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Premiere Scoopage: Murphy Snags Paltrow Role

Fri., Jul. 20, 2007 3:36 PM PDT by Marc Malkin

Digitalprofile/ZUMA Press, Paul Fenton/ZUMAPress.com

Brittany Murphy can thank Gwyneth Paltrow's kids, Apple and Moses, for helping her land the starring role in Love and Other Disasters.

The romantic comedy's writer and director, Alek Keshishian, originally wanted Paltrow to play Emily "Jacks" Jackson, an assistant to the editor in chief of British Vogue, but it took the self-professed procrastinator more than 10 years to finish the script.

"By the time I finished, [Paltrow] was pregnant," Keshishian told Planet Gossip's Matt Donnelly at last night's Outfest premiere of the movie at the DGA Theatre Complex in West Hollywood. "So I thought, okay, you're now officially too old to play this role."

Is Paltrow, 34, really that long in the tooth? No, says Keshishian, but the slightly younger 29-year-old Murphy eventually got the part because the character "is meant to be a kind of young girl, before she figures out love."

Matthew Rhys, who plays the gay sibling on ABC's Brothers & Sisters, goes gay again in Love and Other Disasters, playing Jacks' same-sex-lovin' best friend. But his star power didn't get him any special treatment last night.

When Rhys tried to bring a hot dog and some nachos into the theater, security politely refused him entrance. But Rhys was cool. He enjoyed his chowfest in the food-allowed green room.

Also making her way to Love and Other Disasters? Ms. Jennifer Aniston. The nicely tanned former Friends star was looking casual chic in gray pants and a long-sleeve black top.

To find out more about Paltrow and a cameo she makes in the movie with a certain leading man, you gotta click below for my Planet Gossip Now video blog.