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Gywneth's 'Brits are more civilised' comment angers the folks back home
Last updated at 09:22am on 04.12.06
Once she complained about the British weather. Another time she complained about British men.
But it seems American actress Gwyneth Paltrow is finally warming to life in London.
She says dinner party chat here is far more interesting, intelligent and civilised than back at home.
It's a declaration that has gone down rather badly in America. The 34-year-old Oscar winner, who has lived in London since marrying Coldplay frontman Chris Martin three years ago, said: 'I love the English lifestyle, it's not as capitalistic as America.
'People don't talk about workand money, they talk about interesting things at dinner.
'I like living here because I don't fit into the bad side of American psychology. The British are much more intelligent and civilised than the Americans.'
Last night, as her comments were reported in her homeland, Americans called chat shows and radio phone-ins to express their disgust at her 'betrayal'.
'If she feels that way we are far better off without her,' said one commentator. A disgruntled caller added: 'She sounds like she thinks she's better than us.
'We are better off if she stays across the Atlantic. We don't need her here.'
Miss Paltrow, who once complained at length about the British weather, was speaking to NS, the weekend magazine supplement of daily Portuguese newspaper Diario de Noticias.
She said having another American – Madonna – living in London had been a great help to her. 'She's like an older sister,' said Miss Paltrow.
'Everything I have gone through, she went through ten times worse and ten times longer. She gives me good advice about how to say no and take care of myself.'
Although Miss Paltrow did not specify what she was saying 'no' to, it is known she favours a strict macrobiotic diet.
It means a large proportion of her diet is made up of wholegrains, vegetables and fish, and she is not allowed to consume meat, dairy products, processed foods, alcohol or caffeine.
Miss Paltrow, who was born in Los Angeles, once found fault with British men, but a year later, married Chris Martin.
And two years ago she told the U.S. edition of Marie Claire that the streets of London were dirty, customer service was just rubbish' and the weather was 'cold and depressing'.
Despite this, Miss Paltrow and her husband have settled in North London with their daughter Apple, two, and son Moses, eight months. She will be pleased to know that not everyone in America was displeased with her latest comments.
A British expatriate rang in to one programme to say: 'Quite frankly, she's only stating the obvious, as anyone who has spent a long time in the United States can testify.'
Reader views (5)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
As an American who has spent more than six years living in England, I can see Ms. Paltrow's point. But to say so out loud proves that she is irretrievably American - being tactless and rude is our forte, after all.
- Shelley, Boston, USA
I fullly agree with her. With the exception of a small number of university centered areas, most of this country is filled with insipid, ignorant, consumers incapable of having conversations that don't center around television and other useless garbage. American is going down the toilet; let's fix it before it's too late. Start by reading a book or just getting off the couch.
- Chris, Malvern, USA
Another reason why I always thought that Gwyneth Paltrow thought she was better then everyone because she had a famous mum and we didn't.
- Alyssa, Florida, USA
Let's hope we all remember these comments the next time she tries to earn some "boring" money by releasing a movie in the states for all of us uncivilized Americans.
- Stephanie, New York, USA
As Miss Paltrow is an American, can we assume she's going to stop boring the British with her uninteresting, unintelligent and uncivilized dinner party conversation?
- Kathleen, Connecticut, USA
