Gwyneth Paltrow has a sense of humour. She needs it. It helps keep her feet on the ground in a business that has elevated Gwyneth to dizzying heights.
Born into show business -- to actor-mother Blythe Danner and producer/director-father Bruce Paltrow -- the youngster first appeared on stage at age 5 in a summer stock walk-on part. Larger roles followed each summer, until the 19-year-old co-starred with her mom in a 1991 Williamstown Theatre production of Picnic.
That year Paltrow took on her first screen roles in Shout and Hook. Gwyneth worked once again with Danner in 1992 in the TV movie Cruel Doubt (Parts 1 and 2). 1993 brought parts in Deadly Relations (TV), Malice, and Flesh and Bone. Paltrow’s one movie in 1994 was Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle, but 1995 was booked solid with Jefferson In Paris, Higher Learning, Moonlight and Valentino, and Seven. The latter role brought Gwyneth more fame off-screen than on for a relationship with co-star Brad Pitt. Subsequent romances with her leading men (not all of them!) have ensured photogenic Paltrow regular appearances in the tabloids.
The now widely-recognized actress went on to luminous performances, employing her repertoire of natural American and flawless pseudo mid-Atlantic and British accents, in Emma (1996), The Pallbearer (1996), Hard Eight (1996) Sydney (1996), Hush (1998), A Perfect Murder (1998), Great Expectations (1998), Sliding Doors (1998), and Out of the Past (voice - 1998). For her role in Shakespeare In Love (1998), Gwyneth received the two big ones -- the Golden Globe for Best Actress and the Oscar for Best Actress. In 1999, the actor starred in The Talented Mr. Ripley, and, off-screen, had the distinction of topping the New York Observer list of 1999's Most-Mentioned People. Gwyneth was, as well, on Mr. Blackwell’s Best-Dressed list, and her image graced the covers of countless celebrity magazines.
Coming up in 2000 for the actor are the movies Duets (controversial, after being recently dropped by Disney for violent content) and Bounce. She is presently in negotiations regarding a role in Shallow Hal, and, in March, will be an Oscar presenter. Commercial work is also in store, with a series of Dior print ads ready for release.
Everywhere you look you see her...I mean, Gwyneth seems nice enough. But I mean, come on!... Paltrow’s third-person joking commentary on herself at a Hollywood luncheon last fall is a refreshing indication that the most-mentioned celebrity hasn’t let the adulation of peers, critics, media and fans, alike, go to her head. She’s poised for a fabulous future, and she’ll be okay with that.
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