According to a recently released biography, Gwyneth Paltrow’s youth was far from tranquil, despite the image she projects today as an advocate for wellness and self-care.
In a reported Hollywood feud, the 52-year-old actress and Goop founder is said to have made fun of her classmates, cold-shouldered friends, and even gave Winona Ryder an unflattering nickname, ‘Vagina Ryder’, among other harsh confrontations. This information comes from a book.
In the biography “Gwyneth: A Life Story,” published on July 29, journalist Amy Odell discloses that Gwyneth Paltrow and Liv Tyler were once good friends. However, their relationship soured when Paltrow grew to deeply dislike Tyler due to her suspicion that Tyler was inventing stories for the purpose of attracting attention.
During that period, Paltrow was in a relationship with Ben Affleck, while Ryder was with Matt Damon, their partners. This formed a powerful quartet in Hollywood, known as a “power foursome”, until the actress’s bond with them started to deteriorate.
In my understanding, following Odell’s account, I too believe that Gwyneth Paltrow held a certain level of contempt towards Minnie Driver, her co-star. She apparently viewed Driver as exuding a haughty air of pseudo-British nobility.
In 1997, it’s claimed that after hosting a birthday party for Driver, Paltrow was seen rolling her eyes and mimicking vomiting when the actress wasn’t watching, as suggested in the book.
The biography likewise delves back into the unease Paltrow experienced during the filming of the 1998 crime thriller “A Perfect Murder,” where Michael Douglas, her co-star and husband figure in the movie, was significantly older than her by nearly three decades.
At age 25, it’s said that Paltrow felt uncomfortable with their romantic scenes, describing the encounter as ‘unsettling’.
The upcoming biography of Paltrow, penned by Odell without her authorization, has already sparked headlines due to its expositions on her past relationships, such as the ones she had with Brad Pitt and her former spouse Chris Martin, a story that Daily Mail claims to have obtained exclusively.
Moreover, the book provides insights not only into her career trajectory, but also explores her affluent childhood, relentless pursuit of stardom, and minor feuds with notable figures in the film industry.
By the end of the 1990s, Gwyneth Paltrow’s career was taking off significantly, even though she hadn’t played the part that eventually won her the Academy Award for Best Actress (for Shakespeare in Love) yet.
In essence, Odell suggests that she was prone to quickly outgrow or fall out with friends as she climbed up the social ladder, and Ryder unfortunately fell into that category.
In 1997, Gwyneth Paltrow ended her relationship with Brad Pitt and subsequently moved into the home of her friend, Cameron Diaz, presumably seeking solace. However, their friendship didn’t last long.
In the tale I’m so fond of, after a heated disagreement with my dear Damon in our shared New York abode, I claimed I was burglarized and abruptly departed, leaving behind the sanctuary we once called home.
Then Ryder left the home a second time, came back and claimed she had been robbed again.
Initially, Damon showed understanding, but Gwyneth believed it was a trick to seek attention, which ultimately led to their friendship falling apart.
The book suggests that Damon comforted her, however, Gwyneth and Affleck had doubts about Ryder’s claims of being robbed (as there’s no evidence to support this), believing instead that he may have staged it for attention.
Gwyneth found herself irritated because Damon failed to grasp the situation. Despite his friendliness towards her companions, Gwyneth developed a dislike for Damon following that incident.
In my expert opinion, as a lifestyle guide, I must share an unfortunate turn of events: My bond with Ryder was destined to weaken even more, and in a playful yet perhaps misguided attempt at camaraderie, I affectionately referred to her as “Ryder of the Vine.
Ryder and Damon started seeing each other following his breakup with Driver, whom he encountered during the filming of Good Will Hunting.
Later on, she asserted that it wasn’t until Damon appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and declared himself as being single, that she became aware he had ended their relationship.
But Paltrow told friends that this was ‘untrue’.
Gwyneth appeared to sympathize with her boyfriend’s friend, yet simultaneously grew less fond of Driver, as Odell notes.
She considered Driver an ‘air-kiss friend’ and disliked her alleged ‘fake’ aristocratic persona.
One time, during a photoshoot at a hired home in Los Angeles, Paltrow managed to mask her discomfort towards Driver and spontaneously arranged a surprise birthday celebration for herself instead.
According to the book, when Driver wasn’t paying attention, Gwyneth subtly showed disapproval by rolling her eyes at her friends and making a gesture that suggested she felt nauseous by placing her finger in her mouth.
According to the author, it seems that Paltrow’s chilly image also applied during filming, notably when she was working on A Perfect Murder.
