Gwyneth Kate Paltrow is an American actress, businesswoman, and founder of Goop (launched 2008 as a wellness newsletter, expanded to e-commerce and Netflix series The Goop Lab in 2020). Born in Los Angeles, California, to film producer-director Bruce Paltrow (Ashkenazi Jewish descent from Belarus and Poland) and actress Blythe Danner (Pennsylvania Dutch/German, Irish, and English ancestry), she has a younger brother, Jake Paltrow (director and screenwriter). The family moved from Santa Monica to Massachusetts around age 11. Raised celebrating both Jewish and Christian holidays, she practices Transcendental Meditation (as of 2013), planned to convert to Judaism (2014), and celebrates Hanukkah annually (revealed 2024). Her godfather is Steven Spielberg. Extended family includes first cousin Rebekah Paltrow Neumann (married to WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann; daughter of Bob Paltrow, brother of Bruce Paltrow), second cousin Gabby Giffords (former U.S. Congresswoman), and cousins Katherine Moennig and Hillary Danner (actresses). Education: Attended Crossroads School in Santa Monica (befriended Maya Rudolph), Spence School in Manhattan, and studied art history at University of California, Santa Barbara (dropped out after one semester to pursue acting; no college degree). Acting career highlights include debut in High (1989), breakthrough in Emma (1996) and Academy Award-winning Shakespeare in Love (1998, Best Actress Oscar, Golden Globe, SAG Award), notable roles in Seven (1995), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), MCU as Pepper Potts (2013–2019), and Glee (2010–2011, Primetime Emmy for Guest Actress); stage work in Proof (2002 Broadway, 2003 West End, Olivier nomination); music in Country Strong (2010, Oscar-nominated song) and audiobooks (Grammy nomination 2009). Other ventures: Authored cookbooks like It's All Good (2013), hosted Spain... on the Road Again (2007), early investor in Thirteen Lune and Saie (2021). Personal life: Dated Brad Pitt (1994–1997, engaged) and Ben Affleck (1997–2000); married Chris Martin (2003–2016, 'conscious uncoupling'), with children Apple (2004) and Moses (2006); married Brad Falchuk (2018, met on Glee). Health issues include postpartum depression (2006) and long COVID (2021). Controversies: Goop criticized for pseudoscience (e.g., vaginal steaming, jade eggs—settled lawsuit; FTC complaint 2020); 2019–2023 ski trial (countersued, awarded $1); Harvey Weinstein unwanted advances (1997). Political: Democrat, hosted fundraisers for Barack Obama (2014) and Pete Buttigieg (2019). Awards: Academy Award (1999), Golden Globe (1999), Primetime Emmy (2011), etc.