Gwyneth Paltrow returns as Pepper Potts in "Iron Man 2." The Marvel film, which stars Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark and is directed by Jon Favreau, is being released May 7 by Paramount.
Paltrow was recently seen in Marvel’s “Iron Man,” which grossed more than $585 million worldwide at the box office. She also starred in James Gray’s romantic drama “Two Lovers,” opposite Joaquin Phoenix, for which she received an Independent Spirit Award nomination, and in her brother Jake Paltrow’s directorial debut, “The Good Night,” as the wife of a former pop star who’s been reduced to writing jingles. The film also starred Penelope Cruz and Danny DeVito. This fall, she will star opposite Tim McGraw in the drama “Love Don’t Let Me Down.”
Paltrow’s other recent film credits include “Proof,” the film adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, which she also performed at London’s Donmar Warehouse Theatre. Her performance as a harassed young woman struggling to care for her eccentric math genius father reunited her with her “Shakespeare in Love” director, John Madden, who also directed the film co-starring Anthony Hopkins, Jake Gyllenhaal and Hope Davis. She received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress for her work in the play, as well as a Golden Globe nomination for her work in the film.
Paltrow was also recently seen in “Running with Scissors,” an adaptation of Augusten Burroughs’ novel directed by Ryan Murphy. She also made a cameo appearance as a Peggy Lee-esque nightclub chanteuse in “Infamous,” from “Emma” director Douglas McGrath,
Other film credits include “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow,” an adventure film co-starring Jude Law and Angelina Jolie; “Sylvia,” the Focus Features film that tells the story of the relationship between Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes; Neil LaBute's “Possession,” a romance also starring Aaron Eckhart; a cameo appearance in the New Line comedy “Austin Powers 3”; and the critically acclaimed Wes Anderson film “The Royal Tenenbaums,” in which she starred opposite Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston and Ben Stiller. She also starred in the Peter and Bobby Farrelly-directed “Shallow Hal” co-starring Jack Black and Jason Alexander.
Additional credits include roles in Jennifer Jason Leigh and Alan Cumming’s “The Anniversary Party” opposite Cumming, Leigh, John C. Reilly, Kevin Kline and Parker Posey, as well as “Duets,” a film directed by her father, Bruce Paltrow, and Miramax Films’ “Bounce” opposite Ben Affleck. Paltrow has appeared in director Anthony Minghella’s “The Talented Mr. Ripley” opposite Matt Damon, Jude Law and Cate Blanchett, and the hit film “A Perfect Murder” opposite Michael Douglas and Viggo Mortensen, in addition to the critically acclaimed and international box office hit film “Sliding Doors.”
Her other film credits include “Emma”; “Great Expectations” opposite Ethan Hawke; “The Pallbearer” opposite David Schwimmer; “Se7en”; “A View from the Top”; “Moonlight and Valentino”; “Jefferson in Paris”; “Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle”; “Malice”; “Hook”; and “Shout.”
Paltrow's first role was her remarkable performance in the critically acclaimed “Flesh and Bone” opposite Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid. She has also received rave reviews in a sell-out run of the Williamstown Theatre Festival’s production of “As You Like It,” in the role of Rosalind.
Paltrow recently made her directorial debut, co-writing and co-directing (with her friend Mary Wigmore) a short film, “Dealbreaker.”
In 2005, Paltrow entered into a multi-year contract with Estée Lauder. Since then, she has appeared in global print and television advertising campaigns for Pleasures and Pure White Linen fragrances. In 2006, Estée Lauder introduced New Pleasures by Gwyneth Paltrow, a limited edition collection, inspired by her favorite pampering rituals. In future seasons, Paltrow will appear in additional Estée Lauder fragrance, makeup and skincare advertising campaigns.
Born in Los Angeles, where she spent the first eleven years of her life, Paltrow comes from a very close-knit family deeply entrenched in the entertainment industry. Her late father, Bruce Paltrow, was a highly successful producer (”St. Elsewhere,” ”The White Shadow”) and her mother is the award-winning actress Blythe Danner. While Paltrow and her younger brother, Jake, lived in Los Angeles, she attended St. Augustine by the Sea (now known as Crossroads).
Subsequently, her family moved to New York and she graduated from the Spence School before enrolling in the University of California at Santa Barbara to major in Art History. She quickly learned that college life was not something she felt committed to and withdrew from school despite her father's strong recommendation to remain. It wasn't until he caught her moving performance in the Williamstown Theatre Festival production of “Picnic,” starring opposite her mother and Tony Goldwyn, that he lent his support in her pursuit of an acting career.
Paltrow currently resides in New York City and London.
