The wellness industry's favourite nepo baby, Gwyneth Paltrow comes from strong showbiz stock. Her mother, Blythe Danner, is an actress in her own right and has starred in films like Back When We Were Grownups and the Meet the Fockers franchise, while her father Bruce Paltrow was a film maker and director. We wonder how she got into the industry?
It's fair to say Gwyneth has eclipsed both her parents' fame throughout her career – with an Oscar, an Emmy and a Golden Globe to her name, as well as a industry-leading wellness company famed for its vagina-scented candles. Then there's her A-list marriage to Coldplay frontman Chris Martin between 2003 and 2016, with whom she shares two children, which elevated her star power even further.
Now Gwyneth is best known for her zany, organic hemp-pushing Instagram account where she makes viral 'boyfriend breakfasts' for her husband Brad Falchuk. But with a new bombshell biography about the Hollywood star soon to come out, which promises insight about her Goop empire and her early relationships with Brad Pitt and Ben Affleck, fans will be wanting to know more about Gwyneth's backstory.
It turns out her first time on a film set was when she was 12 days old visiting her mother, Blythe Danner. So who is Blythe? And are the mother and daughter close? Here's all you need to know.
Who is Blythe Danner?
Blythe is a Tony and Emmy award-winning actress. She has Pennsylvania Dutch heritage, as well as English and Irish ancestry.
How old is Blythe Danner?
Blythe is 82 years old. She was born on 3 February 1943.
What has Blythe Danner starred in?
Blythe is a big name in the entertainment industry who got her start on Broadway in Butterflies Are Free, which earned her a Tony Award. Since then Blythe has appeared in the drama series Huff, Will & Grace, We Were the Mulvaneys and Back When We Were Grownups. Blythe's other film credits include The Great Santini, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, The Myth of Fingerprints, The Love Letter and I'll See You in My Dreams.
She also plays Dina Byrnes in Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers, Little Fockers and the fourth film in the franchise which is due out in 2026.
Is Gwyneth Paltrow close with her mother, Blythe Danner?
Yes, Gwyneth and Blythe have always shared a close bond and have supported each other both personally and professionally. Blythe also has another child, Jake Paltrow, who (surprise, surprise) is also a director, screenwriter and actor.
Their relationship is likely to feature in the forthcoming biography, which features 220 interviews about the Hollywood actress. 'Love her or hate her, we haven't been able to look away,' says its author Amy Odell.
In March, Gwyneth revealed she took therapeutic MDMA on an episode of The Goop Podcast and it improved her relationship with her mum. Speaking to her friend about the impact the treatment had on her she said, 'You also said, "Oh you, your relationship with your mom is so gentle." Remember? You were like, "What, what shifted?" You know? You're not annoyed with your mom anymore.'
Gwyneth has previously called her mother 'genuinely one of the strongest people I know'. She also credited her mother for teaching her not to view other women as competition – which recently came in handy when the internet was hellbent on pitting Gwyneth and her A-list neighbour Meghan Markle against each other.
Blythe was also present to watch Gwyneth and Chris Martin's daughter Apple at the Parisian Debutante Ball in December. Gwyneth has said herself her mum is 'very elegant and very proper'.
Is Blythe Danner married?
Following the death of her husband Bruce from cancer in 2002, Blythe stated that she had no interest in dating again. Rumour has it Gwyneth has tried to set her up a few times over the years, but to no avail.
Pictures of Gwyneth Paltrow and Blythe Danner
