The actress' father, BRUCE PALTROW, was directing the film and swore his daughter and other family members to secrecy about his ongoing cancer troubles which left eating and drinking a big problem.

Paltrow's widow, BLYTHE DANNER, recalls, "He flew to Vancouver to direct Duets, but his salivary glands were shot, a side effect of the radiation. He couldn't swallow easily, he couldn't eat.

"He had a feeding tube inserted in his stomach. He did not want people to know the pain he was in... It was just excruciating."

Danner reveals that her brave husband became a secret advisor to other cancer sufferers in the months before he lost his life.

She adds, "The doctors loved him. He would speak to patients across the country about what to expect. He became a vary good campaigner for stopping smoking.

"When he saw friends smoking, he would show them his big scar and say, 'You want to look like this in 20 years?'"

Bruce Paltrow lost his cancer battle in Italy in 2002, while holidaying in Europe with his actress daughter.