She has spent time in Britain for work before, but Shallow Hal star Gwyneth Paltrow is to return to the shores of Albion. But unlike the last time, when she was immortalised in celluloid for Sliding Doors and Shakespeare In Love, the patrician actress will be following in the footsteps of Nicole Kidman and Juliette Binoche and treading the boards in the British capital.
Gwyneth, who was in London this week for the opening of her friend Mario Testino’s retrospective exhibition, is to team up with director John Madden, who directed her in Shakespeare In Love, for the UK premiere of Proof, the prize-winning play by David Auburn that has been described as “managing to make maths sexy.”
The radiant Oscar-winning actress will be taking the role of a withdrawn young woman who, while inheriting her father’s genius for mathematics, may also be suffering from the same mental illness that he has. Director John said: “When I saw the play in New York 18 months ago, Gwyneth was on my ‘wish list’ of actresses I felt could make it a hit in London. She has been looking for just this sort of challenge.”
The play will debut at London’s Donmar Warehouse Theatre on May 9, but Gwynie will start rehearsing in the British capital from the beginning of April.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
