To most moviegoers, Gwyneth Paltrow was "that English actress that used to be engaged to Brad Pitt." On March 21, 1999, that image was altered completely when the little known actress was awarded the Academy Award for her outstanding performance in Shakespeare in Love (1998). Gwyneth Paltrow, who in fact is not English, was born in 1972 in Los Angeles, the daughter of noted film director Bruce Paltrow and Tony award-winning actress Blythe Danner. In 1991, she quit the University of California and began to actively pursue a career in acting.

She broke her much publicized engagement to actor Brad Pitt in 1997 citing as the reason the fact that neither she nor Pitt felt that they could pursue their respective careers and at the same time maintain a happy marriage. They remain good friends. A tall, wafer thin, delicate beauty, Gwyneth Paltrow is a consummate professional and a highly skilled actress who appears to possess everything necessary to achieve super stardom.

Born September 27, 1972, her primary personality traits are represented by the Chinese Zodiac elemental animal sign, the Water Rat. The Water Rat is the gentlest of the breed. She probably has good communications skills and is likely a good people person. She is fun to be around and the first one we seek out when we want to know what's happening. Flexibility comes naturally to her, and she readily adapts to changing circumstances. Also, she most likely will be a lifelong learner.