Making a statement

THERE are three things currently close to Gwyneth Paltrow's heart: her new-found talent in singing, her two adorable children and, of course, the American bag brand Coach of which she was made the ambassador this year.

At least that was what I gathered during a recent interview with the Hollywood star in Beijing, China, where Coach celebrated its 70th anniversary.
Sheer elegance: Gwyneth Paltrow posing for photographs after her interview.

The 39-year-old actress appeared in a simple yet tastefully-woven green dress in a suite room at the 53rd floor of Park Hyatt Beijing. She politely greeted journalists and plunged straight into the interview.

Paltrow – most recently seen in Contagion – played a troubled country singer in the film Country Strong last year and went on to do more singing in her guest role in the TV series Glee. She has also sang at the Academy Awards and performed a duet with Cee Lo Green at the Grammy Awards of his hit Forget You. No wonder there is so much buzz lately about her cutting an album of her own.

"I was offered a few records deals, but at that time, I just felt that it wasn't the right time. I don't know, you never know," she said. "I really enjoyed singing that is related to acting like the Country Strong film about country music and Glee."

Yes, her fans heard it right. She is craving for more but, on the other hand, is not willing to give up her acting career yet.

"I feel like I don't know how to make that transition into a singer on my own. But I would like to do another musical movie or make a record to go with that. We'll see," she said.

Paltrow loves most of the songs from her husband Chris Martin's band Coldplay, as well as songs by Beyonce, The Strokes and The Killers.

She once described Coming Home – the song she performed in Country Strong – as one of her favourite songs. But right now, her favourites are Us Against The World and Charlie Brown from her hubby's band.

Apart from work, she spends a lot of time with her children Apple, seven, and Moses, five. "I'm very silly with my kids. I don't know what's the silliest thing I've done recently but I do chase them around. On Halloween, we were very silly with make-up and I had fun with them," she said.

According to Paltrow, she now has more opportunities to show her lighter side through her acting roles and projects such as her cookbook My Father's Daughter.

"I can express my real self and show my more humorous side. It has been a nice change," she added.

It is certainly not hard to imagine how funny Paltrow can be off camera, though she was sitting with the most upright posture throughout the interview.

Asked what she would do if the world ended tomorrow, she quipped: "Eat some Peking Duck." This made the journalists in the room burst out in laughter.

On her children, she said she would like her kids to learn Mandarin on top of Spanish and French as China is growing to be more influential.

With regards to ageing, Paltrow said with a grin: "I am not afraid of ageing and it's inevitable. I am not that excited about it either. "I am going to fight it every step of the way; you know, but I still think it's beautiful to be a woman who is a real woman who lives life, and who has children and experiences heartbreak and joy, and all that shows in your face."

On the women she admires, Paltrow said: "I look up to women of the older generations like Katharine Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn who really had their own styles. Even someone like Anjelica Houston today who, you know, really wears what works for her yet looks great."

As the new face of Coach internationally, Paltrow is featured in the Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 advertising campaign.

Her images with the handbags are used in selected European and Asian markets, including China, Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Taiwan and South Korea.

She described herself as the closest candidate that Coach could find to portray the essence of the brand.

"First of all, I am very much a bag person. We are also both from New York, and I think we both pay a lot of attention to quality and detail.

"Coach represents a very quintessential New York, a classic brand that is both chic and comfortable at the same time," she added.

For the 70th anniversary campaign, celebrated fashion photographer Peter Lindberg shot Paltrow with various bags such as the Madison Gathered Leather Sophia in Parchment and Madison Quilted Chevron Lindsey, on the rooftop of Tudor City in Manhattan.