Mendes: Had a major movie hit with American Beauty

In coming to the Donmar, Paltrow follows in the footsteps of Nicole Kidman, who caused a stir when she took her clothes off for each performance of the Blue Room.

But the theatre's attraction for overseas film stars is part of a thriving trend which has seen the likes of Kathleen Turner, Kevin Spacey and Faye Dunaway appearing in West End plays.

Paltrow was commissioned to appear at the Donmar by its outgoing artistic director Sam Mendes - a celebrity in his own right.

Mendes was thrown into the global spotlight for directing the multiple Oscar-winning American Beauty.

He hit the headlines again recently when it emerged he was dating the British actress Kate Winslet, following her break-up from her husband.

Mendes is due to leave the Donmar in the summer, after Paltrow's visit.

Awards

In Proof, Paltrow will be directed by John Madden, who also worked with the actress on Shakespeare in Love.

He was also the helmsman of the films Captain Corelli's Mandolin and Mrs Brown.

Proof is written by David Auburn and is considered one of the major plays to have hit Broadway in recent years.

It won numerous awards including a Tony and Pulitzer Prize last year so the Donmar has pulled off another coup in securing its UK premi�re.

Proof tells the story of Catherine, who has spent years caring for her unstable but brilliant father.

In his 20s he made inspirational mathematical discoveries and his legacy is a series of hand-written notebooks.

These attract the attention of one of his former students, who, in turn, attracts the attention of Catherine.

The rest of the cast is expected to be British, although no names have been confirmed.

Proof will run from 9 May - 15 June.