Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Pitt.Photo: Kevin Mazur Archive/WireImage
Gwyneth Paltrow’s dating history is A-list.
TheAcademy Award-winning actress has dated some of Hollywood’s most eligible bachelors, starting with her first public romance with actor Donovan Leitch Jr. in 1993, and she’s shared glimpses into those relationships with fans over the years.
In December 2022, Paltrow — who has dated Ben Affleck, been engaged toBrad Pittand marriedColdplay’sChris Martin— spoke about herrelationship with her exesduring an Instagram Story Q&A session, revealing that she’s on good terms with former partners.
“Pretty much. I really believe inconscious uncoupling,” the GOOP mogul wrote. “When you spend meaningful time with someone, it’s nice to have it morph into friendship. I don’t want to have bad blood with anyone, ever (if I can help it).”
Her most notable “conscious uncoupling” is with ex-husband Martin, with whom she amicably co-parents her daughter, Apple, and son, Moses, and about whom she often speaks about their continued good friendship.
“I think Chris and I weremeant to be togetherand have our kids,” Paltrow said in 2019. “But our relationship is much better like this: friends and co-parents and family.”
Pitt and Paltrow also recently revisited their friendship in 2022; Pitt said “it’s lovely” to have Paltrow “as a friend now,” to which Paltrow replied, “It is.”
These days,Paltrow raves about her love with husbandBrad Falchuk. In 2021, Paltrow called theGleecreator “such a special, amazing man.”
Here’s a look back at Paltrow’s past romances through the years.
Donovan Leitch Jr.
Michael Bezjian/WireImage; Leon Bennett/Getty Images
Paltrow was linked to actor Donovan Leitch Jr. — son of “Mellow Yellow” singer Donovan Leitch — from 1993 to 1995. The two had a head-turning reunion in Sept. 2013 when theyshared a friendly kiss on the lipsat a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game.
At the time, Paltrow was still married to ex-husband Chris Martin when the friendly exchange happened and Leitch Jr. told theDaily Mailin March 2014 that the kiss was “purely” platonic.
Robert Sean Leonard
Theo Wargo/WireImage; Steve Granitz/WireImage
Paltrow was rumored to have dated actor Robert Sean Leonard, who portrayed Neil Perry in the 1989 filmDead Poets Society, for a year in the early ’90s. According toE! News, the former couple kept their relationship very private.
The outlet reports Leonard spoke briefly about his time with Paltrow in 1998, telling theNew York Posttheir split was"the funniest breakup I’ve ever had."
“We were in her apartment, figured we shouldn’t see each other anymore, and within five minutes she was saying, ‘You know who you’d like? I have this friend’… Gwyneth’s a bit of a yenta, but she’s a great, great friend,” he reportedly said.
In June 2022, Paltrow leftcheeky commenton co-starEthan Hawke’s Instagram of throwbackDead Poets Societyphotos, saying she “wished” she"would’ve made out with more"of the movie’s stars. (The cast also includedRobin Williams,Josh Charles, Leonard and more.)
Brad Pitt
Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Pitt.Kevin Mazur Archive/WireImage
Paltrow andBrad Pittdatedfrom 1994 to 1997, but called it quits just a few months after getting engaged. They were, as Paltrow toldVogue, “a very ’90s couple.”
The actors met while filming the movieSevenin 1994 and started dating shortly afterward. “I knew immediately,” Pitt later toldRolling Stoneof falling for Paltrow on set. “I got within 10 feet of her, and I got goofy. I couldn’t talk,” he said.
Meanwhile, Paltrow said she was “oblivious” to Pitt’s feelings. “I had no idea. I thought he was just really friendly,” the actress told theLos Angeles Timesof her former co-star in August 1996. “And then I started getting a crush on him.”
They dated for two years (complete with matching haircuts) before Pitt proposed to her while filmingSeven Years in Tibetin Argentina in December 1996. Six months after announcing their engagement, Hollywood’s golden couple shocked fans withtheir split.
