perkins, the reporter for the fictional ''New York Chronicle''. Law became one of the film's producers and used his clout to get Paltrow involved. Once she had been suggested for the role, Law did not remember "any other name coming up. It just seems that she was perfect. She was as enthusiastic about the script and about the visual references that were sort of put to her, and jumped on board." She said in an interview, "I thought that this is the time to do a movie like this where it's kind of breaking into new territory and it's not your basic formulaic action-adventure movie." While critical response was positive, with a budget of $70 million, ''Sky Captain'' only grossed $58 million at the international box office. Also in 2004, she was recognized as an outstanding woman in entertainment by Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards, Women in Film Los Angeles with the Crystal Award. In the drama ''
Proof Proof most often refers to: * Proof (truth), argument or sufficient evidence for the truth of a proposition * Alcohol proof, a measure of an alcoholic drink's strength Proof may also refer to: Mathematics and formal logic * Formal proof, a co ...
'' (2005), she starred as the depressed daughter of a brilliant, eccentric mathematician (played by Anthony Hopkins). The film was based on the Proof (play), play of the same name, in which Paltrow also played the same character at London's Donmar Warehouse between May and June 2002. On her portrayal in the film version, ''Eye for Film'' remarked: "As she has already shown in ''Sylvia'', ''The Royal Tenenbaums'' and even ''Sliding Doors'', Paltrow has an uncanny talent for playing women who are coming apart at the seams and her [character] veers from lovably eccentric to more disturbingly unhinged and back again with fluent ease. The scenes, which she and Hopkins share, as two difficult people bound together by affection, dependency, and mutual respect, are entirely believable and all the more touching for it." For her performance, Paltrow received her second Golden Globe nomination for Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama. Paltrow filmed small roles for the 2006 films ''Love and Other Disasters'', ''Running with Scissors (film), Running with Scissors'' and ''Infamous (2006 film), Infamous'', where she sang Cole Porter's "What Is This Thing Called Love?" Her brother Jake Paltrow directed her in his feature debut, the romantic comedy ''The Good Night'' (2007), in which she starred opposite Penélope Cruz, Martin Freeman, Danny DeVito and Simon Pegg as the wife of a former keyboard player (Freeman). The film received a two-theater run in North America and garnered mixed reviews from critics. ''View London'' believed the actress was "clearly only playing her part as a courtesy to her director brother and it just makes you wish she'd go back to playing lead roles again."


