Gwynnie the who? Pretentious pets, Brad Pitt and cigarettes

When the author Amy Odell approached Gwyneth Paltrow's publicist about her plans for a biography of the actor, Goop founder and wellness pioneer, she was told that Paltrow would be glad to participate - if she was allowed to "factcheck" the book.

- Elle Hunt

Odell didn't agree. Her book, Gwyneth, has just been published to much buzz, without the star's participation.

So what have we learned?

Gwyneth Paltrow may be the signature nepo baby. Paltrow's mother, Blythe Danner, is a successful actor; her father, Bruce Paltrow, was a director and producer. Her parents' connections came into play before Gwyneth had even finished school. For a project, she covered a Bonnie Raitt song - accompanied by the Steely Dan singer, Donald Fagen. Bruce cast her in a TV pilot he was producing. At 19, she landed a part in Hook, directed by Steven Spielberg - her godfather, "Uncle Morty". (He called her "Gwynnie the Pooh").

Her labrador is 'pretentious'. Even the Paltrow pets enjoyed privilege, Odell reports, flown by private jet to film sets overseas. Following a stay in Paris, Anca the labrador allegedly started responding only to commands spoken in French. Even Paltrow thought that "pretentious".