Dietrich's daughter: Paltrow too thin to play my mother

The daughter of screen legend Marlene Dietrich has slammed Gwyneth Paltrow for accepting the role of her mother in a forthcoming movie - insisting the star is "too thin".

Maria Riva believes the Sliding Doors star is a bad choice for the part because of her svelte shape, and is adamant skinny actresses wouldn't have succeeded in the Tinseltown of the past.

She says: "There wasn't a star in Hollywood back then that was as thin as today's actresses.

"Studios wouldn't have signed skinny women in my day. Marlene, Joan Crawford, Paulette Goddard - all of us were shapely. We were what men wanted to see - and gorgeous with it.

"I think Gwyneth will need some helpings of good old apple pie and plenty of ice-cream!"