Gwyneth Paltrow joined the elite club of Oscar-winning actors at a pretty young age. The Iron Man actor has endured a lot including her father Bruce Paltrow’s demise and of course, breaking up with Brad Pitt.
The life of the actor was not a straight line to live a glamorous celebrity life so easily as the actor often finds herself in the news for many reasons, some even including her controversies. However, she has forged herself into a capable and prominent actor in the industry.
Brad Pitt Almost Derailed Gwyneth Paltrow’s Career
Brad Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow dated from 1994 to 1997, and as per reports, the ex-couple even got engaged. But everything has an end and the end of their relationship really hit hard on the MCU star who was 25 at the time. John Madden’s Shakespeare in Love saved her career but Paltrow later revealed that she was not even interested in the film as she was mourning her breakup with Pitt.
The 1998 romance drama, where Paltrow played Viola De Lesseps, the love interest of William Shakespeare played by Joseph Fiennes was originally planned for Julia Roberts. “The movie had many iterations,” Paltrow told Variety. “Julia Roberts was going to do it for a long time, and then that version fell apart. It ended up in Miramax, and I was the first person they offered it to,” she added.
“I was in the middle of a terrible breakup (with Brad Pitt) and the idea of going to England and being far from home just seemed …I didn’t even read it. I was just like, ‘I can’t read anything right now. I’m having a really hard time.’”
Paltrow eventually signed up for the film and it helped the actor to overcome the hard breakup that almost ruined her spectacular career.
When Kate Winslet Rescued Gwyneth Paltrow’s Career
After Paltrow rejected to be in Shakespeare in Love, the newly hired director John Madden approached Kate Winslet who was enjoying the rising stardom after starring in Titanic. “She read the script and got it completely,” Madden said of talking with Winslet.
“I had a lunch with her, where she was ecstatic about it. And then a week later, she called up and said, ‘I don’t think I can.’”
Of course, the director tried to persuade Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind star to attempt another reading with her friends but it did not work.“She felt unnerved by it, and she stepped out,” Madden recalled. But reading the script a few months later, Paltrow was fascinated with the character. “I just couldn’t put it down. It was perfect,” Paltrow said. Also, as per Variety, one of Paltrow’s agents tried to make the actor leave the project but she went on to star in it. “This person said, ‘I think it’s more of a guy’s part.’ I was like, ‘Well, I want to do it,’” she said.
Certainly, Winslet rejecting the film turned out to be Paltrow’s blessing as it was a critical and box office success grossing over $289 million worldwide. The movie received 7 Oscars including Paltrow’s Best Actress win while it was nominated for astonishing 13 Oscars.
Source: Variety.
