Gwyneth Paltrow 'pleased' to triumph over younger stars

Gwyneth Paltrow is "pleased" she has managed to retain her status as an A-list actress - as she feared she would have been replaced by "younger, prettier" stars after returning from her maternity break.

The Sliding Doors star took a career hiatus following the birth of her first child, Apple, in 2004 with husband Chris Martin.

And Paltrow remained on her self-imposed maternity leave until after the birth of the couple's second child, Moses, in 2006.

The star has since returned to work but she insists she was initially scared that she would face rejections from studio bosses after her time out of the movie industry.

She says, "I've been away from Hollywood for a long time and so I'm pleased to have been remembered. There are so many younger, prettier actresses in Hollywood that I didn't think producers would pick me.

"Hollywood does have a short memory and can forget about you."