Coldplay’s lead vocalist Chris Martin has been with Dakota Johnson since 2017. However, before he found his other half in her, he was married to Gwyneth Paltrow for over a decade. They have two kids together – Apple and Moses. In 2014, the ex-couple revealed that they were going through a “conscious uncoupling,” a fancier phrase for divorce.
Years before they officially called it quits on their wedding, Gwyneth Paltrow was hit with the realization that her marriage with Chris Martin wasn’t going to last. In fact, the realization hit her like a truck on her 38th birthday while she was vacationing with her ex-husband. Despite that, she kept the feelings on hold for a few years.
The Moment Gwyneth Paltrow Knew Things Were Over with Chris Martin
Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin were holidaying in the Tuscan countryside for the actress’ 38th birthday in 2011. They did everything a couple in love would do – sat in front of a romantic fireplace, went on long walks, drank wine, and held hands.
However, deep down, Paltrow knew that her marriage was coming to an end, sooner or later. Writing an essay for British Vogue, the actress penned down her feelings and revealed exactly what was going on in her mind at that moment.
She wrote,
It was my birthday, my 38th. My ex-husband and I were tucked away in the Tuscan countryside, on a hill in a beautiful cottage with a view of the forest. Fall was coming; the leaves were just loosening their grip on bright green. Inside, the cottage was perfectly appointed in the way you dream of for a birthday trip: cosy living room with a fireplace, kitchen table overflowing with spoils from the farm nearby—peaches, tomatoes on the vine, basil, eggs.
I don’t recall when it happened, exactly. I don’t remember which day of the weekend it was or the time of day. But I knew—despite long walks and longer lie-ins, big glasses of Barolo and hands held—my marriage was over.
Despite the beautiful picture she painted, we can’t help but feel a pang in our hearts to learn what was going on in her life during that time. Paltrow went on to add that the lingering feeling was like an alarm going off in her head. She tried her best to shove the feelings down, trying to convince herself that marriages are supposed to have their weak moments. In her bones, though, she knew she was onto something.
What I do remember is that it felt almost involuntary, like the ring of a bell that has sounded and cannot be undone. The inadvertent release of a helium balloon into the sky. I tried to quell that knowing, to push it far down. I tried to convince myself it had been a fleeting thought, that marriage is complicated and ebbed and flowed. But I knew it. It was in my bones.
Thus, a few years later, the couple announced their separation, and their divorce was finalized in 2015. Clearly, Paltrow’s inkling was not far off.
Gwyneth Paltrow Opened Up About Her Divorce
Paltrow, the founder of Goop, took to her website to announce her separation from Martin. The statement was titled, Conscious Uncoupling. Since a celebrity’s personal life is never actually personal, the actress and musician faced a ton of backlash for their divorce.
Despite it all, they made it their priority to ensure a “smooth transition” for their children, Paltrow stated on the Armchair Expert podcast. She had heard nightmarish stories from children of divorce about how their families would only come together once in many years or during tragedies. She knew this wasn’t the life she wanted for Apple and Moses. She knew that she had to work with Martin to make sure their children didn’t suffer.
Regardless of their efforts, things weren’t easy as they were constantly scrutinized by the public eye. She said,
I think at the time, I was in a lot of pain. It felt like such a failure to me. It was so hard and I was so worried about my kids.
While a “layer of the world” was turning on them, they just wanted “to be nice to each other and stay a family.” Paltrow added, “It was brutal. I already felt like I had no skin on.”
Now, years after their divorce, the two have remained good friends. The Iron Man actress went on to marry TV producer Brad Falchuk and the couple had a big family honeymoon together which Martin tagged along on. The party included the newlyweds, Falchuk’s children, Martin and their kids, as well as some other family friends. Martin has been in a happy relationship with Dakota Johnson since 2017.
