Gwyneth Paltrow sports a red poppy in her hair for Remembrance Sunday as she strolls with a friend in London.

Paltrow has signed on to star in The Danish Girl alongside Nicole Kidman in the story of the relationship between the world’s first ever post-operative transsexual, Einar Wegener (Kidman), and his wife, Greta (Paltrow).

The Oscar-winners are to play husband and wife in an upcoming film about the world’s first transsexual.

Paltrow, 37, and Kidman 42, will play artists Greta and Einar Wegener in “The Danish Girl,” entertainment industry newspaper Daily Variety reported.

Einar Wegener, who will be played by Kidman, was a male artist who underwent groundbreaking surgery to become a woman in 1931 after pretending to be a female model in a series of successful portraits painted by Greta Wegener.

South African actress Charlize Theron had initially been pencilled in for the role of Greta Wegener until being replaced by Paltrow.

Kidman most recently appeared in Baz Luhrmann’s romantic epic “Australia” last year and will next be seen in the musical “Nine.”

Paltrow, who scooped an Academy Award for 1998’s “Shakespeare in Love”, was last seen in 2008 romantic drama “Two Lovers.”

Word on the street is Gwyneth Paltrow wants to create an empire.

“She has become a power multi-tasker, so she’ll take meetings while she’s sitting around her movie sets. Gwyneth wants to create an empire, but her first priority is always to her family. She is finding ways to merge the two so that other women and mothers will be able to do the same.”

“Chris [Chris Martin, Gwyneth's husband] has even dubbed her meetings about her new direction as her ‘Martha Stewart meetings’. Her plan is to stay visible in the occasional film, but to create products for real women.

“She is working on new products for her own beauty line under Estee Lauder and looking at different products for moms at home that she can tie to her website, GOOP.”

So Gwyneth wants to be the next Martha Stewart. We wonder what Martha thinks about that. She’s probably not the least bit worried.

This Entertainment Weekly cover highlights the new aspects of ‘Iron Man 2′ with Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr. and Mickey Rourke. Did you notice that Gwyneth Paltrow was missing? I actually didn’t until I read this article from The Sun claiming that the actress is furious she wasn’t included in the photoshoot.

“Gwyneth was afraid she’d be upstaged by Scarlett and not being in the campaign was the final straw. She is furious she’s been left out.”

Gwyneth’s rep has already responded to this rumor claiming she is not at all upset.

“She was not at all upset. The fans will get to see more of Pepper Potts as we get closer to the film’s release next May.”

Did anyone expect her rep to say, “Yes, Gwyneth is quite angry that she was omitted from the mag’s cover.” Riiight.

Iron Man 2 will be in theaters on May 7, 2010. Iron Man will battle new villain Mickey Rourke, size up Scarlett Johansson, and, hopefully, prove that the success of the first movie wasn’t a fluke. Downey knows the movie isn’t an underdog this time around. “There are a lot more invisible eyes on us now,” he says.

When Marvel Studios first announced the sequel, no one was sure what the movie would be about. Downey, director Jon Favreau, screenwriter Justin Theroux, and the rest of the creative team struck upon the idea of introducing two very different foes for Stark. On one side is Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell), a fast-talking weapons manufacturer who fancies himself the next Tony Stark; on the other, Vanko, who, while incarcerated in a Russian prison, creates his own battle-suit, which shoots devastating, whip-like beams. Hammer and Whiplash join forces to take down Downey’s character, Tony Stark. Rourke, for his part, wanted to instill some lightness into the role of the heavy. “I told Favreau, ‘I don’t want to just play him as a one-dimensional p—-,’” he says. “He let me have a cockatoo, who I talk to and get drunk with while I’m making my suit.”

Just as the deals were being hammered out, Terrence Howard — who had played Stark’s best friend — fell out of the sequel in a public salary dispute. The role was re-cast, with Don Cheadle stepping in. “We had to make some tough deals,” says Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige. “When they got public, you go, ‘That sucks. Okay, you want a peek behind the curtain? Here you are!’” Says Cheadle, “Terrence and I couldn’t be more different. We address it head-on in the movie in one exchange. We’re not trying to fool people.” Cheadle admits he didn’t know much about Marvel’s superhero before the first movie came out: “I always thought Iron Man was a robot.”

Adding more flesh and blood to the new movie, Scarlett Johansson joined the cast as Stark’s mysterious new assistant, Natasha, who has an alter ego of her own, Black Widow. That introduction inevitably sparks romantic tension between Stark and former assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), who’s been promoted to CEO of Stark Industries. “The men want it to be, like, ‘Ooh, the girls are fighting over Tony,’ but it’s not as standard as that,” says Paltrow. “There’s a weird male catfight fantasy. Downey agrees. He believes what differentiates the franchise from other superhero series can be summarized as follows: “We’re horny. Not, like, can’t-bring-your-kids horny, but just…horny.”

The question remains whether Iron Man 2 will soar like the first film or show signs of rust when it hits theaters. “People are going to be more critical,” says Downey. “That’s their prerogative….In a way, there’s no way to win, except to win. Big.”

 

Madonna is sparing no expense to make sure that her newly adopted daughter, Mercy, lives a life of luxury. This includes having Madonna’s friend, Gwyneth Paltrow decorating the little girl’s room.

Madonna was finally given permission to adopt four-year-old Mercy last week, and the Malawian tot is expected to join the family in New York in the next few days.

Madge is currently renovating her $40 million New York townhouse and has a huge shopping wishlist to fill Mercy’s new room. It includes porcelain dolls, antique teddy bears, a library of leather-bound children’s books and ancient maps of Africa to adorn the walls.

