Gwyneth Paltrow: 'I Worked My Ass Off' for Happiness

Okay, seriously, do you do anything but cook? It sounds like that's all you do.
On a normal day that's what I do. I'm always making at least two meals a day. If I'm home and in my London routine with the kids and dropping them off at school that's what I do. There are definitely days when I don't cook, but I cook a lot. I like doing it. It's very grounding and kind of relaxing for me.

Were you always interested in cooking?
No, not really. I started cooking with my dad when I was like 18, 19 years old. I was going to college in Santa Barbara and coming back into LA a lot and we started cooking together and got super into it. We would watch the Food Network together or call each other, "Oh I learned something so cool," because we were starting really from the beginning and had to learn all the basics. It was such a connection point for us. It's weird sometimes when I'm chopping I'll feel him behind me. I feel his presence, the love.

It's so important to cook with kids as you say.
Absolutely, and that's one of the reasons I wrote the book, [to] try to inspire people to make easy food at home, which is better for you. Kids really need to know what they're eating. They need to be interested in food. You determine your health by what you put in your body.

So, there is a contingent of people who are for some reason irritated by you. Do you know what I'm talking about?
Uh huh.

Why do you think that is? I have my theory, but I'll say afterward.
My theory is twofold. I think there's a part of me that because I think I do a lot, I think my work ethic is the reason why I'm successful. I think that a lot of people don't want to put in effort and it's easier to not change, not do something good for you, not work on your relationship, not make yourself a meal, not work out. [They're just] pissed off at someone else doing that. Everything in my life that's good is because I worked my ass off to get it and to maintain it. I also think, for example, like Mario Batali used to make fun of me all the time if I had soy milk in my coffee or if I was doing a cleanse or something. He used to grill me like, "Oh what are we eating? Squeezed out asparagus and seaweed?" And now he's the one doing a cleanse and having almond milk. I think people mistake me trying to be the best version of myself for me telling them you're not, or they just think well, what does that make me then, you annoying f**king person on the soapbox. But I can't please everybody, all I can do is focus on the people who seem to appreciate what I do and put into the world. I'll just do what I'm doing because, especially now, we live in a world now where everybody is able to express their opinion.

And anonymously.
Yeah, which almost sort of rules out the opinion. If everyone has an opinion then no one has an opinion. Ultimately, it's not about me.

It's about themselves.
Exactly. It's a projection. Sometimes if I hear of something really unkind or somebody's really misunderstood me or something like that for a second I'll be like, "Oooh wow that hurt," but almost immediately I'll be like, "poor guy." What state are they in that they're seeing that or projecting that.

Can we talk about...?
What's your theory?

Oh, that people are jealous. I know I'm going to sound like a suck up, but you're gorgeous, have a great career, two beautiful children, married to a big rock star. It all looks so effortless. You're well spoken. It just rubs people the wrong way. You look perfect.
It's funny because I'm so not. Of course, some of it is luck. My parents had money and they sent me to a good school, but it's like, what do you choose to do with that? You can rely on that and not do anything with it or you can say, "How am I going to justify that good fortune? How am I going to say my parents didn't waste their money on me?" I just think I'm really all about hard work and I honestly feel like anyone can have or do what they want as long as they put their mind to it.

When you admitted you had the baby blues (after the birth of son, Moses), it really went a long way.
It's weird because I'm as insecure as anyone. I know I don't project that but I am.

[Gwyneth interrupts the conversation to speak Spanish to someone.]

See that! You just spoke Spanish beautifully and I can barely say gracias.
(Laughs)

Can we please talk about your new career? Hello Miss Singing Superstar!
It's been really fun.

Now you want to announce that you're divorcing and marrying Matthew Morrison right?
Is that what they're saying?

Oh, I don't know, an affair maybe.
That's hilarious. I'm definitely not declaring that. I'm lucky -- [Gwyneth talks to her daughter Apple.] -- I have to do a tiny bit more work. How's your tooth? Let me see.

Apple had a tooth pulled. She had an abscess.

Ouch.
Anyway Matthew's become a really good friend of mine. It's funny the press like to write things. They say I'm starting a food magazine, but it's like the truth is I don't have time to get a blow dry, how am I going to start a food magazine? It's like I was out, I was out at a dinner with six people. They have to fill up all these pages. You know what? You'll see me out for dinner with Matt Morrison again, he's a great friend. I adore him. You have to just live your life.

Does Apple think you're the coolest thing ever for being in 'Glee'?
Um, I'm not sure. Apple, do you think it's cool I'm on 'Glee'?

Apple: Uh-huh.

Well it is cool.
It is cool. I love it.

You're doing an album now, right?
I have not decided. I haven't figured out if I'm going to do that or not. I'm just mulling it over. I would like to. I'm just in a thinking-it-all-over phase.

I'll let you go. I think Apple needs you.
I know, I'm sorry!

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