Gwyneth Paltrow "worked her ass off" for the good things in her life.

The 'Country Strong' actress - who has children Apple, six, and Moses, five, with husband Chris Martin - believes some people resent the fact she seemingly has it all because she is not afraid to try new things and says her desire to do her best is often mistaken for her feeling superior to others.

She said: "I think my work ethic is the reason why I'm successful. I think that a lot of people don't want to put in effort and it's easier to not change, not do something good for you, not work on your relationship, not make yourself a meal, not work out. They're just p**sed off at someone else doing that

"Everything in my life that's good is because I worked my ass off to get it and to maintain it.

" I think people mistake me trying to be the best version of myself for me telling them you're not, or they just think well, what does that make me then, you annoying f**king person on the soapbox."

Gwyneth - who has recently released her own cook book, 'My Father's Daughter', and is rumoured to have landed a record deal - also admitted she pities her critics as she thinks they are projecting their negative feelings about themselves onto her.

She added in an interview with PopEater: "Sometimes if I hear of something really unkind or somebody's really misunderstood me or something like that for a second I'll be like, 'Oooh wow that hurt,' but almost immediately I'll be like, 'poor guy.' What state are they in that they're seeing that or projecting that."