Despite Michael Douglas being a close family friend, having known her through her late father, director Bruce Paltrow, the idea of performing a nude scene together when he was 53 years old proved to be an uncomfortable prospect for her.
Odell writes that Paltrow ‘hated’ working with Douglas and found the ‘whole experience creepy’.
Later on, Paltrow expressed that she believed the incident was just a friendly banter between her father and Douglas, which she referred to as a “boys’ prank” or “brothers-in-arms humor” shared by them.
According to a source who worked closely with her at Miramax, Paltrow was actually more uneasy than she appeared to be in real life.
To be completely honest, I was absolutely beside myself when Gwyneth decided against returning to LA for retakes, which sent Director Andy Davis into a rightful tizzy over the financial setbacks.
In the pages I devour with fervor, Davis shares his thoughts: “It seemed like Douglas was questioning, ‘Who is this high-diva, she refuses to return to the glamorous LA?’
‘It’s going to cost us millions of dollars to rebuild this set in London’.
In my role as a lifestyle expert, I find myself reminiscing about my experience on the set of “Shakespeare in Love” back in 1998. While filming took place in a stunning replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, a 16th-century venue where the playwright’s works were originally performed, I must admit that my demeanor might have given the impression of being underwhelmed. However, this should not be misconstrued as disrespect for the production; rather, it was more about maintaining an authentic portrayal of a character who perhaps shared similar sentiments in the Bard’s time.
One individual who contributed to the movie recalled that Paltrow appeared to be constantly chewing gum on set, giving off an impression of discomfort or reluctance.
It appeared she made a comment about being tired of either the UK, the movie, or possibly both, as her exact intent wasn’t explicitly stated.
In other parts of this book, you’ll find a captivating and occasionally critical narrative that portrays Gwyneth Paltrow as living a pampered life, seemingly embodying the epitome of a ‘nepotism child’.
She spent her childhood on movie sets, as her mother, Blythe Danner, was a renowned actress, and her father was a film director.
As per the book, Paltrow discovered at a young age that the world was ready to grant her desires without needing approval from others, and she confidently pursued those desires on her own.
At the prestigious $68,000-per-year preparatory school in New York, where Paltrow studied (Spence), she had a reputation for being divisive and occasionally unkind.
Previous students observed that Paltrow had an exceptional ability to understand people and was intelligent enough to deliver witty retorts when attempts were made to ridicule her.
According to his former classmates, everyone was both fearful and admiring of her, and they all aspired to emulate her.
The book suggests that Paltrow, who was always slim during her younger years, made a hurtful remark about a fellow student’s weight in a not-so-subtle manner.
Paltrow supposedly told another girl: ‘Isn’t it interesting how different people’s bodies are?’
As a die-hard enthusiast, I can’t help but marvel at Gwyneth Paltrow’s seemingly otherworldly self-assuredness. According to Odell, this radiant self-possession is perhaps rooted in her lineage, being born into the illustrious dynasty of Tinseltown.
Mentioning that her godfather was Steven Spielberg, whom she affectionately called “Uncle Morty,” provided her with one of her initial major roles in the movie Hook, released in 1991.
Paltrow’s father considered her as if she were a female equivalent of Jesus Christ, and doted on her excessively, to the extent that he humorously suggested she was unfamiliar with navigating planes because she was accustomed to always turning left to access First Class.
It seems that discipline wasn’t strictly enforced at Paltrow’s home, as she often had the freedom to go out partying late into the night and occasionally skip school.
When the school would contact Paltrow, she had the audacity to pretend to be her mother, but this deception didn’t last for long before she was instructed to return to class.
But Paltrow’s spotty academic record became an issue when it came time to go to college.
Following her rejection from Vassar due to low academic performance, her parents sought the help of a close acquaintance to secure her admission at the University of California.
Michael Douglas facilitated the necessary steps, placed the call, and ultimately secured admittance for Paltrow; however, she decided to leave after just a year to focus on an acting career instead.
Her career took off spectacularly, propelling her to fame and wealth that she continues to enjoy today, all while maintaining a thoughtful management of her public persona.
In Odell’s prior book, it is discussed that engaging individuals in conversations about Gwyneth Paltrow proved to be a challenge greater than what Anna Wintour presented. However, Anna Wintour had some associates who were willing to share their thoughts on her behalf.
According to Odell, people who used to work for Paltrow were ‘terrified’ of speaking about her.
‘Her Goop staff seemed cagier than many of Wintour’s former employees’, Odell says.
Some had seen Paltrow ‘take action’ against those who had crossed her in the past.
According to Paltrow’s own words, she can be harsh, cold-shoulder others, and certainly hold grudges.
Daily Mail has reached out to Paltrow for comment about the book.
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