In 2001, Gwyneth Paltrow starred as the sexually promiscuous Margot Helen Tenenbaum in the American comedy-drama film The Royal Tenenbaums.
Wes Anderson directed the film, which is cleverly presented as an adaptation of a fictional novel. The movie features a star-studded cast, including Danny Glover, Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Bill Murray, Ben Stiller, Luke Wilson, and Owen Wilson.
Iconic Fashion Moments in The Royal Tenenbaums
Who could forget her pin-straight bob, eye makeup, and luxurious fur coat, which Italian fashion house Fendi made exclusively for the movie?
Luke Wilson (as Richie Tenenbaum), Gwyneth Paltrow (as Margot Tenenbaum), Gene Hackman (as Royal Tenenbaum), Ben Stiller (as Chas Tenenbaum), Anjelica Huston (as Etheline Tenenbaum), Danny Glover (as Henry Sherman), Kumar Pallana (as Pagoda); (two children in front) Grant Rosenmeyer (as Ari Tenenbaum), and Jonah Meyerson (as Uzi Tenenbaum) (Credit: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution)
Paltrow told USA Today that it was the only one of her movies that she could watch. “I have a memory of my dad visiting,” she said of her father, Bruce Weigert Paltrow, who died suddenly from pneumonia in 2002.
“He came the day that we did a scene where I’m getting off the bus and Richie’s picking me up, and my dad was there. It was a very special day.”
“I also really hate, hate, hate seeing myself in a movie ever and it’s kind of like the only scene that I can watch of myself of my whole career.”
“I have so many great memories,” Paltrow said about filming the movie.
“I really loved the scene of Gene and I in the ice cream parlor. Doing that was really like a partner highlight for me, to do that scene with him, even though he was a little intimidating. He was sweet to me and that was really special,” she said about Hollywood icon Gene Hackman.
Gwyneth Paltrow as Margot Tenenbaum in The Royal Tenenbaums wearing a luxurious fur coat and carrying a Hermès Birkin bag, capturing the character’s iconic style (Credit: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution)
Behind the Scenes: Filming The Royal Tenenbaums
The movie was filmed using around 250 sets in New York City. New York Magazine TV critic Matt Zoller Seitz told Vulture that Paltrow was only available for a few days of filming.
No, it was a real house. At the time I was very adamant that this would be a real place and that we have to make it a real place. The movie’s scheduled around the actors — it’s a little jigsaw puzzle. We have Ben for these three weeks, and we have Gwyneth for only these ten days, and everything is built around that. I felt like they had to have this real place that exists that they can walk into and say, “This is my room. Here’s my room.” And they did. It was also quite practical, I think. The roof was the real roof. It was all one place. The only cheat was with their kitchen, which was in the house next door, because this place had no windows—it was not going to work. But the rest of it’s all there — it’s near Convent Avenue and 144th Street in Harlem, just north of City College. The hotel where Gene Hackman is living at the beginning is the Waldorf.
A Box Office Success: The Royal Tenenbaums and Its Legacy
The Royal Tenenbaums debuted at the New York Film Festival on October 5, 2001, and received positive reviews from critics. It was Anderson’s most financially successful film until 2014’s The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Born on September 27, 1972, in Los Angeles, Gwyneth Paltrow celebrated her 29th birthday just a few weeks before The Royal Tenenbaums was released in December 2001. Her co-star Luke Wilson, who portrayed tennis expert Richie Tenenbaum, turned 30 on September 21, 2001, marking a significant milestone shortly before the film’s premiere.
Luke Wilson (as Richie Tenenbaum) and Gwyneth Paltrow (as Margot Tenenbaum) in The Royal Tenenbaums (Credit: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution)
Wes Anderson’s Vision: Crafting a Cinematic Masterpiece
The Royal Tenenbaums was Wes Anderson’s third movie, and it essentially cemented his reputation as a visionary filmmaker with a unique and distinctive cinematic style.
The film is both a hilarious comedy and a shocking drama. It follows the lives of three gifted siblings from the dysfunctional Tenenbaum family.
A lie from the desperate Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman) and a misguided attempt to reunite his family keep the plot moving, resulting in an emotional rollercoaster of emotions with a beautiful aesthetic and an incredible soundtrack.
Gwyneth Paltrow as Margot Tenenbaum and Bill Murray as Raleigh St. Clair share an intense moment in a bathroom scene from The Royal Tenenbaums (Credit: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution)
Like most of Anderson’s films, The Royal Tenenbaums had a star-studded ensemble cast. Gwyneth Paltrow performs well at age 29 in the role of Margot, while 36-year-old Ben Stiller and 30-year-old Luke Wilson nail it as her adoptive brothers Chas and Richie.
Ultimately, The Royal Tenenbaums stands as a masterful piece of cinema, blending gloom and humor with impeccable cinematography. Its unique narrative and striking visual style make it a standout contender for one of the best films of 2001.
After making a lasting impression as Margot Tenenbaum, Paltrow’s influence in both cinema and fashion continued to grow. Known for her elegant and often understated style, Gwyneth has become a staple at major fashion events. Her presence at Paris Fashion Week in January 2016 was no exception, where she effortlessly turned heads with her chic and sophisticated look at the Chanel show.
Gwyneth Paltrow’s Chic Appearance at Paris Fashion Week
We’re not sure who’s luckier here: Legendary Chanel head designer Karl Lagerfeld and Gwyneth Paltrow took a selfie together in January 2016. Before the epic selfie, Gwyneth flew into Paris for the Chanel show during the Paris Haute Couture Week.
Gwyneth Paltrow exudes elegance in a checkered high-neck jacket with a signature Chanel button detail on January 26, 2016, during the S/S 2016 Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture (Credit: Radoslaw Nawrocki / WENN)
At the Chanel fashion show, Gwyneth showcased her loyalty to the brand by donning a checkered high-neck button-down jacket paired with a matching pleated skirt, a chic clutch, and a striking pair of suede pumps featuring logo-embossed heels. Her entire look is from Chanel.
Gwyneth Paltrow completes her chic ensemble with black suede Chanel pumps, featuring distinctive logo-embossed heels that add a subtle yet luxurious touch (Credit: Radoslaw Nawrocki / WENN)
Even without makeup, Gwyneth effortlessly posed for a photo with the legendary designer, who steered Chanel through its remarkable fashion evolution.
Gwyneth Paltrow stuns in a checkered Chanel ensemble, pairing a tailored high-neck jacket with a matching pleated skirt and completing the look with black suede pumps featuring logo-embossed heels (Credit: Radoslaw Nawrocki / WENN)
Here’s a look at that selfie.
Gwyneth Paltrow shares a candid moment with the iconic Karl Lagerfeld, capturing their close connection during Paris Fashion Week (Credit: Gwyneth Paltrow’s Instagram)
Where to Find Similar Styles: Suede Heels and More
Chanel rarely sells its shoes online, so we have yet to spot these logo-emblazoned pumps on the internet.
However, you can check out other metal-heeled suede beauties at Farfetch and Mytheresa instead:
Casadei 150mm Swarovski Embellished Suede Pumps, $950
Giambattista Valli Gold Plate Suede Heels, $955
Prada Geometric-Heel Pumps, $670