‘HATERS DON'T MEAN ANYTHING TO ME'

With a ‘crazytown handsome’ husband, a thriving global business and a hard-won singular attitude, Gwyneth Paltrow is revelling in the carefree abandon of growing older.

- CHRISTA D'SOUZA

Gwyneth Paltrow has never taken hallucinogenic drugs. Actually, she’s barely smoked pot. ‘It either makes me bum out or fall asleep.’ But, aware of the fact that they are being touted as the next big thing in mental health, she is ‘very open’ to giving them a try. Particularly at this stage of her life. ‘It’s funny; I remember when I turned 40, interviewers going, “Oh my God, you’re 40! What does that mean?” – as if I was ready for the old people’s home. And yet, these past six years have been the most profoundly awakening years of my life.

‘Actually, we were just talking about it the other day. You have to go to Canada, where it’s legal [trials are being conducted there, but hallucinogens are not generally available for therapeutic use], and they give you MDMA or psilocybin to work on your issue or trauma. I mean it’s got to be done in the right setting and with a professional doctor, of course.’

It is a hazy morning in downtown LA, and Gwyneth and I are sitting in a trailer on a lot of Rolling Greens garden centre, the venue for In Goop Health, the wellness summit she hosts. I’ve had my free B12 shot and a large handful of caffeine-laced Nerd Alert Goop chews on offer here today along with cartons of Goop-approved low-alkaline water, Goop parasols and a whole bunch of other free Instagram-friendly swag.