2008–2013: Marvel Cinematic Universe and revival

Paltrow saw a resurgence in her career in 2008 when she was cast in ''
Iron Man Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, the character first appearan ...
'' as
Pepper Potts Virginia "Pepper" Potts is a Character (arts), character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writers Stan Lee and Robert Bernstein (comics), Robert Bernstein, and designed by artist Don Heck, the character Firs ...
, Tony Stark (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Tony Stark's personal assistant, closest friend, and budding love interest. At first hesitant to appear in a big-budget project, Paltrow asked Marvel Comics, Marvel to send her any comics they would consider relevant to her understanding of the character, whom she considered to be very smart, levelheaded, and grounded. She said she liked "the fact that there's a sexuality that's not blatant". The director Jon Favreau wanted Potts and Stark's relationship to be reminiscent of the 1940s screwball comedy, something which Paltrow considered to be fun in an "innocent yet sexy" way. ''Iron Man'' was favorably received by critics, and with a worldwide gross of $585 million, it became Paltrow's highest-grossing film until ''The Avengers (2012 film), The Avengers'' (2012). She reprised her role in the sequels ''Iron Man 2'' (2010) and ''Iron Man 3'' (2013). While the second film grossed $623.9 million internationally, the third entry went on to gross $1.215 billion. She also reprised the role in ''Spider-Man: Homecoming'' (2017), ''Avengers: Infinity War'' (2018), and '' Avengers: Endgame'' (2019). Paltrow starred opposite Joaquin Phoenix in the romantic drama '' Two Lovers'' (2008), playing the beautiful but volatile new neighbor of a depressed bachelor. ''Two Lovers'' premiered in competition at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival in May, receiving largely positive reviews, especially for Paltrow's and Phoenix's performances. According to the ''Los Angeles Times'', "Phoenix is at his best with Paltrow's bruised sparrow of a girl; he's desperate to take care of her when he can't even take care of himself. She is one of those actresses who understands the power of a look, and the one of regret and then resignation that overtakes her when Leonard professes his love is steeped in sadness." The film was an arthouse success, grossing $16 million worldwide. In the musical drama '' Country Strong'' (2010), Paltrow starred as an emotionally unstable country music star who attempts to resurrect her career. She recorded the song "Country Strong" for the film's soundtrack, and it was released to country radio stations in August 2010. The film received mediocre reviews and grossed a modest $20.2 million in North America. The consensus of review-aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes was: "The cast gives it their all, and Paltrow handles her songs with aplomb, but ''Country Strong''s clichéd, disjointed screenplay hits too many bum notes." At the 83rd Academy Awards, Paltrow performed another song from the film, "Country Strong (soundtrack), Coming Home", which was nominated for Academy Award for Best Original Song, Best Original Song. Paltrow made her first scripted television appearance on Fox's ''
Glee Glee may refer to: * Glee (music), a type of English choral music * ''Glee'' (TV series), an American musical comedy-drama TV series, and related media created by Ryan Murphy * ''Glee'' (Bran Van 3000 album) * ''Glee'' (Logan Lynn album) * Gle ...
'', as substitute teacher Holly Holliday, who fills in for Matthew Morrison's character when he falls ill. Her role was developed by co-creator Ryan Murphy (producer), Ryan Murphy, a personal friend of Paltrow's, who suggested that she showcase her vocal and dancing abilities ahead of the release of ''Country Strong''. In her first episode, "The Substitute", she sang "Nowadays (song), Nowadays" from the musical ''Chicago (musical), Chicago'' with Lea Michele, CeeLo Green's "Fuck You (CeeLo Green song), Forget You", and a mash-up of "Singin' in the Rain (song), Singin' in the Rain" and Rihanna's "Umbrella (song), Umbrella" with Morrison and the rest of the cast. Her debut on ''Glee'' attracted significant buzz and positive commentary from critics; she won a
Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Owned and operated by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the P ...
for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. Indeed, at the time, ''
Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...
'' Tim Stack and ''E! Online''s Kristin dos Santos called her appearance Emmy-worthy, with the former rating it among her best performances, and the latter stating that Holly received "some of ''Glee'' best-ever one-liners". Paltrow later performed "Forget You" with CeeLo Green himself and several puppet characters provided by The Jim Henson Company at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, 2011 Grammy Awards. She reprised her role twice more that season, performing Do You Wanna Touch Me, "Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)" by Gary Glitter, an Acoustic music, acoustic version of "Landslide (Fleetwood Mac song), Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac, "Kiss (Prince song), Kiss" by Prince (musician), Prince, and Adele's "Turning Tables". Paltrow was briefly featured in ''Glee: The 3D Concert Movie'' after being filmed while she performed "Forget You" as Holly in the 2011 Glee Live! In Concert! tour performances of June 16 and 17, 2011. Later that year, Paltrow appeared in Steven Soderbergh's film '' Contagion'', featuring an ensemble cast consisting of Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet and her ''The Talented Mr. Ripley'' co-stars
Matt Damon Matthew Paige Damon ( ; born October 8, 1970) is an American actor, film producer, and screenwriter. He was ranked among ''Forbes'' most bankable stars in 2007, and in 2010 was one of the highest-grossing actors of all time. He has received va ...
and
Jude Law David Jude Heyworth Law (born 29 December 1972) is an English actor. He began his career in theatre before landing small roles in various British television productions and feature films. Law gained international recognition for his role in An ...
. The thriller follows the rapid progress of a lethal indirect contact Transmission (medicine), transmission virus that kills within days. Paltrow played Elizabeth Emhoff, a "working parent, working mom" and one of the virus' first victims. ''Contagion'' received positive reviews and opened atop at the North American box office with $23.1 million; it went on to gross $75.6 million domestically and $135.4 million worldwide. Paltrow reprised her role of
Pepper Potts Virginia "Pepper" Potts is a Character (arts), character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writers Stan Lee and Robert Bernstein (comics), Robert Bernstein, and designed by artist Don Heck, the character Firs ...
in ''The Avengers (2012 film), The Avengers'' (2012), which set numerous box office records, including the biggest opening weekend in North America; it grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide, becoming Paltrow's most widely seen film. Also in 2012, she starred in the independent romantic Comedy drama, dramedy ''Thanks for Sharing'', opposite Mark Ruffalo as people learning to face a challenging and confusing road as they struggle together against sexual addiction, sex addiction. Distributed for a limited release in certain parts of the United States, the film garnered mixed reviews and grossed $1 million domestically. ''Paste (magazine), Paste'' magazine noted that her role: "...exhibits some of the same obsessive diet and exercise habits that Paltrow herself has been accused ofa kind of meta character trait that balances the power in [the main roles'] budding relationship."


