Gwyneth Paltrow: It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks'

As one of Hollywood's leading stars, she's inevitably not without her critics and the media spotlight is shining ever more brighter concerning a forthcoming unauthorised Vanity Fair cover story. But, Gwyneth Paltrow insists she doesn't care what people think of her. Speaking exclusively to Red, she states:

"This is the thing, it's like the older I get I realise it doesn't matter what people who don't know you think. It doesn't matter. You're wasting your energy. It's like, if your partner comes to you – or your best friend – and says, 'Listen, I want to talk about something you did that hurt me, or I think you could improve', sit down and listen to what they have to say. But some friend of so-and–sos – it's like, who gives a shit?

"And for me, obviously, I have it on a very large, global scale. I don't have it in the village gossip way; but it's the same thing. That's why I really don't read anything. Because if it's important, it filters down to me."

Being refreshingly open and honest, Gwyneth also reveals her anger at women not being supportive of one another:

"It makes me cross… I personally think that the work/life balance for a woman should be exactly what she feels is right for her. And nobody else can set her time schedule. And nobody else can tell her how many hours a week she needs to devote to this, that or the other… f**k what anybody else says… It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. That's what we've got to let go of. That idea of 'Oh god, if I don't show up to this concert, all the other mums are going to think I'm terrible.' Well, so f**king what.

"When I'm with my kids, I give them everything I have. And when I'm not, I give whatever I'm doing everything I have. And that's my work/life balance. I've made it work for me, but it doesn't matter what my specific thing is… It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. It matters what you think of yourself. And what your children think… So if anyone is going to ask my advice, I'd say, do what is right for you and don't give a shit what anyone else thinks."

Having recently returned to America, she confesses her family will definitely be moving back to the UK within the next few years:

"I don't want [Apple and Moses] to be teenagers in LA. No way. I'm looking at this like two years, three years tops, then we will go back. It's part of my parenting philosophy that children should get the opportunity to reinvent themselves at a few points in their childhood to see where their strengths and weaknesses lie and to experience living in different cultures… It's an experiment. We'll see.

"I love London and it's my favourite city in the world. I love my house and my life there, but you know, in California I have all the girls I grew up with, I have my family, I have my actress friends. I've got a real posse. I don't know, there was something about turning 40 and feeling like I needed to go home for a year or so."

Discussing her lifestyle brand, goop.com, Gwyneth insists she's not the next Oprah, but she does have plans to expand:

"[Do I see myself as ] the next Oprah? No, not the next Oprah, but I do think the idea is to grow goop in a number of ways… My dream would be to have somewhere like [a spa]. A centre where you could go and have the best people, and detox and reboot and start afresh. I'd love to get to that point one day."

Looking ahead to Christmas, she explains it's a special time for her family:

"I love Christmas. I always go totally overboard with food, presents, decorations, everything… Christmas Eve is the rehearsal dinner. I usually make something very different, like I'll do an Italian Christmas Eve with seven fishes and sometimes a custom from another country.

"We dress up! We don't go crazy, but we look nice. We spend all day in pyjamas having bagels and coffee and sitting around and then I cook and I change. It's fun."

As for any future plans for more children, her recently born niece has quashed any signs of broodiness:

"I don't know. My brother just had a baby, so it's quelled [feeling broody]. I sort of feel like I have that baby now. She's so heaven, oh my God. And I'm feeling at such a comfortable point in my life right now, like I'm starting another chapter. Like today I was sitting in the bathroom with Moses (her seven-year-old son) and I was like, "Oh my God, I'm so glad he can wipe his own ass." I'm so glad I don't have to do that any more. I don't know if I could go all the way back."

The December issue of Red, guest edited by Gwyneth Paltrow and her team at goop.com is on sale 6th November.

For exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of Gwyneth's cover shoot, please go to www.redonline.co.uk/gwyneth