In a candid new interview, Academy Award-winning actor Gwyneth Paltrow has finally spoken about one of the most contentious decisions in Oscar history. The debate centres on the 71st Academy Awards in 1999, where her film Shakespeare in Love clinched the Best Picture trophy, defeating Steven Spielberg's critically acclaimed war epic Saving Private Ryan.
Reflecting on a Pivotal Oscar Night
Speaking on The Awardist podcast, the 53-year-old star reflected on that fateful awards season. Paltrow herself won the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in the period romance. Interestingly, Steven Spielberg, the director of the defeated film, is also Paltrow's godfather. When asked if she ever discussed the surprising outcome with him, Paltrow shared a thoughtful perspective.
"Well, it was so funny because Steven won for director and I won Best Actress," she said. "And Steven has been at this rodeo for a very long time, and even 25 years ago had already been at the rodeo a very long time." Her comments suggest a mutual understanding of the unpredictable nature of award shows.
The Subjectivity of Awards and Art
Paltrow expressed that she does not place excessive weight on trophies, noting that many deserving works go unrecognised every year. "We never know why one thing wins over the next," she stated. To illustrate her point, she referenced the infamous 2017 Oscars mix-up, where Moonlight was announced as the Best Picture winner after La La Land was mistakenly named first.
"You know what? Both of those could have won," Paltrow remarked. She added a pragmatic view of the awards ecosystem, calling it a "monetisation tool for a broader industry." "I think awards are designed, yes, to acknowledge people's amazing achievements, but it's also a monetisation tool... Even being in the conversation is an honour," she explained.
The actor believes that debate is inherent to art. "I think there's always discourse around what people like and don't like because art is subjective. That's the point of it," she said.
The Shadow of Harvey Weinstein's Campaign
The victory of Shakespeare in Love is now also remembered for the aggressive Oscar campaign orchestrated by its producer, the disgraced Harvey Weinstein. Reports, including a 2017 Vanity Fair article cited by People, state that Weinstein's tactics fundamentally changed how Oscar races were run. In light of the subsequent revelations about Weinstein's conduct, revisiting that 1999 campaign has become deeply troubling for many.
Paltrow also touched on her personal journey since that career-defining night. She revealed that she now keeps her Oscar statuette on display, after having stored it away for many years. "I think I had a bit of healing to do, in terms of how I held that, everything that happened, and happened after," she shared, describing the experience as "a lot to metabolise."
"It took 25 years to come to terms with it," Paltrow admitted, calling the moment "pivotal" in her life. She recently rewatched Shakespeare in Love and found a renewed appreciation for it. "I think it was just a lot to hold as a 26-year-old," she concluded, reflecting on the immense pressure and scrutiny that followed her early success.