2014–present: Acting sporadically

In 2014, Paltrow had a two-episode arc in the improvised online series ''Web Therapy (TV series), Web Therapy'', as Maya Ganesh, "a new-age caricature". In 2015, she starred in ''Mortdecai (film), Mortdecai'', alongside Johnny Depp, Olivia Munn, and Paul Bettany. In it, she portrayed the wife of an unscrupulous art dealer and swindler (Depp). Budgeted at $60 million, the film only grossed $7.7 million in North America and $47.3 million internationally. Paltrow was featured on the track "Everglow (song), Everglow", which was included in Coldplay's seventh studio album ''A Head Full of Dreams'' (2015). In June 2017, Paltrow announced that she would take a break from acting to focus on her business Goop, stating: "I'm still going to do a little bit here and there, but [the company] really requires almost all of my time." In 2019, Paltrow reprised her role as Pepper Potts in '' Avengers: Endgame''. That same year, she played a supporting role in the
Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
comedy drama series '' The Politician'', playing the mother of Ben Platt (actor), Ben Platt's character. In October 2021,
Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
released ''Sex, Love, and Goop'', a sex therapy-themed series produced by and starring Paltrow. In 2023 Paltrow said that her responsibilities with Goop made her less likely to accept acting roles. She will return to acting with Safdie brothers, Josh Safdie's sports drama ''Marty Supreme'', starring Timothée Chalamet.


Other ventures


Philanthropy and politics

Paltrow is a Save the Children artist ambassador, raising awareness about World Pneumonia Day. She is on the board of the Robin Hood Foundation, a charitable organization that works to alleviate poverty in New York City. In October 2014, she hosted a Democratic Party (United States), Democratic fundraiser attended by President Barack Obama at her private residence in Los Angeles. In May 2019, Paltrow and actor Bradley Whitford hosted a fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate Mayor Pete Buttigieg. In April 2020, Paltrow, along with other celebrities, discussed the COVID-19 pandemic with Anthony Fauci, Dr. Anthony Fauci on a one-hour-long Zoom (software), zoom call. Fauci hoped the celebrities would use their social media "megaphones" to encourage proper precautions among their followers.


Audiobooks

In 2009, Paltrow narrated the audiobook ''The Brown Bear & Friends'' by Bill Martin Jr., the first of a series of children's audiobooks that she narrated. ''The Brown Bear & Friends'' earned Paltrow a Grammy Award nomination for Best Spoken Word Album for Children. Since, she has also narrated Bill Martin's ''Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?'', ''Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?'', ''Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?'', and ''Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?''.


Fashion

In May 2005, Paltrow became the face of Estée Lauder Companies, Estée Lauder's Pleasures perfume. She appeared in Chicago on August 17, 2007, to sign bottles of the perfume, and on July 8, 2008, she promoted Lauder's Sensuous perfume in New York with the company's three other models. Estée Lauder donates a minimum of $500,000 of sales of items from the 'Pleasures Gwyneth Paltrow' collection to breast cancer research. In 2006, she became the face for Bean Pole International, a Korean fashion brand and in 2014, she partnered with Blo Blow Bar, teaming up with the brand's creative branch.


