Gwyneth Paltrow just made the internet collectively say “aww” with her emotional birthday tribute to her daughter, Apple Martin, who just turned 21.
The 52-year-old actress and Goop founder took to Instagram with a gush-worthy post packed with childhood photos and adorable videos of Apple growing up, calling her “the light of my life” and “my ray of sunshine.” Cue the tears.
The caption had everything from love to laughter to full-on mom pride. Gwyneth wrote, “To the light of my life, my ray of sunshine, my hilarious, brilliant, best buddy. Happy 21st birthday!! You are exceptionally kind and utterly wonderful. I am incredibly proud of your strength and your intellect. Your goofiness and your big laugh. You are just the best. The absolute best. Thank god for you, Apple Martin. I cannot wait to see what this next chapter brings for you. Love, Mama.” The vibes? Pure, unconditional love.
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The photos and videos she posted gave fans a sweet look into Apple’s childhood, playing, laughing, and growing up with her famous parents. Apple, born in May 2004, is Gwyneth’s eldest child with ex-husband and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. The former couple tied the knot in 2003 in Santa Barbara and welcomed Apple the following year. They also share 19-year-old son Moses Martin, who’s currently studying at Brown University after moving out last year.
Even though Gwyneth and Chris famously “consciously uncoupled” in 2014, they’ve maintained a rock-solid co-parenting relationship. That strong family bond was on full display in Gwyneth’s birthday post, which even included shots of Apple with Gwyneth’s current husband, TV producer Brad Falchuk, who she married in 2018.
And of course, Hollywood’s elite couldn’t help but chime in. Reese Witherspoon commented with a cheerful “Happy birthday,” and Kate Hudson added, “Oh honey, this gets me right in the tummy. Happy 21st, Apple sweet!!!!” So yeah, turns out even celebrities get emotional over their friends’ kids growing up.
Apple’s been living a more private life lately while studying at Vanderbilt University, where she began her freshman year in 2022. Despite having megastar parents, she’s been keeping a low profile and focusing on her studies, but that doesn’t mean she’s not getting love from fans who’ve basically watched her grow up through Gwyneth’s occasional posts.
Meanwhile, Gwyneth continues to juggle her mom life with running her wellness brand, Goop, and occasionally stepping back into acting. Most famously, she played Pepper Potts in Marvel’s Iron Man movies, and let’s not forget she won an Oscar for Shakespeare in Love. But it’s crystal clear that no accolade compares to being Apple’s mom.
From consciously uncoupling to consciously co-parenting, Gwyneth and Chris have navigated parenting in the spotlight with serious grace. Apple’s milestone birthday is just another reminder of how much time has flown since that unforgettable name made headlines back in 2004. Now, she’s a full-grown adult charting her own path, and we’re pretty sure her next chapter is going to be just as iconic as her mom’s.
