LISBON (AFP) - Oscar-winning US actress Gwyneth Paltrow feels dinner talk is far more interesting in her adopted homeland Britain than back in her native country.
"I love the English lifestyle, it's not as capitalistic as America. People don't talk about work and money, they talk about interesting things at dinner," she told "NS", the weekend magazine supplement of daily Portuguese newspaper Diario de Noticias on Saturday.
"I like living here because I don't fit into the bad side of American psychology. The British are much more intelligent and civilized than the Americans," the 34-year-old added.
Paltrow, who won a best actress Oscar for 1998's "Shakespeare in Love," lives in London with British band Coldplay's frontman Chris Martin whom she wed in 2003.
She said having US pop star Madonna, 48, who married British film director Guy Ritchie six years ago, nearby was another advantage to living in London.
"She's like an older sister. Everything I have gone through, she went through ten times worse and ten times longer. She gives me good advice about how to say no and take care of myself," said Paltrow.
Apparently since her last two films were box-office flops, Ms. Paltrow had to say SOMETHING to get back into the limelight... perhaps to promote another movie destined for the DVD dustbin.
Taken and mangled from Monty Python's Oscar Wilde Sketch
Formal introduction: Mr. George Bernard Shaw! An almost famous American actress from an equally almost famous American acting family--Her Royal Highness Gwyneth Paltrow.
[Gwyneth Paltrow]: Oh, my congratulations, Wilde. Your play is a great success. The whole of London is talking about you!
[Oscar Wilde]: Ms. Gwyneth Paltrow, you know more than anyone else in this room that there is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about and that is not being talked about.
All: [Hysterical Laughter]
[Gwyneth Paltrow]: Oh, very witty, Wilde, very, VERY witty!
[James McNeill Whistler]: There is only one thing in the world worse than being witty, and that is not being witty.
All: [More Hysterical Laughter]
[Oscar Wilde]: I wish I had said that, Gwyneth.
[James McNeill Whistler]: You will, Oscar, you will.
[Oscar Wilde]: Ms. Gwyneth Paltrow, do you know James McNeill Whistler?
[Gwyneth Paltrow]: Yes, we played squash together.
[Oscar Wilde]: There is only one thing worse than playing squash together, and that is playing it by yourself. (Long Silence) I wish I
hadn't said that.
[James McNeill Whistler]: Well, you did Oscar, you did.
All: [Light Laughter]
[Gwyneth Paltrow]: Well, you must forgive me, Wilde, but I must get back to Bel Air.
[Oscar Wilde]: Gwyneth Paltrow, you're lika a big dram doughnut with cream on the top.
[Gwyneth Paltrow]: I beg your pardon!?
[Oscar Wilde]: Uh, it was one of Whistler's.
[James McNeill Whistler]: I didn't say that!
[Oscar Wilde]: You did, James, you did.
[Gwyneth Paltrow]: Well, Mr. Whistler?
[James McNeill Whistler]: I-I meant Ms. Paltrow, that, that (ahem) like a doughnut your arrival gives us pleasure and your departure merely makes us hungry for more.
All: [Laughter]
[James McNeill Whistler]: Right! Gwyneth Paltrow is like stream of bat's piss!
All: Whuh!?
[Gwyneth Paltrow]: What!?
[James McNeill Whistler]: It was one of Wilde's.
[Oscar Wilde]: It certainly was not! It was Shaw's!
[Gwyneth Paltrow]: Well, Mr. Shaw?
[George Bernard Shaw]: I-I-I merely meant Gwyneth that you shoned like a shaft of gold when all around is dirt.
All: Oooooh...
[Gwyneth Paltrow]: Oh, oh, very witty!
[George Bernard Shaw]: Right! Gwyneth Paltrow is like a dose of clap!
Woman: Oh, what!?
[Gwyneth Paltrow]: What!?
[George Bernard Shaw]: ---
[Gwyneth Paltrow]: I beg your pardon!?
[George Bernard Shaw]: It was one of Wilde's!
[Gwyneth Paltrow]: Ah, well, Mr. Wilde?
[George Bernard Shaw]: Come on now, let's hear all about it!
[Oscar Wilde]: (Let's out a large raspberry--fart sound).
[Gwyneth Paltrow]: That's an excellent one! Very witty, Wilde!