Goop

In September 2008, Paltrow launched the weekly lifestyle newsletter Goop, encouraging readers to "nourish the inner aspect". Goop has expanded into a web-based company, Goop.com. According to Paltrow, the company's name came from someone telling her that successful internet companies have double O's in their name, and "is a nickname, like my name is G.P., so that is really where it came from. And I wanted it to be a word that means nothing and could mean anything." Goop has expanded into e-commerce, collaborating with fashion brands, launching pop-up shops, launching a wellness (alternative medicine), wellness summit, a print magazine, a podcast, and a documentary series streamed on Netflix. Goop, and by extension Paltrow, have faced backlash for showcasing expensive products and promoting medically and scientifically impossible treatments, many of which have harmful consequences. The controversies have included vaginal steaming, the use of vaginal weightlifting, jade eggs, a dangerous coffee enema device, and "Body Vibes", wearable stickers that were claimed to "rebalance the energy frequency in our bodies" and which Goop falsely claimed were made of a NASA-developed material. Goop settled a lawsuit regarding the health claims it made over the jade eggs. Jill Avery, a brand analyst, has noted how Goop's response to criticism seems designed to "strengthen their brand and draw their customers closer", noting Goop's references to feminism, traditional Asian medicines and Eastern philosophy, Eastern philosophies, and anti-establishment politics to do so. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Late Show host Stephen Colbert had repeatedly lampooned Goop products; in 2018 Paltrow appeared in a Late Show sketch seemingly making fun of her company's approach. On January 24, 2020,
Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
released '' The Goop Lab,'' a documentary series. The 6-part show promotes Goop, and covers Pseudoscience, pseudoscientific topics in Energy medicine, energy healing, the use of psychedelic drugs, Cryotherapy, cold therapy, Life extension, anti-aging, mediumship, and Human female sexuality, female sexuality. Critics argued that granting Goop access to Netflix's platform was a "win for
pseudoscience Pseudoscience consists of statements, beliefs, or practices that claim to be both scientific and factual but are incompatible with the scientific method. Pseudoscience is often characterized by contradictory, exaggerated or unfalsifiable cl ...
". Upon release of the first trailer, and again after the full six-episode series was available, the series sparked controversy concerning the medical and scientific misinformation it presented. On January 27, 2020, Truth in Advertising watchdog (TINA.org) filed another complaint with the district attorneys of California alleging that Goop has continued to engage in deceptive marketing, even after Goop was sued by the State of California earlier that year and agreed to refrain from "making any claims regarding the efficacy or effects of any of its products without possessing competent and reliable scientific evidence that substantiates the claims" for a period of five years. TINA.org's complaint alleges that Goop claims their products are "clinically-proven" to treat such symptoms as Anxiety disorder, anxiety, Depression (mood), depression, Obsessive–compulsive disorder, OCD and more. In January 2021, it was announced that Paltrow was an early investor in Thirteen Lune, an e-commerce site focused on makeup, skincare, haircare, and wellness products owned by people of color and ally brands. In April 2021, Goop became Thirteen Lune's first ally brand.


Food

In October 2007, Paltrow signed with PBS to make a television series, ''Spain... on the Road Again'', which showcased Spanish cuisine, the food and culture of Spain. In 2008, Paltrow co-wrote the book ''Spain... A Culinary Road Trip'' with Mario Batali. In 2011, she wrote a book titled ''My Father's Daughter: Delicious, Easy Recipes Celebrating Family and Togetherness''. That same year she penned the book ''Notes From the Kitchen Table''. Two years later she published a book titled ''It's All Good: Delicious Easy Recipes That Will Make You Look Good and Feel Great'', which promoted an elimination diet that is unsupported by medical evidence. Included in that book was a recipe for avocado toast which was widely copied and adapted as part of a 2010s in food, 2010s food trend. Also in 2013, Paltrow wrote a foreword for a book by Ross Mathews, ''Man Up! Tales of My Delusional Self-Confidence''. In 2016, Paltrow published a cookbook: ''It's All Easy: Delicious Weekday Recipes for the Super-Busy Home Cook''. The negative reaction from a group of scientist and science communication mothers to Paltrow's 2015 video pushing for mandatory labeling of food containing genetically modified organisms led to the creation of a documentary film, documentary, ''Science Moms''. The film is about mothers who advocate for science-based decision-making concerning the health and nutrition of children. In February 2021 it was reported that Paltrow was suffering from long COVID, leaving her with "some long-tail fatigue and brain fog". She advocated treatments for it which involved a "Ketogenesis, ketogenic and plant-based" diet (with no sugar or alcohol), fasting until 11:00 every day, and taking infrared saunas. This advice was criticized by National Health Service, NHS England's Professor Stephen Powis.


