JOHN MADDEN - DIRECTOR: I HAD NO IDEA GWYNETH WAS PREGNANT

Director JOHN MADDEN is glad to hear that movie actress GWYNETH PALTROW is pregnant - because it explains her strange behaviour on the set of upcoming movie PROOF.

The SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE film-maker was left mystified when Gwyneth's boyfriend CHRIS MARTIN appealed to him to cut down the 31-year-old OSCAR-winner's working hours, and now understands why the COLDPLAY rocker was so concerned for his lover's health.

He says, "I didn't know about Gwyneth's news until very recently. Now I realise why Chris was scurrying around so much on set. He was always there. He would put an arm round the producer and say, 'You've got to be wrapping soon, surely?'

"She was two months pregnant during filming and although you could choose her a scene without any clothes on and you wouldn't notice any difference.

"Chris was very attentive and took good care of her. They're both ecstatic and thrilled about the baby."