GWYNETH PALTROW

Gwyneth Paltrow, 37, is English actress that used to be engaged to Brad Pitt. On March 21, 1999, that image was altered completely when the little known actress was awarded the Academy Award for her outstanding performance in Shakespeare in Love (1998). Gwyneth Paltrow, who in fact is not English, was born in 1972 in Los Angeles, the daughter of noted film director Bruce Paltrow and Tony award-winning actress Blythe Danner.

Paltrow made her professional stage debut in 1990. Her most recent stage appearance was in Proof at London’s Donmar Warehouse. Her debut film was Shout, with John Travolta. She also appeared in Hook (1991), as Young Wendy. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards. Paltrow appeared in Malice (1993), with Alec Baldwin and Nicole Kidman, in the film, she had a minor role. In the same year, Paltrow had a supporting role in Flesh and Bone.

Since the Oscar for Shakespeare in Love, Paltrow’s film success has been less noteworthy. She said she was unequipped for the pressure, leading to several bad movie choices, agreeing with peers who believe the win is a curse.

In May 2005, Paltrow became the face of Estée Lauder’s Pleasures perfume. She appeared in Chicago on 17 August 2007, to sign bottles of the perfume, and on 8 July 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.