Personal life

In 2004, Paltrow practiced cupping therapy, attending a film premiere with bruises on her back. , Paltrow practices Transcendental Meditation technique, Transcendental Meditation. In 2014, Paltrow, whose father was Jewish, was planning to Conversion to Judaism, convert to Judaism. In December 2024, she revealed that she celebrates Hanukkah each year with her family. In 1997, Paltrow revealed that during the filming of ''Emma'' (1996), producer Harvey Weinstein made unwanted sexual advances toward her. She confided in her then-fiancé
Brad Pitt William Bradley Pitt (born December 18, 1963) is an American actor and film producer. In a Brad Pitt filmography, film career spanning more than thirty years, Pitt has received list of awards and nominations received by Brad Pitt, numerous a ...
, who confronted the producer at an industry event. Weinstein later warned Paltrow not to tell anyone else. She was, in 2017, a major source for an article written by ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' investigative journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey about Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse cases, Weinstein's sexual abuse cases. Paltrow has received backlash from the scientific community and medical professionals for promoting unproven treatments based on
pseudoscience Pseudoscience consists of statements, beliefs, or practices that claim to be both scientific and factual but are incompatible with the scientific method. Pseudoscience is often characterized by contradictory, exaggerated or unfalsifiable cl ...
through her company Goop.


Relationships and marriages

Paltrow became engaged in December 1996 to actor
Brad Pitt William Bradley Pitt (born December 18, 1963) is an American actor and film producer. In a Brad Pitt filmography, film career spanning more than thirty years, Pitt has received list of awards and nominations received by Brad Pitt, numerous a ...
, whom she dated from 1994 to 1997. According to Paltrow, they called off the engagement because she was not ready for marriage. She later said that, as this was her first high-profile relationship with another celebrity, it taught her the need for public discretion about her love life. Paltrow began dating actor
Ben Affleck Benjamin Géza Affleck (born August 15, 1972) is an American actor and filmmaker. His accolades include two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, and three Golden Globes. Affleck began his career as a child when he starred in the PBS educatio ...
in October 1997 after meeting at a Miramax dinner, and they worked together on ''Shakespeare in Love'' (1998). Although they split in January 1999, months later Paltrow persuaded Affleck to co-star with her in ''Bounce'' (2000), and they rekindled their relationship. They ultimately broke up in October 2000. In 2015, Paltrow said she and Affleck remain friends. In October 2002, Paltrow met Chris Martin of the British band Coldplay backstage three weeks after the death of her father, Bruce Paltrow. The Coldplay song "Fix You" was written to help Paltrow through her grief. They married on December 5, 2003, at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse. She was pregnant at the time of their wedding. Paltrow and Martin have two children together: a daughter, Apple Martin, Apple, born in May 2004, and a son, Moses, born in April 2006. Their son's name was inspired by Moses (Coldplay song), a song Chris Martin wrote for Paltrow. Simon Pegg and Martin's bandmate Jonny Buckland are her daughter's godfathers. Paltrow cut down on work after becoming a mother. She also suffered from postpartum depression after the birth of her younger child in 2006. In March 2014, Paltrow announced that she and Martin had separated after ten years of marriage, describing the process as "conscious uncoupling". In her official announcement, Paltrow had her doctor, Habib Sadeghi, and his dentist wife, Sherry Sami, explain conscious uncoupling as "the ability to understand that every irritation and argument [within a marriage] was a signal to look inside ourselves and identify a negative internal object that needed healing," Sadeghi explained. "From this perspective, there are no bad guys, just two people, it's about people as individuals, not just the relationship". In April 2015, Paltrow filed for divorce, which was finalized on July 14, 2016. In 2014, Paltrow began dating producer Brad Falchuk, whom she met on the set of ''Glee'' in 2010. The couple went public with their relationship in April 2015 and announced their engagement on January 8, 2018. Their marriage ceremony was held on September 29, 2018, in the The Hamptons, Hamptons on Long Island, New York.


Ski crash lawsuit

In January 2019, retired optometrist Terry Sanderson sued Paltrow, claiming that three years earlier she collided with him on a ski slope at Deer Valley, Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, causing him permanent traumatic brain injury. Paltrow counter-sued Sanderson that February, claiming that he was the one who crashed into her. She sought nominal damages of one dollar and repayment of her legal fees. At trial in March 2023, Sanderson claimed damages for $300,000. The jury found that Sanderson was at fault, not Paltrow, and awarded Paltrow $1 in damages. The lawsuit was depicted in two separate musicals, ''I Wish You Well: The Gwyneth Paltrow Ski-Trial Musical'' and ''Gwyneth Goes Skiing'' by Linus Karp.


