Gwyneth Paltrow has lent her endorsement to Meghan Markle's transition into the lifestyle sphere, sharing her candid thoughts on the Duchess of Sussex's debut of her As Ever brand in a Vanity Fair cover story for April 2025, published on Tuesday. "Everyone deserves the opportunity to pursue whatever their hearts desire," expressed Paltrow, acknowledging that she hadn't yet caught the trailer for Markle's latest Netflix venture, "With Love, Meghan."
She further elaborated, "I was taught to view other women as allies, not adversaries. There's ample room for everyone to succeed." Recalling a piece of wisdom from her mother, Blythe Danner, Paltrow said, "Another woman's journey is not your competition... What's meant for you will come to you."
The 52-year-old actress admitted to having a "profound urge to defend" Markle, 43, especially when there's "chatter surrounding certain women in the limelight," echoing her usual stance. Though she clarified that she doesn't personally know "Meghan and [Prince] Harry," despite residing in Montecito, California, like the royal couple.
"I've met Meghan; she seems genuinely wonderful, but I don't know her intimately. Perhaps I'll try to slip past their security and deliver them a pie," she joked. Paltrow and her husband, Brad Falchuk, made headlines in May 2023 for dining with Harry, 40, and Markle in London, accompanied by Cameron Diaz and her husband, Benji Madden, along with Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd and Texas oil heir Michael Herd.
A year later, Markle soft-launched her brand, initially named American Riviera Orchard, by sending homemade jam to a select circle. Amid trademark hurdles, she rebranded the company to As Ever in February, a month before "With Love, Meghan" premiered to harsh reviews from UK critics and her estranged family members. Despite this, the series has been renewed for a second season on Netflix.
Similarly, Pamela Anderson made a recent pivot into lifestyle with the debut of "Pamela's Cooking with Love" in February. When accusations arose that Markle had copied Anderson's project, co-creator Jesse Fawcett told the Daily Mail, "We're proud of being the pioneers—creating unique, beloved programming."
For her part, Paltrow ventured into lifestyle when she founded Goop in 2008, insisting in Tuesday's interview that the business is thriving despite 2024 headlines hinting at layoffs. "Our endeavors are not a response to business decline. In fact, we're thriving. This past year was our best yet," she stated. "We've grown too big and scattered. Focus is crucial. Regrettably, we had to reorganize."
