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Gwyneth Paltrow, star of Marty Supreme, in 5 cult roles
David Fincher, James Gray, Paul Thomas Anderson… Gwyneth Paltrow, 53, has worked with some of the greatest directors. As Josh Safdie’s film Marty Supreme, in which she stars next to Timothée Chalamet, is about to be released in 2026, Numéro takes a look back at five iconic roles played by the American actress.
Gwyneth Paltrow, star of Marty Supreme next to Timothée Chalamet
As the daughter of director Bruce Paltrow (Duets) and actress Blythe Danner (Meet the Parents), the stunning American actress and entrepreneur was immersed in theatre and film from an early age. Gwyneth Paltrow first emerged as a promising ingénue, before establishing herself as a key figure in cinema. Her performances have moved seamlessly from auteur films to intense dramas and popular comedies. In 2008, she even entered the Marvel blockbuster realm as Pepper Potts, the assistant to the charismatic Iron Man, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr.
Although she was primarily focusing on her company, Goop, for the past few years, the 53-year-old actress will be back on screen next February 28th, 2026. Alongside Timothée Chalamet and Tyler, The Creator, she will star in Marty Supreme (2026), Josh Safdie‘s new feature. Set in the 1950s, it recounts the journey of Marty Mauser, a young, ambitious and fierce tennis table champion, willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his dream. The perfect opportunity to revisit five of Gwyneth Paltrow’s most iconic roles.
An unstable and fascinating woman in Two Lovers
In the splendid Two Lovers (2008), the bitter cold of Brooklyn reportedly stopped the actress from breathing during an outdoor scene, making several takes impossible. James Gray later declared, both amused and impressed, that she delivered “a vulnerability impossible to direct, but perfect to film.” Ten years after winning an Oscar, Gwyneth Paltrow returned in a more understated, yet deeply moving role in Two Lovers.
The filmmaker of the We Own the Night (2007) directed the actress as Michelle. The fragile young woman, drawn to danger, meets Leonard (Joaquin Phoenix), a melancholy man still living with his parents in Brighton Beach. The latter is torn between the sweet and comforting Sandra, and the enigmatic Michelle, whose emotional wounds both mesmerize and torment him. This love triangle is a poignant reminder of Gwyneth Paltrow’s talent for portraying psychologically complex characters over flashy dramatics.
Two Lovers (2008) by James Gray, available now on Mubi.
A depressed young woman in The Royal Tenenbaums
In The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) by Wes Anderson, Gwyneth Paltrow plays one of her most iconic roles to date. Margot Tenenbaum is a taciturn, elusive protagonist, wrapped in her fur coat and heavy kohl eyeliner. Apparently, the actress “found the key to the character” the moment she slipped into that coat. As a former child prodigy turned playwright, she carries a distinctly New York spleen and leaves a lasting mark on this tale of siblings reuniting in their family home.
Anglo-American critics praised her precise, “depressive and ironic” performance, perfectly attuned to Wes Anderson’s symmetrical, pastel, and whimsical aesthetic. Margot became a cult figure of American indie cinema. Her style, attitude, and posture have been the topic of many academic analyses, exploring how the film redefines female archetypes in melodrama.
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) by Wes Anderson, available now on Disney+.
Gwyneth Paltrow as a muse in Shakespeare in Love
The role of Viola de Lesseps in Shakespeare in Love (1998) helped Gwyneth Paltrow reach international stardom. In this Elizabethan romance filled with disguises and desire, she plays a young noblewoman with a passion for theatre, who dresses up as a man to perform on stage, alongside a William Shakespeare in search for inspiration. Their encounter sparks a tumultuous love affair, a fictional mirror of the creation of Romeo and Juliet.
Critics praised the precision of her performance, drawing the portrait of a fragile, yet determined protagonist capable of embodying the muse, the student, and the lover all at once. The film was a major hit and earned Gwyneth Paltrow both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Actress. She reportedly hesitated for a long time before accepting the role in a production starring Joseph Fiennes and Colin Firth after a difficult breakup. It was her father, Bruce Paltrow, who persuaded her to take it on, reminding her that it was “the role of a lifetime.”
Shakespeare in Love by John Madden (1998), available now on HBO Max.
A young casino waitress in Hard Eight
Although it wasn’t a box-office hit, Hard Eight (1997) stands as one of Gwyneth Paltrow’s first true dramatic roles, at a time when she was striving to shed her ingénue image in Hollywood. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, she portrays Clementine, a young waitress adrift in the shadowy world of Nevada casinos. But the film primarily follows Sydney, a seasoned gambler portrayed by Philip Baker Hall, who mentors a down-and-out young man and crosses paths with Clementine. As a blend of intimate thriller and moral neo-noir, the story unfolds with the dark stillness of a silent tragedy.
Moved by Gwyneth Paltrow’s sensitivity during rehearsals, the director reportedly rewrote certain scenes to give her more room and depth. For instance, the famous confessional hotel room sequence, now seen as one of the film’s standout moments.
Hard Eight (1996) by Paul Thomas Anderson, available now on France TV and in VOD.
Brad Pitt’s wife in the terrifying Seven
In Seven (1995), director David Fincher threw Gwyneth Paltrow into a radically radically different world from what Hollywood had in store for her. She ambodies Tracy Mills, a young woman who recently moved to a large, unnamed city, married to the detective played by Brad Pitt.
Behind this seemingly minor role lies an essential emotional anchor. Tracy becomes the breath of life in a suffocating narrative. She is the counterpoint of gentleness in a world devastated by violence and moral fanaticism. This cult classic follows two detectives investigating a series of ritualistic murders based on the seven deadly sins. Gwyneth Paltrow’s deliberate understated performance grounds the viewer, making the final act of the film all the more devastating. It was during the filming of Seven that a romance began between the actress and Brad Pitt.
Seven (1996) by David Fincher, available now on HBO Max.
Marty Supreme by Joshua Safdie, coming out in cinemas on February 18th, 2026.
