When it comes to Oscar winners, their trophies often hold a place of honor, symbolizing their accomplishments and contributions to the world of film.
They proudly display them in their homes, surrounded by precious memories and achievements, or sometimes even incorporate them into their daily lives in playful ways.
However, Gwyneth Paltrow, who has shifted her focus to running her wellness and lifestyle brand Goop and has taken a step back from acting, has an entirely different relationship with her Academy Award. In a recent video for Vogue’s 73 Questions series, Paltrow’s Oscar, the Best Actress statuette she received in 1999 for her role in “Shakespeare in Love,” is seen in an unexpected role – propping open a door in her lush garden.
Given the unique relationship Paltrow has with her Oscar, this little trophy should be glad to see the light of day at all. Back in 2005, she admitted that she kept her statuette “tucked away at the back of the bookshelf in my bedroom because it weirds me out.”
“For weeks after I won, I kept it in storage,” she said. “I won’t even put it on the mantelpiece; the thing freaks me out.” The Goop founder revealed that she hadn’t been able to “feel really good about it” but instead was “sort of embarrassed.” The trophy itself “brings up weird, traumatic feelings” because she associates it with a “tough time” in her life.
Paltrow went on to share more about this complex relationship in a guest appearance on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast earlier this year. She recalled that her father, Bruce Paltrow, had been seriously ill around the time of her win, and the reaction she received after winning soured the moment for her.
“He was really debilitated,” Paltrow said of her father, who sadly passed away in 2002. “It was just this totally overwhelming moment.” She continued, “You know, I was 26. I cried, and people were so mean about it, and I just thought, ‘Wow, there’s this big energy shift that’s happening. I think I’m going to have to learn to be less openhearted and much more protective of myself and filter people out better.”
In the Vogue video, Gwyneth Paltrow casually refers to her Oscar as her “doorstop,” noting, “It works perfectly.”
