So, you're in the news a lot lately. You wear revealing get-ups that make headlines, and then talk about those getups in ways that make more headlines. You write cookbooks and you have a lifestyle website and you talk about your exercise routines and eating habits in interviews. Highlights of those interviews can be found in the right-hand column of Huffington Post's homepage, because stories about you are popular. In short, you are famous for being Gwyneth Paltrow. It's been a while since you were notable for your acting. There, I said it.
Sure, Iron Man 3 is opening soon, and I'm sure you are just fine in it. I'm just not sure the folks who rush out to see it on the first weekend are going because of you.
You're smart, and you probably realized a while ago that Hollywood is a tough slog for women as they get older. And that's why you started GOOP. I really hate the name, Gwyns, but otherwise I think it's a perfectly fine website.
So here's the thing: In America we have a lot of people who are famous for being famous. And Americans love to hate those famous people. See also: Kardashians, Palins.
I don't want that to be you, Gwyneth. But you are close to that, because the cookbooks and websites don't count, no matter how well they are done. That's what famous-for-being-famous people do when they are trying to squeeze out every last dollar from their FFBF status.
So, here is my advice to you... Two letters: TV. Gwyneth, go and get yourself a plum part on TV. Not a cameo, like you did for Glee or The New Normal. That's playing coy, and coy doesn't help your plight. No reality shows and no judging on talent shows either. No, you need a good role on HBO or Showtime or PBS. Maybe an episodic show, or a TV movie, or miniseries. You could be the person to bring back the miniseries! Think of the possibilities!
You know who you're up against... Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez, Reese "Do You Know My Name" Witherspoon, Julia Roberts, Jen Garner, Sandy Bullock, Nicole Kidman, just to name a few. A lot of names for not that many roles. Think about the folks that were so hot a few years back and then you never hear about them. Renee Zellweger... what is she doing now?
Two role models for you: Claire Danes and Julianne Moore. The former younger than you, the latter a decade older. Claire Danes wisely jumped at the role of Carrie Matheson on "Homeland". For years she gets to create this complicated, often unlikeable but tenacious CIA agent, to critical acclaim. Julianne Moore did great work in the popular indie "The Kids Are Alright" and then pivoted to TV for an award-winning role as Sarah Palin in "Game Change". She quietly brings in bank as a model for Revlon, but because of her great work as an actress, no one seems to care.
Good luck, Gwyneth!
All best,
Amy
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