GWYNETH PALTROW - GWYNETH DEFENDS 'ANTI-AMERICA' COMMENTS

GWYNETH DEFENDS 'ANTI-AMERICA' COMMENTS

Gwyneth Paltrow has denied reports that she regards America as an inferior country to Britain.

A Portuguese newspaper quoted a number of anti-US comments allegedly made by the Oscar-winning actress, who was born in America but now lives in England with her husband, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.

It claimed that she had said "the British are much more intelligent and civilised than the Americans" and that there is more of a focus on money and material success in the US.

But speaking to People magazine, Paltrow said that she "would never, ever have said that".

"I feel so lucky to be American," she said. "I feel so proud to be American."

She added: "I felt so upset to be completely misconstrued. I am a New York girl, that's how I always think of myself and see myself."

The 34-year-old actress explained that she had not given an interview to the Portuguese daily but that the comments had been taken from a press conference she had given in Spanish in Spain.

"This is what I said," Paltrow told People. "I said that Europe is a much older culture and there's a difference. I always say in America, people live to work and in Europe, people work to live. There are positives in both. Obviously I need to go back to seventh-grade Spanish!"