Speaking with Gwyneth Paltrow, it feels ever so slightly as though you’re conversing with royalty. She has an air of irresistible class, of incredible grace and untouchability, yet is ultimately ‘one of the people’. Whether spending time in California, New York, or London’s swanky Primrose Hill, Paltrow is present… seen in coffee shops, snapped in parks and outdoor spaces. She has a fervent desire to get on with and enjoy life, irrespective of work schedule, childcare duties or media intrusion.
It all adds up to a desire for honesty and authenticity that has been central to the actress, model and businesswoman’s core. “I don’t want to live a life that means I have to hide away or divert myself from the happiness I have worked hard to achieve,” she begins. “It would be easy to do that – to slip into obscurity, but I love life too much to do that. I think we all do, and we all deserve to get as much out of it as possible.
“It wasn’t always like that for me — I’ve had to learn how to become fearless and let all my anxieties go, and you know, it’s a very liberating and empowering feeling.
“Ultimately, we should try to do our best… do the things that are meaningful to us, and not worry about what other people think.”
Liberated she may be, yet Gwyneth has, in the past, been chastised by the media for an ultra-refined approach to living. Admittedly, stating that she would rather die than allow her children to eat Cup-a-Soup might have her perceived as a little highly strung, and the famous use of the phrase “conscious uncoupling”, discussing her split from husband Chris Martin, was perhaps too leftfield for some, but in typical Paltrow fashion, these are her standards, and proud of them she is.
And whether consciously uncoupled or not, it’s clear family remain vitally important to the actress. Opening up about putting her career on the backburner in favor of raising her children, Gwyneth explains configuring her professional/private life any other way was never really an option.
“I made the decision to step back from major films many years ago, and was always very comfortable with it. I enjoyed my life so much as a mum, seeing my kids grow up,” she says, referencing Apple and Moses, now 19 and 17 respectively. “I did all the things mothers do to take care of their families – the school run, preparing meals, generally having a happy and fulfilled home life with them. At no point did I agonize when I saw someone else doing a film; at no point did I wonder if I could have had that part.”
As time progressed, Paltrow has felt only diminishing interest in returning. Her last major box office project was Avengers: Endgame from 2019, and though a commercial success, that experience seemed to cement in Paltrow a desire to move indefinitely towards business and wellbeing endeavors, rather that step back into the movie world.
Notably, her creation of the GOOP brand, the digital media lifestyle resource dedicated to providing recipes, style and travel, has afforded her satisfaction well beyond anything she felt from the likes of The Talented Mr. Ripley, Shakespeare In Love, Sliding Doors or Shallow Hal.
“When it’s you, all you… when the idea and the drive and ambition comes from your own imagination, it’s a feeling so much more fulfilling than anything else.
“Of course, being part of a big movie gives you satisfaction and a feeling of accomplishment, but you are only ever a very small part of a major project.”
Indeed, while Paltrow may not have realized it at the time, but pressing ‘send’ on her very first Goop newsletter, way back in 2008, was arguably one of the most pivotal moments of her life. Some assumed that the weekly lifestyle mailout – which swiftly expanded into a fully-fledged, permanent online retail presence – was simply a vanity project, yet 15 years on the brand, worth over a quarter of a billion dollars, has surpassed all expectations.
“I wouldn’t say I yearned a complete shift in purpose; I just wanted something else… something different. I needed it, for myself.”
If Goop is doing well for its age, it’s fair to say its founder, now past her half-century, looks even better. Blonde, lithe and eternally tanned, Paltrow is still effortlessly stunning, emitting a glow that genuinely seems to radiate from within.
That makes her, of course, the best possible advert for her brand. And yet, even she, the health goddess, battles to find a balance where diet is concerned.
“I make an effort to stick to organic foods whenever possible because I think it’s better for my health and the environment,” she says. “I also try to support local farmers and producers by choosing local products.
“My goal is to keep my diet filled with fresh, minimally processed foods, steering clear of too many additives and preservatives,” she explains.
“However, I’m totally realistic about it. There are times, like when I’m stuck in an airport, when nothing hits the spot like a bag of Doritos and a cold beer,” she laughs. “It’s all about balance, right?
“We’re living in a modern world, and sometimes convenience and comfort food are exactly what we need. It’s important not to be too hard on ourselves and to enjoy life’s small indulgences. Keeping things flexible and forgiving in our diets can make all the difference in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and a lot of this is the ethos behind Goop. It’s doing the best whilst accepting imperfections. It’s realism, it’s authenticity.
“To learn what I needed to, both for my business, for my family, and for myself, I have had to constantly shed layers of ego. I made so many mistakes along the way, as well, and I do honestly believe I’m owned them.”
“Ultimately, I have never set out to portray myself as perfect. I mean, are you kidding? I am a mess. I have always been so open about my shortcomings.”
Of course criticism still comes about – it’s inevitable in every passage and, in this social media generation, every occupation, it seems. Yet Paltrow knows when you reach out – Goop showcases so much lifestyle and wellness, and is accompanied by a podcast that boasts millions of monthly listeners, plus a Netflix series titled Sex, Love and Goop – you need to expect something back.
“That’s fine, providing we can turn the corner and get that element of fun back into what we do. There is so much seriousness these days, fashion in particular. I was always into fashion, even at high school and junior high school; and in New York City I was exposed to everything that went on there. I was reading Vogue when I was 15 years old, and it’s always been something that has interested me.
“And to connect it back to the wellbeing theme, it’s an important and personal thing that we should all celebrate our individuality through. Who is to say anyone has it wrong in terms of what they wear? Fashion, image, style… it’s complete freedom and self-expression. It fascinates me as much now as at any time in the past.”
Away from work, wellbeing, Evangelyn puff-sleeve sweater in virgin Italian wool, and the customary (occasional) corn snacks, Paltrow is happily remarried, to producer Brad Falchuk, whom she met during the filming of an episode of teen musical comedy Glee in 2010. “Some men feel intimidated when they see women excelling at various things,” she continues. “It’s not always a conscious thing, and it’s certainly not all men, but it does shake up how we’re traditionally seen and treated.
“Yet Brad is never that. What’s more, he has things that are reminiscent of my dad. It’s like blue-eyed, Jewish, TV writer, with a heart of gold and a great sense of humour. I finally chose my dad.”
Love her, loathe her, or view the visually and stylistically impeccable actress and businesswoman with absolute ambivalence, Gwyneth Paltrow is untamable, unstoppable and apologetically authentic.
