Paltrow’s New Passion

Gwyneth Paltrow has penciled in a date for the diary a year from now. The Oscar-winning actress, who arrived in Berlin to promote Anthony Minghella’s The Talented Mr. Ripley alongside her director and co-stars Matt Damon and Jude Law, confirmed that she will star in an adaptation of Jeanette Winterson’s novel, The Passion. With Paltrow to feature as a Villanelle, the cross-dressing Venetian courtesan, this story of unrequited love from the author of Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit looks set to roll before the cameras in early 2001. The film rights to The Passion were bought by Miramax back in March specifically as a star vehicle for Paltrow. Just ahead of tomorrow’s Oscar nominations, Paltrow - forever infamous for her teary speech at last year’s ceremony, following her statue for Shakespeare In Love - said that she was rather relieved to be just a presenter this year. Whether the Academy will give her a nod for a second year remains to be seen, depending upon their view of plagiarism. Paltrow, who plays socialite Marge in Ripley, confessed that she drew inspiration from actress Grace Kelly for the role, watching such classics as Rear Window and To Catch a Thief. ‘I watched a lot of her movies and I was sort of ripping her off in a way.’ While Paltrow appeared as elegant as ever, despite admitting to jet lag, Law - who plays Paltrow's playboy boyfriend in Ripley - looked a little worse for wear. Currently shooting Jean-Jacques Annaud’s Enemies At The Gate in Berlin itself, he sported a couple of marks to the face. ‘I’ve been blown up six times this week,’ said Law, who stars opposite Joseph Fiennes as a Russian sniper at the Siege of Stalingrad. ‘I think I look quite good on it. I’ve got two scratches.’ Asked to perform the jazz number bashed out by he and Damon in Minghella’s film, the actor excused himself claiming ‘a sore throat’. Berlin Report: James Mottram