“I think I was a kid and I wasn’t ready. He was too good for me,” theCountry Strongstar said during a 2015 appearance onThe Howard Stern Show. “I honestly do think I was too young and didn’t know what I was doing.”
Paltrow noted in 2020 that she and Pitt"don’t have any really bad blood.“In June 2022, the friendly exesreunited for an interviewon Goop’s website, when Pitt said that “it’s lovely” to have Paltrow “as a friend now,” to which Paltrow replied, “It is.”
Ben Affleck
Stephane Cardinale/Sygma via Getty
The couple shared quick wit and a wicked sense of humor — but their relationship also had its share of ups and downs. In 2015 interview with Howard Stern, Paltrow said that dating Affleck was fun, but herparents did not approve.
“He’s super intelligent and really, really talented and he’s funny,” she said at the time. “But he wasn’t in a good place in his life to have a girlfriend.” Still, they clearly enjoyed one another’s company.
The pair broke up in 1999, but briefly reunited before finally ending things in 2000. The GOOP mogul and Affleck remain pals, however. “I like him,” she told Stern. “I’m still friends with him.”
In May 2022, Paltrow reflected on her past relationships with both Pitt and Affleck during her appearance on theCall Her Daddypodcast. HostAlex Cooperasked her a series of straight-forward questions, includingwhich of the two were better in bed.
“Brad was like the sort of major chemistry, love of your life, kind of, at the time and then Ben was, like, technically excellent,” Paltrow laughed before adding, “I can’t believemy daughteris listening to this!”
Luke Wilson
Antony Jones/UK Press via Getty Images
Paltrow co-starred alongside actor Luke Wilson in 2001’sThe Royal Tenenbaums. The two reportedly dated for one year after meeting on set of the film. While few details are known about their relationship, Paltrow described her ideal man toHarper’s Bazaarat the time she was rumored to be dating Wilson.
“He’s tall and thin, but muscular, to start with the superficial. A gentleman,” she said in the 2001 interview with the outlet. “Someone who’s well educated, funny, witty, artistic, and has a lot of integrity. He doesn’t have to grab all the attention in the room. A good kisser.”
Chris Martin
Gwyneth Paltrow Instagram
Gwyneth PaltrowandChris Martinwere married for more than 10 years before they famously announced they were “consciously uncoupling” in 2014. The pair first met in 2002 while hanging backstage at one of Martin’s Coldplay concerts.
They began dating and wed one year later in December 2003. Over the course of their decade-long marriage, Paltrow and Martin welcomed two children, daughter Apple in May 2004 and son Moses in April 2006.
In March 2014, Paltrow and Martin shocked fans when they announced they weresplitting upin aposton the Goop website titled “Conscious Uncoupling.” In April 2015, the separated pairfinalized their divorce.
Despite their split, Paltrow and Martin continue to co-parent Apple and Moses. Plus, Goop founder and Coldplay frontman have remained close friends.
Brad Falchuk
ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images
Paltrow and her husbandBrad Falchukfirstmet in 2010during the actress' guest appearance as substitute teacher Holly Holliday on the hit musical comedy seriesGlee. At the time, Paltrow was married to Martin, and theGleeco-creator was married to producerSuzanne Bukinik.
After splitting from their respective spouses, the couple quietly began dating in August 2014. Around one year later, Paltrow and Falchukmade their relationship publicat the actress' friend and costarRobert Downey Jr.’s 50th birthday party in April 2015.
The pair then secretlygot engagedin 2017 beforemarryingin 2018, with Paltrow telling PEOPLE she considered their nuptials herfirst wedding. After tying the knot,the newlywedsflew to the Maldives to enjoy a honeymoon and ring in 2019.
“I adore my husband. He’s brilliant and deeply kind. I feel like he’s a real equal too,” Paltrow said of Falchuk during a September 2019 interview withInStyle. “And he pushes me in the best ways. I really like being married. It’s fun.”
In 2021, Paltrow called Falchuk “such a special, amazing man.” She’s continued to pen sweet tributes to her husband (who’s not active on Instagram) since.
source: people.com
