Gwyneth Paltrow Says Shallow Hal Film Role Was A 'Disaster'

Gwyneth Paltrow has admitted there's one movie role she regrets, referring to her turn as Rosemary in Jack Black comedy Shallow Hal as a 'disaster'.

Paltrow, 48, starred in the 2001 film as the love interest of Black's titular character Hal Larson, who falls for 300lb Rosemary after being hypnotised into seeing women's inner beauty.

Paltrow sat down with her best friend and assistant Kevin Keating for a Netflix video promoting The Goop Lab, which covered several topics - including her least favourite film role.

Keating, who had been tasked with showing how well he knew Paltrow as part of 'The BFF Test', says in the video: "I would say it would be Shallow [Hal]. I'm not sure who told you to do that one, but it wasn't me.

"I wasn't there working for you. Not around for that."

Paltrow's face says it all, nodding at her friend with a slight grimace.

"Exactly," she replies.

20th Century Fox

Keating adds: "I'm not sure who told you to do that one, but it wasn't me."

Laughing, Paltrow then says: "That was before your time.

"See what happened? Disaster."

Paltrow has previously said she felt 'humiliated' on the project, claiming she was treated differently while wearing the character's 'fat suit'.

Speaking to W Magazine in 2006, she recalled: "The first day I tried the fat suit on, I was in the Tribeca Grand and I walked through the lobby. It was so sad. It was so disturbing. No one would make eye contact with me because I was obese.

"For some reason the clothes they make for women that are overweight are horrible. I felt humiliated because people were really dismissive."

The film, which was recently added to Disney+'s Star streaming service, was directed by the Farrelly brothers, who are known for their zany comedies like Dumb and Dumber and There's Something About Mary.

Many people have taken to Twitter to say they're watching it for the first time in years, with some saying it's still a 'forever classic', while others wonder whether the 'ridiculousness' has been able to stand 'the test of time'.

One person tweeted: "Shallow Hal is a f***ed up movie."

Another asked: "Why the f*** did they decide to put Shallow Hal on Disney+?"

PA

A third wrote: "Perusing the new Star drop on Disney+ and have been reminded on possibly the worst film ever made (and not just because it has Jack Black in it): Shallow Hal."

Some people, however, still enjoy the film as much as they did when it was released, with one saying: "Shallow Hal is on #DisneyPlusStar a film that, 20 years on, is now regarded as being deeply 'problematic'. And I am absolutely watching it. CANCEL ME GEN Z, I DARE YOU."

Another added: "I realize that Shallow Hal is not a politically correct movie but I find it funny."

Topics: Entertainment, TV and Film, Celebrity

Jess Hardiman

Jess is a journalist at LADbible who graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Film Studies, English Language and Linguistics - indecisiveness at its finest, right there. She also works for FOODbible and its sister page Seitanists, which are both a safe haven for her to channel a love for homemade pasta, fennel and everything else in between. You can contact Jess at [email protected].

@Jess_Hardiman