Some Films Gwyneth Paltrow Has Appeared In

By Gavin Crisp. 26 Jan 2018 3:22 PM

If you ever want to feel like you’re doing nothing with your life, check out Gwyneth Paltrow’s 1998. Most actors would kill to have in their filmography four great movies from an entire career — let alone one year. What’s more, she starred in good movies before then and continues to star in good films today. Regardless of what you make of her personal life and all its goopness, there’s no denying the girl can act. Here are some films in which she did just that.

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“Se7en” (1995)

Gwyneth achieved fame and a wedding engagement with this clever (albeit gruesome) crime drama from David Fincher. She played opposite soon-to-be boyfriend/fiancé/ex- fiancé Brad Pitt as a cop’s wife whose head was central to one of the most memorable scenes in recent cinematic history.
“Emma” (1996)

You can count Jane Austen among those classic writers whose works Paltrow has brought to life on the big screen. This more faithful adaptation came out a year after "Clueless", a film that was also based on "Emma", albeit slightly more fast and loose with the details. And the time period. And the character names.
“Sliding Doors” (1998)

Throughout her career Paltrow has taken on roles in which she must play characters of dichotomy: thin/fat (“Shallow Hal”), boy/girl (“Shakespeare In Love”) and this film, which saw her play two versions of the same character. Assuming yet another English accent, Paltrow subtly portrayed both Helens – the one that caught the train and the one that didn’t – but distinctively enough that you could tell the two apart by more than just the haircut.
“Great Expectations” (1998)

Having taken on Jane Austen, Paltrow had her sights on another English literary titan in Charles Dickens. She portrayed the female lead in “Great Expectations” opposite Ethan Hawke’s Pip, er... Finn, in this stylish modern-day retelling of the Victorian classic.
“A Perfect Murder” (1998)

Paltrow starred with Michael Douglas and Viggo Mortensen in this remake of the Alfred Hitchcock classic “Dial M For Murder”. Apparently this was en vogue in 1998, what with Gus Van Sant’s needless remake of “Psycho” coming out the same year.
“Shakespeare In Love” (1998)

The one she won an Oscar for (and unfortunately the one most associated with the working relationship between Paltrow and then-Miramax bigwig Harvey Weinstein). Paltrow continued the dual roles thing (and the English accent) from “Sliding Doors”, released earlier that year, to play Viola, Shakespeare’s inspiration for the lead character in “Romeo & Juliet”. The film cleaned up at the year’s Academy Awards, with Gwyneth’s win proving she can hold her own among perennial Oscar noms Dame Judi Dench and Geoffrey Rush.
“Duets” (2000)

Gwyneth got to work with director/father Bruce, show off her singing chops AND work with Huey Lewis (the News were not cast) in this road movie about karaoke. Her duet with Lewis – a cover of “Cruisin’” by Smokey Robinson -- even bore her a #1 hit in Australia for two weeks. Think of this as Paltrow’s “Glee” audition 10 years in the making.
“Bounce” (2000)

Two years after “Shakespeare In Love” Paltrow would work with Ben Affleck a second time in this romance. The couple dated from 1997 to 2000, breaking up before production for “Bounce” commenced. Notwithstanding the awkwardness of working intimately with one’s sex, Gwyneth convinced Ben to take the role to go against type. Some critics saw no spark between the couple on-screen, which is sadly understandable given their off-screen drama.
“The Royal Tenenbaums” (2001)

After the success of “Rushmore” director Wes Anderson had hip Hollywood champing at the bit to work with him. No shocker that he cast Paltrow as adopted daughter Margot, who falls in love with unrelated brother Richie (Luke Wilson). Though we’re pretty sure she never smiles in this movie, she shows an astounding range built upon facial expression and cigarette smoking technique.
“Shallow Hal” (2001)

Gwyneth’s biggest role yet (in more ways than one. Okay… there are only two ways.). As the rotund object of Jack White’s delusional affections, Paltrow donned a fat suit for those scenes in which her character’s real body appeared. In a less-skilled actor’s hands such a portrayal could come off as goofy but Paltrow managed to elicit sympathy while not being heavy-handed.
“Country Strong” (2010)

Two actresses who also sing are joined by a singer who can also act in this country music-based movie that sounds like a precursor to TV’s “Nashville”. In any case, Gwyneth Paltrow, Leighton Meester, and Tim McGraw star. We can't help this was more a passion project for Gwyneth, who has taken on several roles in which she can sing.
Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008- )

Gwyneth’s latest work(s) takes place in the uber-lucrative universe of Marvel Comics. What with the franchise’s crossovers and cameos, Paltrow could play Pepper Potts well into her 80s. The untitle “Avengers” movie, set for release in 2019, will mark Paltrow’s seventh time playing the character.

Some Films Gwyneth Paltrow Has Appeared In

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