Gwyneth Paltrow's grief hair

Oct 5, 2008, 4:00 GMT

09/21/2008 - Gwyneth Paltrow - Pizza chef..."Spain... on the Road Again" Television Series Launch - Arrivals - Queen Sofia Spanish Institute - New York City, NY, USA © Sylvain Gaboury / PR Photos

Gwyneth Paltrow refused to cut her hair when her father died.

The 'Shakespeare in Love' actress says she struggled to allow herself to chop her flowing locks until this summer, six years after the death of her TV producer father Bruce.

She said: "I love changing my look but I kept my hair long for so long because when my dad died I didn't want to cut it off. I think it was because it was the hair he knew.

"Then one day I was on a shoot and I just suddenly said, 'I need to cut it now.' It was almost as if it was part of the grieving process. I just had to let something go."

Gwyneth - who has a daughter Apple, four, and son Moses, two, with husband Chris Martin - also revealed her amazement at featuring on several 'Best Dressed' lists this year.

The blonde star - who was seen sporting various glamorous outfits, including several pairs of expensive high-heels, while promoting 'Iron Man' this year - added: "I couldn't believe the reaction. I'd been living in sweatpants for the last couple of years as I've been at home with the kids."

Gwyneth has previously said she believes husband Chris was a gift sent from heaven by her late father.

The Oscar-winning actress met the Coldplay frontman just weeks after Bruce's passing and Gwyneth is convinced her beloved dad had something to do with it.

She said: "My father died and I met my husband three weeks later. So, in a way, it felt like my father was in heaven putting him there in my life, you know?"