GWYNETH PALTROW

When you're so out there in the public eye, people are constantly criticizing every aspect about you.

Beauty, to me is about being comfortable in your own skin.

If we were living in ancient Rome or Greece, I would be considered sickly and unattractive. The times dictate that thin is better for some strange reason, which I think is foolish.

I wasn't the high-school play queen or anything. And my parents would let not me act until I graduated from college.

I've had a very interesting career. I get to do amazing things and work with amazing people and travel and learn languages - things most people don't get the opportunity to do.

I don't eat red meat, but sometimes a man needs a steak.

Could I use some butter and cheese and eggs in my cooking without going down some kind of hippie shame spiral? Yes. Of course I could.

I wouldn't say I'm a very original thinker, but if I have a good experience with something, I'll want to take it further or adapt it in some way.

The older I get, the more open-minded I get, the less judgmental I get.

I understand what it feels like not to like aspects of yourself. There have been times that I have felt really terrible about the way I look. I have the seed of that feeling.

I know people that I respect and admire and look up to who have had extra-marital affairs.

There's something that sort of weirds me out about actors who want to be rock stars, and the other way around too.

After I had the kids, I took a break from work, and all my creativity went into my kitchen. I like experimenting.

I'm hard on myself, so I'm working on shifting perspective toward self-acceptance, with all my flaws and weaknesses.

I have a very highly developed sense of denial.

I don't eat four-legged animals, but I eat birds, I eat cheese, I eat dessert. I eat everything.

My life comes down to three moments: the death of my father, meeting my husband, and the birth of my daughter. Everything I did previous to that just doesn't seem to add up to very much.

Creating a meal for my friends and family, sitting together, eating, laughing and talking - that is when I am so happy. Oh my God, if you could see how much food I make - I am the original Jewish mother.

Taking care of yourself is being there for your kids, like how on a plane, they tell you to put on your oxygen mask first.

Even actresses that you really admire, like Reese Witherspoon, you think, 'Another romantic comedy?' You see her in something like 'Walk the Line' and think, 'God, you're so great!' And then you think, 'Why is she doing these stupid romantic comedies?' But of course, it's for money and status.

I love acting, but I have two little kids, and it's 14 hours a day out of the house. You don't get that time back.

I love to cook and feed people. I cook every day.

What I've learned is I want to enjoy my life, and food is a big part of it.

I'm not sure how healthy bacon is in general, but I know it's incredibly delicious.

I try to avoid barbecue potato chips. They're my weakness.