Public image

As an actress, Paltrow performed in mainly Low-budget film, small and medium-budget films for most of her early career, starring in few blockbusters until 2004's '' Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow''. According to Charles Taylor of ''Salon.com, Salon'', much of these performances were defined by a "blasé" demeanor that made her endearing at times, but overall demonstrated "a promising actress who needed some training to refine her potential". Similarly, Jose Solis of ''PopMatters'' said, "When she’s good, she’s absolutely brilliant, when she’s bad, she just seems deeply uninterested". Many of her characters were wealthy, privileged, and academic, and she was often labeled "Hollywood royalty" by the News media, press. Many viewers mistook her as British due to her regular roles as ingénues in
period film A historical drama (also period drama, period piece or just period) is a dramatic work set in the past, usually used in the context of film and television, which presents history, historical events and characters with varying degrees of fiction s ...
s, and some publications have described her feigned British accent as one of the best among non-British actors. She was frequently compared to actress Grace Kelly, with whom she shared "blondness, refinement, glacial good looks and all-round star quality", according to ''The Independent''. Christina Newland of BBC Online, BBC said Paltrow used her roles throughout the 1990s to cultivate "an image off and on-screen ... as a chic social butterfly with charm to spare". She also established herself as a fashion icon, becoming recognized for her Minimalism#Fashion, minimal style of dressing for public events. In April 2013, Paltrow was named ''People (magazine), People'' magazine's annual "Most Beautiful Woman". Film critic Owen Gleiberman described Paltrow as one of the industry's finest actresses in 2011. He was perplexed by readers' negative comments towards her on his reviews of her work, but agreed that her reputation had suffered from a selection of weaker roles and reduced workload. Critic Wesley Morris defended her acting, calling Paltrow among the final generation of movie stars "for whom stardom and skill seem scarily, thrillingly natural" and "for a while, the best young American actor in Hollywood". Paltrow herself has stated that her passion for acting waned early in her career due to the scrutiny she received as a young actress, with Morris theorizing that she pivoted away from acting towards an industry she could exercise complete autonomy over. In 2019, she claimed to have been only "masquerading as an actor" before founding Goop. Paltrow has been described as a polarizing and divisive public figure by the media for much her career. Although generally revered as an actress, her subsequent career endeavors as a businesswoman have garnered mixed reviews. Taylor wrote in 2004 that "No star of the last 10 years has been such a magnet for the neuroses and prejudices of those who watch her than Paltrow", which the author surmised as due to her being "rich, white, beautiful and successful". In 2023, Leanne Delap, a writer for Everything Zoomer, called her "one of the most divisive personages of our time", equally beloved and hated. Many of her remarks regarding diet, health, wellness, and wealth have drawn public backlash and mockery, which some critics have used to justify dismissing her as a privileged and "out of touch" celebrity. Paltrow has attributed the public's discourse surrounding her to the perception that her success hinges exclusively on the Nepo baby, achievements and wealth of her parents, which she has attempted to dispel in interviews. The actress also maintains that the public's shift in favor against her can be traced back to the moment she delivered an emotional acceptance speech when she won her Oscar for ''Shakespeare in Love'' in 1998. Journalist Hadley Freeman believes Paltrow is completely in control of how she is perceived, describing her as a performer who has ingeniously cultivated an overexposed image that allows her career to benefit from being a parody of the modern-day celebrity. According to entertainment journalist Dylan Howard, "Inevitably, in a saga of Hollywood, people identify with either the sympathetic character or the villain ... When it comes to Gwyneth Paltrow, she's both the villain and sympathetic figure". Describing her as "successful, opinionated and seemingly happy" in 2013, journalist Tanya Gold attributed her unpopularity – particularly among women – to her "venturing beyond the accepted Hollywood script and expressing her thoughts about clothing, motherhood and nutrition". Some journalists theorized that Paltrow's brand and reputation benefited from the sympathy she gained during the ski crash trials, as reported by Edward Helmore of ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
''. ''The Independent'' said "The very trial that threatened to harm her reputation — one that has not been exempt from its fair amount of controversies over questionable advice ... ultimately invigorated the Hollywood actor’s image in the court of public opinion". However, Alex Abad-Santos of ''Vox (website), Vox'' argued that, rather than seek sympathy or relatability, Paltrow embraced the stereotypes her detractors had long accused her of perpetuating, ultimately to her own benefit. Paltrow's penchant for wearing Quiet luxury, understated luxury-brand clothing during the trial also received widespread coverage, inspiring a trend known as "courtcore", as coined by ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' fashion journalist Vanessa Friedman. In a 2021 article for ''Vogue (magazine), Vogue'', Keaton Bell defined her as "one of our last, true A-listers" whose "every move consumes daily headlines", observing that she "is now better known as a fabulously out-of-touch entrepreneur than an actor, and she seems perfectly fine with that". In 2023, EJ Dickson of ''Rolling Stone'' reported that Paltrow had largely rehabilitated her image by "lean[ing] into her own image as an out-of-touch celebutante", becoming "regularly heralded as a scrappy, savvy, self-made entrepreneur". Newland agreed that "in today's relentlessly critical social media discourse, many find her schtick so over-the-top that they can't help but find it entertaining". According to Charles Trepany of ''USA Today'', Paltrow's "calm, unbothered demeanor" had become virtually synonymous with her brand and public image by 2024.


