The drama centre of a London art college is probably the least likely place to find a successful Hollywood actress talking about her career as an actress.
But 32-year-old Gwyneth Paltrow is a bit quirky like that. Stepping onto the stage of London’s Cochrane Theatre, dressed in rather understated white jeans/jacket and looking stunningly blonde, she is greeted by rapturous applause from drama students, film buffs and journalists eager for her to mention her rock star husband whom she married in December 2003 (Chris Martin, lead singer with the band Coldplay) or daughter Apple born in May 2004.
Alas there is no joy on that front tonight (although she does briefly say that since becoming a mother, she finds it harder to learn lines and can‘t remember what day it is).
The reason for Paltrow’s “audience with/actor’s studio” style of talk is a serious one: to discuss the differences between stage and film acting with the drama centre’s director Vladimir Mirodan.
What would a young Hollywood actress know about the differences between stage and film acting you may ask? Plenty. Anyone who is able to give an over-blown acceptance speech, like the one Paltrow gave at the Oscar awards-ceremony in 1998 is well-qualified. She also has 16 years of acting experience under her belt.
“In the theatre you need a sense of security, but in film you don’t want it. Film is all about capturing the moment. You must have spontaneity; otherwise you can see the wheels grinding,” she commented.
Her talk was interspersed with selected movie clips including from Sliding Doors (1998), Shakespeare in Love (1998) and Hook (1991) which seemed to embarrass the star who admitted: “I wish I didn’t repulse myself so much, I don’t like to watch myself on screen - it makes me freak out and think how horrible my voice sounds.”
Paltrow talked of the confidence needed to act: “As an actor, if you don‘t have confidence in your instincts you are nowhere.”
However, she explained that her sensitivity can make her vulnerable on set: “I don’t know if it’s a blessing or a curse. If I walk into a room and somebody is in a bad mood or upset I can feel it. I end up taking it personally when it‘s nothing to do with me. Maybe it‘s old-fashioned narcissism.”
She revealed the difficulties involved working with Jude Law in the movie Sky Captain and World of Tomorrow which was entirely filmed on a blue screen - an imaginary set.
And without naming anyone she said that two of her male co-stars had been difficult to work with. “It has to do with their insecurity. It’s about managing this other person and making them feel they’re ok and that you know your place.”
Paltrow is currently working on the movie Running with Scissors, an adaptation of Augusten Burroughs bestselling memoir, which is due for release in 2006.