The Simple Life

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Paltrow knows that stepping away from the business for a moment, much as her mother did when she was born, can be fatal. "If the work peters out, it peters out. But you have to understand that I worked so much for so long. I achieved a lot early. And I wasn't very happy. At this point in my life, I have a life. I have a real life. I'm sure I could balance it out and do films. But I don't know. Every time I see a movie, I think, Would I have wanted to be in that?" Elsewhere in the house, Paltrow's husband is giving an impromptu Coldplay concert on the piano for Apple, who plinks in a few discordant additions. Paltrow giggles. Unlike Catherine, she has nothing to prove. --With reporting by Desa Philadelphia/Los Angeles