Gwyneth Paltrow Loves Chris Martin Because He's Like Her Dad  12/23/05

Gwyneth Paltrow married Coldplay star Chris Martin because he reminded her of her late father Bruce.

The actress had an epiphany shortly after her father's sudden death in October 2002 when close pal Madonna reminded the Oscar winner of a chat they once had about love and loss.

She recalls, "She (Madonna) said to me that I once told her that I wasn't ready to pick the right person because I wasn't ready to replace my father as the main man in my life.

"It's true. I feel like I was never really with anybody who was a real contender."

But Paltrow knew she'd found her future husband when she met Martin, because he was so similar to her late father.

She explains, "He's got the same blue eyes and curly hair and the long, long muscles."