Gwyneth Paltrow Backtracks After Backlash

[Kezza]

Gwyneth Backtracks After Backlash by Sarah Hall (eonline.com)

Gwyneth Paltrow is doing her best to prove that she's a true patriot at heart.

The actress has denied making disparaging remarks about America in a recent interview, claiming that she was "deeply upset" that she was misquoted.

Paltrow drew criticism after the Portuguese newspaper Diario de Noticias quoted her as saying, "The British are much more intelligent and civilized than the Americans."

However, the actress, who lives primarily in London with her husband, Chris Martin, and their two children, claims her remarks were simply misunderstood.

"I felt so upset to be completely misconstrued, and I never, ever would have said that," the Oscar winner told People magazine. "I definitely did not say that I think the British are more intelligent and civilized than Americans. I am a New York girl?that's how I always think of myself and see myself."

Paltrow denied even speaking with the Portuguese paper, though she said she did give a press conference in Spanish for an endorsement she recently did in Spain.

"This is what I said. I said that Europe is a much older culture, and there's a difference. I always say in America, people live to work and in Europe, people work to live. There are positives in both," Paltrow told People.

"Obviously, I need to go back to seventh-grade Spanish!"

While Paltrow may be able to blame her recent controversial comments on the language barrier, it may be more difficult for her to explain away some of the less than complimentary remarks she has made about the U.S. in the past?in interviews conducted in her native tongue, no less.

Here's a sampling of some of Paltrow's prior opinions:

* To Britain's Star magazine in February 2006: "I love living in the U.K.! Brits are far more intelligent and civilized than Americans."

* To London's Guardian in January 2006: "I love the English way, which is not as capitalistic as it is in America. People don't talk about work and money; they talk about interesting things at dinner parties. I like living here, because I don't tap into the bad side of American psychology, which is 'I'm not achieving enough, I'm not making enough, I'm not at the top of the pile.' It's just kind of like, 'I am.' "

* To Harper's Bazaar in September 2006: "People think it's strange that I want to live here. But London is where my husband lives and works... It's not as hectic as New York and not as vapid as Los Angeles."

* In the same Harper's interview, on preferring her British friends to her American friends: "They're intelligent, and they're not looking over my shoulder at dinner to see if there's anyone better walking in."

* To Toronto's Globe & Mail in September 2005: "I've always been drawn to Europe. America is such a young country, with an adolescent swagger about it. But I feel that I have a more European sensibility?a greater respect for the multicultural nature of the globe. And it's a strange time to be an American now."

* To London's Evening Standard in December 2005: "I find the English amazing how they got over 7/7. There were no multiple memorials, with people sobbing as they would have been in America. There, they are constantly scaring people, but at the same time, people think nothing of going to see a therapist."

Despite what she may have said in the past, Paltrow insisted to People that she feels "so proud to be an American."

"When you look at the rest of the world, we're so lucky, and that's something my dad always instilled in me," the actress said Monday.

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I reckon Mrs. Martin recieved a call from her Hollywood agent instructing her to recant her opinions if she hopes to continue a successful acting career in the US. After all, look at the backlash that the Texas-based country trio "Dixie Chicks" got when the lead singer made a statement at a London concert that she was "ashamed that George W. Bush was from Texas".

Damage control vs. expressing one's true, personal opinions? Hhmmmmmm....

[faceless]

I've never liked her - until now! haha

[janbo1960]

They couldn't sue her !!!!

[eefanincan]

I suspect that she will likely give up her acting career in the near future and live full time in London. She really hasn't done all that much since she had her kids anyway.

[IRiSHMaFIA]

Her country has been good to her, and for her to talk negatively about it won't help her career at all. She doesn't seem to wear hypocrisy well, although it should fit rather perfectly.