A starring public role as Gwyneth Paltrow finally shows herself

Leading Hollywood lady Gwyneth Paltrow finally left the safe seclusion of the 24-acre estate near Soller where she has been based for the past ten days and ventured out on a boat from the Port of Soller. Paltrow, who returned to Majorca last Friday morning, after briefly jetting off the island with a female companion, was accompanied by a group of friends. The top actress, one of the most bankable and most sought after in the world, looked a picture of summer as she headed along the quay to the awaiting launch. Only last week was she voted a US “style icon” by one of the United States' top fashion publications. Women's Wear Daily named its top style icons and both Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lopez topped the list. Of the 18 women chosen, the magazine also nominated Katherine Hepburn, Twiggy, Madonna, Jaqueline Onassis and Coco Chanel. The magazine said that the women chosen are those that the world observes and to whom others look for inspiration. Paltrow certainly looked inspiring yesterday, despite the fact that some members of her party were none too pleased to see the press and tensions flared. Paltrow has been on the island now for the best part of ten days, during which she did fly off briefly to France when the Majorcan weather took an unexpected turn for the worse. She is planning to remain on the island for a few days yet, although her travelling companions leave today, and is expected to coincide with the return of Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones, as well as Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith who are expected to attend the Copa del Rey sailing regatta next week.