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Original poster

to not feel sorry for Gweneth

97 replies

badhairdecade · 29/03/2014 13:40

Poor Gweneth. She is reported to having implied that her work and life balance, as a multi-million-earning film star, is far more difficult than that of normal parents working a 9-to-5 job.

"It's much harder for me. I feel like I set it up in a way that makes it difficult because…for me, like if I miss a school run, they are like, 'Where were you?'," Paltrow said.

"I think it's different when you have an office job, because it's routine and, you know, you can do all the stuff in the morning and then you come home in the evening.

"When you're shooting a movie, they're like, 'We need you to go to Wisconsin for two weeks,' and then you work 14 hours a day and that part of it is very difficult. I think to have a regular job and be a mom is not as, of course there are challenges, but it's not like being on set."

OP posts:
TheGrassIsSinging · 29/03/2014 14:39

She has so much freedom of choice compared to the vast majority of women in the world. My heart does nt bleed for her one iota.

daisychain01 · 29/03/2014 14:40

When she is on set, she is away from home and / or working very long and unpredictable hours - over which she probably has very little control

Fine then, maybe she will have to rethink her priorities like everyone else, if life is so hard for her privileged family.

Not a bad position to be in, to have a wide array of options to choose from, it entirely depends on where her priorities lie. A real hollywood first world problem. Time to join the real world.

Maybe coloured by the thread I was reading on here this morning about the stark reality of poverty and the way people have to handle the life they lead in the best way they can, coping with adversity. I am sure they would prefer Ms P's 'problem'.

Yy to that world's smallest violin, it's screeching, especially due to the slightly whinge-y undertones.

Northernlurker · 29/03/2014 14:48

So people who have money aren't allowed to feel anything other than pure delight 24 hours a day? Hmm

Saying she has choices - well if the choice is to work or not work it's not a choice is it? We all know that we don't ONLY work for the money. There are other benefits and she probably enjoys acting. It's just not that family friendly a career.

elQuintoConyo · 29/03/2014 14:59

Women criticising other women. Always nice to read.
And don't tell me "well Gwyneth started it".
Leaves a bad taste in my mouth..
I work hard, I work shit hours also playing tonsel hockey with Robert Downey Junior judge away.

ITCouldBeWorse · 29/03/2014 15:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NuggetofPurestGreen · 29/03/2014 15:06

I do only work for the money Northern!

NuggetofPurestGreen · 29/03/2014 15:06

She could get a bloody office job if she thinks it's so amazing.

daisychain01 · 29/03/2014 15:08

I just don't feel sorry for her northern.

IMO, I feel she would do well to keep herself in the background at the moment. Agreed that everyone has a right to have a moan, but she isnt just any old ordinary person, lets face it. Do you get people like The Beckham's discussing their home and private life? They generally keep a discrete silence and thank goodness too!

Gwyneth and her family are going through the stress of a marital breakdown, I would have thought she would be better off keeping a low profile, and focus on getting things together for those kids, rather than attract attention and courting media coverage at such a volatile time.

Maybe I have always thought she was a bit bonkers and living in a parallel universe, all that "de-coupling" or whatever she said just confirmed that!

ForalltheSaints · 29/03/2014 15:09

I think we should try to consciously uncouple ourselves from any thoughts on Gwyneth and Chris, for the sake of their children.

NuggetofPurestGreen · 29/03/2014 15:15

daisy I think VB does go on sometimes about how hard it is being a working mum but for some reason she doesn't annoy me as much Grin

Springheeled · 29/03/2014 15:15

I'm sorry to all the Gwyneth apologists but any multi millionaire who begins any sentence with It's much harder for me' can fuck right off.
Zero hours contracts, shift work, single parenthood, shit housing, food banks, disability... Those things are 'much harder'. Being a film actress... No.

Descalzada · 29/03/2014 15:16

I don't think she wants your pity!!!

I found the New York Post COlumnist's indignance a bit delusional as well.