A source revealed: “Madge wants Mercy to feel like a little princess when she arrives.”

“Gwyneth has a home in the Hamptons area of New York and Madonna was so impressed with her daughter Apple’s room that she asked Gwyneth to help her decorate Mercy’s new bedroom.”

“As well as all the items inside, she’s also commissioned a mini Georgian-style treehouse for Mercy and David in her garden.”

“She’s been filling Mercy’s wardrobe at the same time.”

“She’s stocked up on cashmere sweaters, dresses and silk tunics and has had a new charm bracelet made for her.”

“It features a miniature bell, a Statue of Liberty, a map of Africa and lockets with photos of everyone in her new family.”

And it is not just Madonna who is planning to spoil Mercy.

Madonna’s daughter girl, Lourdes, has been on a spree, too.

The source added: “Lourdes is beside herself with excitement about her new sister.”

“She’s really looking forward to having a little girl in the house she can care for. She’s bought piles of leggings, hipster T-shirts, tutus and trainers for the new arrival.”

Hey Madonna! You can adopt me too!

We like Gwyneth Paltrow. She seems like a classy lady, but it is getting increasingly difficult to defend her.

On her website GOOP, Paltrow writes what she deems as inspirational information about life, but many think she is coming off as a pretentious snob.

In a recent lifestyle newsletter Paltrow writes, “The summer before last, a mutual friend brought the lovely Katie Lee Joel and her husband William over for dinner. Much to my delight, she brought a fresh batch of these cookies with her. I adore the contrast of the dark chocolate and the cherries – heaven.”

The ‘William’ she’s referring to is of course Billy Joel. Besides his grandma, who calls Billy Joel ‘William’?

Paltrow’s formal tone is unnecessary and we are starting to understand why people are becoming more and more disenchanted with her.

Apparently Gwyneth Paltrow and Scarlett Johansson aren’t getting along on the set of Iron Man 2.

According to The Sun:

One Hollywood source revealed yesterday: “Gwyneth has become very frustrated with Scarlett. They come from different worlds and have completely different styles. Gwyneth has found Scarlett very demanding of the attention of the crew. It’s not a happy set.”
The on-set source added: “Gwyneth and Scarlett have never been particularly close.
“Gwyneth was looking forward to working with Emily Blunt, who was originally in line for the part, but it ended up being Scarlett. Gwyneth’s had to live with that and she has been very professional, but she and Scarlett haven’t developed a friendship on the shoot, which is almost at the half way point.
“In fact, it’s quite the opposite.”

No more tears from shampoo, but maybe cancer and some autism.

Gwyneth Paltrow fears that children’s shampoos are causing cancer and autism.

The actress said her concerns arose after she read research about ‘environmental toxins’, which are found in products such as shampoo and lotion.

“A couple of years ago I was asked to give a quote for a book concerning environmental toxins and their effects on our children. While reading up on the subject, I was seized with fear about what the research said,” Paltrow writes on her website GOOP.

“Fetuses, infants and toddlers are basically unable to metabolize toxins the way that adults are, and we are constantly filling our environments with chemicals that may or may not be safe. The research is troubling; the incidence of diseases in children such as asthma, cancer and autism have shot up exponentially and many children we all know and love have been diagnosed with developmental issues like ADHD,” she added.

The medical community calls Paltrow’s claims ‘loopy’. Medical chiefs have been quick to join into the debate, with bacteriologist Professor Hugh Pennington calling her claims ‘rubbish’ and ‘loopy’. “It’s a load of nonsense. Shampoo is perfectly safe, unless you drink it in large quantities,” he said.

Cancer Research UK said there was no evidence to support Miss Paltrow’s claim that childhood cancer rates had increased ‘exponentially’.

Its director of cancer information, Dr Lesley Walker, said: ‘There has been very little change in the number of childhood cancers detected during the past ten years.’

What do you think? Could Gwyneth be on to something that most of the medical community is not or is she just spouting nonsense?

Gwyneth Paltrow is hanging on the west coast for the time being for Iron Man 2.

Mommy Gwyneth took her children, Apple, 4, and Moses, 2, out for some toy shopping at the Brentwood Country Mart.

The 36-year-old actress has been criticized a bit recently for her lifestyle newsletter GOOP but her Iron Man 2 director Jon Favreau is a fan!

“Rehearsed today with Gwyneth. She looks ripped. I gotta read GOOP and see what the hell she’s eating,” Jon blogged earlier this week.

Gwyneth Paltrow had some advice about rapping for Joaquin Phoenix. She’s close friends with Jay Z and Beyonce, so Gwyneth is in with the hip hop community y’all.

Gwyneth’s thoughts on Joaquin’s new “career” are:
“I think that there might be some other explanation or something going on. I’m not quite sure what, but I can’t believe that he’s really going to quit [acting] forever to become a rapper. It seems kind of odd.”

Her advice for Joaquin:
“Hmm … maybe to go live in the projects for a few years to get some authenticity, maybe.”

Oh snap, Gwyneth!

See Joaquin, you’re not fooling anyone.

We should have seen this one coming when we saw Gwyneth Paltrow on Oprah with Mario Batali. 

Gwyneth is coming out with her own cookbook, y’all.

The cookbook will be called, “My Father’s Daughter” and “will focus on the importance of togetherness at mealtime.”

The book is tentatively set to publish in fall 2010.

Will you buy Gwyneth’s cookbook? Do you trust a (very) skinny cook?