Gwyneth Paltrow Interview

Gwyneth Paltrow battles an evil mastermind aiming to destroy Earth in Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. But if there’s anything more fulfilling for her than saving the world from destruction, it’s motherhood. The Oscar winner, 31, put Hollywood on hold to immerse herself in the world of breastfeeding and diaper changing after the birth of daughter Apple on May 14. She recently talked about how life has changed for her and her husband, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, and when she might consider working again.

So how is motherhood treating you?

It’s phenomenal – it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

How so?

I don’t know. I think that when you find the right person and you have a baby, I think that it’s probably very true for women – but I just feel so complete. I just feel completely and utterly happy.

More complete than having a great career and an Oscar?

Yes.

What about balancing your career and family life?

Well, I’ve done everything career-wise that I wanted to do. Now I have the luxury to fully dive into this domestic bliss.

Are you getting any sleep at all?

I’m actually very lucky because she’s a pretty good sleeper and she was having a big chunk of sleep a night from six weeks on. So I’ve been okay. She’s teething now, so sometimes she’s been doing a 4 a.m. thing lately, which is a little bit tough.

Is it hard to do these interviews when you know she’s in a room upstairs?

It’s interesting. I’m just trying not to cave in to the feelings of guilt. And I’m just sort of trying to observe how I feel. This is also an important part of my life. I’m just happy that it’s two hours and then I can go see her during my break and then I can be with her.

You grew up with a working mother (actress Blythe Danner). Was it hard for her to juggle both motherhood and career?

I never felt like she wasn’t around. I mean, I can probably point to two memories in my childhood where I came home and I was like, ‘Oh, mommy’s working,’ and it was kind of like a big deal. But mostly, I always knew that I could go to her. I was probably in third grade and she was doing a film with Martin Sheen. The house that they were shooting in was like six blocks away from our own house, so we would come home from school and walk over there, and it was a fantastic thing.

Did your mom give you any advice?

She’s very supportive of me. It’s more of a dialogue that we have about questions and child-raising things, and she sort of tells me what I was like.

You looked great right after giving birth. How did you do it?

Blush and a girdle.

Was there also a lot of exercise involved?

Yes, absolutely. It was tough.

As far as career plans go, what are you working on right now?

Oh, nothing. Breastfeeding is my current role. (Laughs)

Will you ever act full-time again?

I think I will, but I probably won’t do multiple films a year, right away. And I won’t work soon. I’m thinking about doing a couple of tiny parts, like a cameo, and maybe a little tiny part in something else, just to see if I can do it next year. But I think it’ll be a while before I do something like a big proper role.

If your husband (Chris Martin) goes on tour, will you stay home with the baby and vice versa?

I’m not sure how it’s going to work. I think we’ll just have to see. I mean, the most important thing to me is my family. So I’ll put that first and if it works out that something great comes along and I get excited about it and want to do it, then hopefully we can all work it out.

So, your priorities have changed?

Oh yeah. Completely.