TheGrassIsSinging · 29/03/2014 15:17

I dont think its 'criticising other women' to point out how ludicrous it is that a gazillionaire with the freedom of choice most of the world's population can only dream of is being a self indulgent twat by publicly whinging about how hard her lot is.

Tell it to your therapist, Gwynnie.

TheCrackFox · 29/03/2014 15:19

She should follow Kate Moss' s example who lives by the motto "never complain, never explain."

NuggetofPurestGreen · 29/03/2014 15:19

Agree Grass. I'm all for being understanding and thinking people should be allowed to moan even if they have it 'better' than others etc but this is taking the piss.

Descalzada · 29/03/2014 15:22

I won't even feel sliiiiiiiightly sorry for her until Chris Martin gets together with a woman of about (hmm) 25 and Chris will seem to emerge from his shell making Gwyneth look 1) old and 2) like his jailer all these years. Then I'll feel for her. A bit. Briefly.

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 29/03/2014 15:22

Oh God we are all so hard done by.

Just a thought. If you are an average earner in the UK then you are closer in lifestyle to the Beckhams or the former Paltrow-Martins than you are to someone in Somalia. I forget where I heard that.

Pagwatch · 29/03/2014 15:24

I always think its difficult when people are asked a question in an interview and it is reported as if she just suddenly decided to pronounce on something.
She was presumably asked a question about her life versus a 9 to 5 life?
I also love the idea that she chooses to work and should just stay at home and stop moaning.
Because MN just loves sahms Grin

Descalzada · 29/03/2014 15:27

True. But I'm grateful for what I have! secure roof over my head, (part time job, tenner an hour)

Materially I may be "descalzada" but I feel content with my lot (now) - following therapy :-p

BalloonSlayer · 29/03/2014 15:29

The trouble is that she was born rich and has been very successful in her field of work. She can't see herself as being anything other than successful.

She thinks that if she did a "normal" job she would also be very successful, eg if she went into retail she would be the CEO of Marks and Spencers by now, if she studied law she would be a top lawyer etc. Not being top of her field does not occur to her.

So if she had a non-moviestar job - she thinks - she would be able to do the school drop offs and pick-ups every day.

It does not enter her head that she might still be working on the tills for M&S and have to work 6am - 6pm or she would lose her job, or that she might have fallen ill during her law degree and not graduated and working night shifts in a call centre on the minimum wage. And THAT is the reality for many working mums.

When you are paid millions for appearing in a film, you could invest that money wisely and never work again. So her "working motherhood" is by choice. Which is OK by me - good for her.

But I suspect that her feelings of hard-done-byness are more related to good old fashioned maternal guilt at choosing to continue to do jobs where she has to work away for weeks on end, when there is no financial need to do so.

Somersetlady · 29/03/2014 15:32

I dont think its 'criticising other women' to point out how ludicrous it is that a gazillionaire with the freedom of choice most of the world's population can only dream of is being a self indulgent twat by publicly whinging about how hard her lot is.

Tell it to your therapist, Gwynnie.

^^ this

pianodoodle · 29/03/2014 15:37

When I'm having a hard day I often take a moment to spare a thought for the hardships suffered by multi-millionaire film stars....

TeaMakesItAllPossible · 29/03/2014 15:38

I have in the last four years done what has been suggested up thread. I gave up my career where I worked away for long hours - she is right, it's hard to go to plays, sports days and parents evenings when you spend weeks away from home and your DC. And it gets harder to do that type of job as they get older. I do a more routine office job now. It is a little boring tbh. I'm paid a third of what I was. I have more experience than my boss but it took me 18 months to find a company that would interview me as I was too experienced. I now watch school sports matches, help with homework and all that stuff she's referring too. It easier being in the same country, working regular hours. I bet she'd spend longer than 18 months looking for an admin job.

I empathise with her but don't warm to her. I would eat more cake if I were in her position.

GildaFarren · 29/03/2014 15:43

For all her success, fame and wealth - I wouldn't swap places with her.

Robfordscrack · 29/03/2014 16:04

Must be incredibly hard choosing between McQueen and Dior for your next premiere.