Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow is a perfect example of the California blonde, but also an “adopted daughter” of the Spanish city of Talavera de la Reina, where she lived as an exchange student and learned Spanish. This citizen of the world won an Oscar at the age of 26 for her role in Shakespeare in Love and had highly publicized romances with Brad Pitt and Ben Affleck. Paltrow now lives in London with husband Chris Martin, the lead singer of the English rock band Coldplay, and their two children. Paltrow’s worldly background is reflected in her ability with languages, as she speaks English and Spanish fluently and also has good command of Italian, French and German.Q. Why so many languages?
A. Languages come easy to me. I grew up imitating accents and I have a good ear.
Q. What’s the best thing about knowing Spanish?
A. It gives me a broader perspective of the world I live in.
Q. Who’s your favorite author?
A. J.D. Salinger. I have the first editions of The Catcher in the Rye, Franny and Zooey and Nine Stories.
Q. And in Spanish?
A. I also have them in Spanish.
Q. But what about a Spanish-language author?
A. All of them. Spain has such a rich culture!
Q. But is there one book in particular?
A. Now with the kids anything by Roald Dahl for the kids. When I was a girl I went through a phase when I was obsessed with Nancy Drew and then in the institute I got into Charlotte Bronte, Dostoevsky, Faulkner and of course García Márquez. But now it’s Dahl.
Q. Would you like to teach your fellow Americans Spanish?
A. I want to show Americans Spain. They know about France and Italy and don’t realize what they’re missing by not knowing Spain.
