Talk about a modern family!
Chris Martin will always be a member of Gwyneth Paltrow's family, even if his role within it has since changed. In Glamour's March issue, the actress explains how their "conscious uncoupling" in 2014 changed the dynamics of their relationship. "Isn't that the ideal? Well, the ideal is to stay married. But if you can't stay married, wouldn't the ideal be that you could still be a family and you could put aside your own stuff long enough to explore—what is this new family and who am I in it? And Chris is a great ex-husband 'cause he's a very, very willing partner in how to do that," says Paltrow, who married the musician in 2003. "We're constantly putting aside our own stuff and trying to reimagine something that we don't personally have an example for."
Paltrow pats herself and Martin on the back for doing "what's best for the kids" above all else. "We put a lot of thought into how to do it so that the damage would be minimized," she says.
Even though she's no longer in love with Martin (Paltrow is dating TV writer/producer Brad Falchuk, 44), she still loves him. And the exes spend "a lot" of time together. "He's been away for two weeks [promoting his album, A Head Full of Dreams]. Last night he got in at midnight and slept here so he could surprise the kids in the morning, we could all have breakfast, and he could take them to school. So…we're not living together, but he's more than welcome to be with us whenever he wants. And vice versa: I sleep in his house in Malibu a lot with the kids. We'll have a weekend all together; holidays, we're together," Paltrow tells Glamour. "We're still very much a family, even though we don't have a romantic relationship. He's like my brother."
According to Paltrow, everyone is where they're supposed to be. "I've always been very independent. Even in relationships, I'm focused on the quality of my life and not enmeshing myself so much with somebody else's experience. But I think there's incredible value in being married," she says. Asked if she'd ever tie the knot again, she pauses. "I don't know. I guess so," she replies. "I mean, I believe in marriage. But I'm not even divorced yet! So give me a minute."
Besides, Paltrow is focused on other things at the moment, like building Goop as a brand. As she readies the launch of its new beauty line, the actress-turned-businesswoman is anticipating what her critics might say. "Sometimes I'll get annoyed if someone's like, 'Goop is so expensive.' I'm like, 'Have you looked at the website? Have you seen the range of price points? 'Cause we sell things that are $8.' I'm like, 'If you want to f--k with me, bring your A-game. At least have all your information,'" Paltrow says. "Once in a while, if I'm exhausted and overwhelmed, I'll be like, 'Ugh, that bugs me,' or, 'That hurt my feelings.' But very rarely. I don't lose sleep over it. It's my business to live my life and learn my lessons. I don't care what anybody else thinks."
Really? "Really, truly. Maybe when I was 25 that would have been different," the Mortdecai actress continues. "But I'm 43 years old, and I know who I am, and I own my mistakes. They're my business. And when somebody who doesn't know me has an opinion, it's none of my business."