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Gwyneth Paltrow recently opened up about her role as a mother and stepmother, reflecting on some of the complexities of family life. On her Goop podcast, where she appeared with her husband, Brad Falchuk, Paltrow revealed that she shares a regret similar to one her late father, Bruce Paltrow, once expressed—that she wishes she had more children. The actress, who has two kids—Apple and Moses—with her ex-husband Chris Martin, also embraces her role as a stepmother to Brad’s two children from his previous marriage.
Paltrow recalled that her father often said his biggest regret was not having more kids, a sentiment she hadn’t fully understood until she was in her own position. She explained, “My dad used to say the only regret he had in his entire life was not having more kids. And I felt like that for a long time until I got [stepchildren].”
Reflecting on her and Brad’s approach to blending their families, Paltrow admitted that they were careful and patient in trying to adjust everyone, but she now wonders if they might have waited too long. She mentioned, “I think at the time, we really felt like we were doing the right thing. We were trying to kind of land the plane very, very gently and slowly and get everybody on board, but I’m not sure that it didn’t just prolong that thing off, like, we don’t know what we’re doing.”
The Iron Man star also discussed the challenges of being a stepmother, calling it “tricky.” She noted that her husband’s children, understandably, took time to adjust, and the dynamic often placed Brad in the difficult position of trying to manage both his children and his new relationship. “What seems to happen every time is the dad is in the middle,” she explained. “The kids are having a hard time understanding and adjusting; they don’t want to let go of the family dynamic they had, and the dad is trying to appease both and play both sides.”
Paltrow also shared that she and Brad could have moved in together sooner, but they took extra time to let their children adjust to the changes.
On the work front, Paltrow is gearing up for her role in the upcoming movie Marty Supreme, where she will star alongside Timothée Chalamet.