Acting credits and accolades

Paltrow has starred in over 50 films. According to review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Paltrow's most critically acclaimed and commercial successful films include '' Avengers: Endgame'' (2019), ''
Iron Man Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, the character first appearan ...
'' (2008), '' Shakespeare in Love'' (1998), ''Spider-Man: Homecoming'' (2017), ''The Avengers (2012 film), The Avengers'' (2012), ''Avengers: Infinity War'' (2018), '' Contagion'' (2011), '' The Talented Mr. Ripley'' (1999), '' Emma'' (1996), '' Seven'' (1995), '' Hard Eight'' (1996), '' Two Lovers'' (2008), ''
The Royal Tenenbaums ''The Royal Tenenbaums'' is a 2001 American tragicomedy film directed by Wes Anderson and co-written with Owen Wilson. It stars Danny Glover, Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Bill Murray, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, Luke Wilson, and Owen Wilson. ...
'' (2001), ''Iron Man 3'' (2013), ''Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle'' (1994), ''Infamous (2006 film), Infamous'' (2006), ''Iron Man 2'' (2010), '' Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow'' (2004), and '' Flesh and Bone'' (1993). Paltrow has received various awards and nominations, including an Academy Awards, Academy Award, a Golden Globe Awards, Golden Globe Award, a Primetime Emmy Awards, Primetime Emmy Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. Paltrow received a List of actors with Hollywood Walk of Fame motion picture stars, motion picture star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6900 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood.


Published works

* * * * *


See also

* List of celebrities who own cannabis businesses


Notes


References


External links

* *
Gwyneth Paltrow's newsletter, ''Goop''
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Paltrow, Gwyneth Gwyneth Paltrow, 1972 births Living people 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American actresses 21st-century American businesspeople 21st-century American businesswomen 21st-century American non-fiction writers 21st-century American women singers 21st-century American women writers Actresses from Los Angeles Actresses from New York City Actresses from Santa Monica, California Alternative detoxification promoters American child actresses American cookbook writers American expatriates in France American expatriates in Spain American expatriates in the United Kingdom American female models American film actresses American food writers American musical theatre actresses American people of Belarusian-Jewish descent American people of English descent American people of German descent American people of Irish descent American people of Pennsylvania Dutch descent American people of Polish-Jewish descent American philanthropists American stage actresses American television actresses American voice actresses American women country singers American women non-fiction writers Audiobook narrators Best Actress Academy Award winners Best Musical or Comedy Actress Golden Globe (film) winners Businesspeople from Los Angeles Businesspeople from New York City California Democrats Crossroads School alumni Female models from New York (state) Female models from Los Angeles Models from New York City Musicians from Santa Monica, California New York (state) Democrats Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role Screen Actors Guild Award winners Paltrow family People with mood disorders Primetime Emmy Award winners Pseudoscientific diet advocates Singers from Los Angeles Singers from New York City Spence School alumni University of California, Santa Barbara alumni American women food writers Writers from Los Angeles Writers from New York City Writers from Santa Monica, California Jewish American film people American women company founders