The daughter of Blythe Danner, an American actress, and Bruce Paltrow, a film and television producer, acting is in Gwyneth's blood. One of her first television roles was with her mother in the television drama Cruel Doubt.

Another of Gwyneth's early roles saw her appear in the made-for-TV thriller Deadly Relations, which also starred Matthew Perry.

Gwyneth starred as the daughter of Thomas Jefferson in the film Jefferson in Paris. A young Thandie Newton is the slave girl tightening her corset.

Gwyneth made headlines (and broke teenage hearts the world over) when she started dating Brad Pitt. She is pictured here with Pitt at the Legends of the Fall premiere in London.

Gwyneth's breakout film role was the title role in Emma, for which she gained critical acclaim - no easy feat for an American actress playing a British literary heroine.

Gwyneth in the film Duets in which she plays Liv, the daughter of professional karaoke hustler Ricky Dean, who was played by Huey Lewis.

Gwyneth works her own distinct brand of minimalism (note the simple black gown and pale-skinned make-up) at the film premiere of Emma in New York.

Gwyenth Paltrow with her former fiancé Brad Pitt at his birthday party at the Saint Bar Restaurant in London, complete with matching haircuts.

Gwyenth Paltrow as "Helen" in the 1998 film Sliding Doors, which was set in London.

Gwyneth Paltrow as Thomas Kent, otherwise known as Viola De Lesseps, in the film Shakespeare in Love - a role that would earn her a best actress Oscar.

Gwyenth wearing a black crop top and skirt at the 1999 BAFTA awards in London.

Gwynetth starred as Marge Sherwood alongside Matt Damon and Jude Law in The Talented Mr. Ripley, which saw the actress showcase some amazing 1950s outfits.

Gwyneth won the Oscar for Best Actress at the 75th Oscar ceremony for her performance in Shakespeare in Love, an evening made memorable by her sweeping pink Ralph Lauren gown and her tearful acceptance speech.

Gwyneth starred with her boyfriend at the time Ben Affleck in the 2000 film "'Bounce."

Gwyneth in plenty of fur and eyeliner as Margot Tenenbaum in the 2001 film The Royal Tenenbaums.

Gwyneth donned a fat suit for her role as Rosemary in Shallow Hal, which co-starred Jack Black.

An avid follower of fashion, Gwyenth attended the Calvin Klein Spring/Summer 2003 show at New York Fashion Week.

Gwyneth on the set of the BBC film based on the life of Sylvia Plath and her husband Ted Hughes, Ted and Sylvia, at Cambridge University.

Gwyenth takes her daughter - the uniquely named Apple - out for a Spring walk.

With Vogue editor Anna Wintour at the Chanel Autumn/Winter Chanel Haute Couture show.

Pregnant with her son Moses at the 63rd annual Golden Globe Awards in LA.

Gwyneth leaving a London gym with celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson, with whom she has worked with closely to maintain her enviable figure.

A red-haired Gwyneth stars with Roberty Downey Jr as Pepper Pots in the cult comic book film Iron Man.

On the promotional tour for Iron Man, Gwyneth unveiled a sexy new look that consisted of very short skirts and sky-high heels.

Gwyneth appeared as a guest on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, enjoying a pint of Guinness during her interview after admitting that following her pregnancy with Apple she "couldn’t go near anything healthy" and that she loved "anything fried!"

Gwyneth with her friend Madonna at the 2nd Annual Bent on Learning yoga benefit in New York. Their friendship seemed to be rekindled after a rough patch when Gwyenth admitted that Madonna "keeps people waiting - it takes up your whole day... It was too much."

Gwyneth reprised her role as Pepper Potts in Iron Man 2.

In 2010, Gwyneth put her music talent to the test by starring as fallen country music star Kelly Canter along side real life country star Tim McGraw in Country Strong.

Gwyneth shows off her vocal and musical skills live at the 44th Annual CMA Awards in Nashville, Tennessee.

Gwyneth is honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.

Famously good friends with Jay-Z and Beyonce, Gwyneth took on hip-hop during a sketch on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Following her cover of Cee Lo Green's Forget You on Glee, Green asked her to perform with him on stage at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Gwyneth Paltrow appears as herself in the reality documentary series Who Do You Think You Are, in which she discovered her relation to a Polish rabbi and travelled to Barbados to explore her great grandmother's life.

After her wildly popular first guest appearance on the hit musical TV show Glee, Paltrow made her second appearance on the show in March of 2011, covering both Adele's Turning Tables and the classic Over the Rainbow.

Gwyneth announced she was seperating from husband Chris Martin after 10 years of marriage in March 2014.