‘Glee’ star Matthew Morrison is ‘great pals’ with Gwyneth Paltrow

Matthew Morrison and Gwyneth Paltrow

The 'Glee' star struck up a close bond with the actress following her stint as Spanish teacher Holly Holiday in the TV show's second series, and enjoys spending time with the blonde beauty, her husband, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, and their two children Apple, eight, and Moses, six.

He said: "We have a great relationship. She's become a great friend of mine, so have her family and husband. I got to see Coldplay in concert at the Hollywood bowl, they were incredible. It's been really cool being a part of that family, their kids are amazing and I've met so many incredible people through her."

The 34-year-old actor's profile has sky-rocketed since he landed the part of kind-hearted glee club mentor Will Schuester, but the role has triggered rumours about his sexuality.

However, Matthew - who is dating singer Renee Puente - has learnt to ignore the speculation he might be gay, fuelled by his love of Broadway and nimble dance moves.

He sighed to Britain's OK! magazine: "It used to [bother me], but now I'm honestly so comfortable with myself, I don't care! Some of my best friends are gay, so if I were to get offended then I'd be offended then I'd be offending them. I don't think anything's wrong with it because I love my friends whatever they are.

Matthew Morrison says there's no musical rivalry amongst the 'Glee' cast

Matthew Morrison

The actor - who plays teacher Will Schuester on the hit musical comedy show - insists that although many of the talented cast members are capitalizing on their fame by releasing their own music, they're not in competition with each other.

Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, he said: "We're very supportive. I'm excited because Naya [Rivera] and Amber [Riley] are working on their new albums. I'm really excited for them. I feel like they're voices that should be heard. I respect them as artists."

When pressed further about friendly rivalry amongst the cast, he said: "Not at all."

Matthew, 34, is set to return to his stage roots for an album of Broadway musical covers, which he will release next year, and although he released a self-titled album in 2011, he feels this is the record he should've made all along.

He explained: "Coming from 'Glee', my first album, I really wanted to write some of my own songs just because I wanted people to take me more seriously. 'Glee' is pretty much karaoke, we're doing [songs by] established artists.

"For this album, this is what I should have done from the get-go - it's what I grew up singing. It's all Broadway classics. I spent three months just doing research on pretty much every Broadway song you could ever imagine. It was just an amazing experience. I kind of selected the best 15 songs that would fit me and fit the live show I want to put on."

'Glee' series four starts on January 6th on Sky1.

Glee's Matthew Morrison is 'very happy' with girlfriend Renee Puente

The 'Glee' star has been dating Renee Puente since last summer and is pleased to have found love with someone who isn't famous because she gives him the "normality" he needs in his life.

Matthew Morrison

He said: "I'm very happy. Renee's not in the industry - I need that normality. We like to stay home and cook, we're not that Hollywood."

Despite feeling settled with Renee, Matthew insists he is in no rush to have children, even though he has recently spent a lot of time with Sir Elton John and David Furnish's 14-month-old son Zachary.

He told Closer magazine: "I'm not ready for a family yet. I'm mates with Elton John and love his son Zachary, but I'm not broody."

Matthew has previously said he is a very good boyfriend.

He said: "People can think what they like. I know I'm a very good boyfriend. I take it very seriously. I am comfortable in my own skin."

Matthew - who plays teacher Will Schuester in the musical TV show - also revealed how being a household name hasn't changed his outlook on life and is still sensible when it comes to money.

He said: "Yes, I am a household name, but for me it's just another job that I love doing. I still live like a starving actor, to be honest. I'm very frugal with money because I'm scared of losing my job, so I still have starving-actor mentality.

"I'm very tight with money and real estate is the only thing I've put my money into. I've bought a home in Los Angeles. I don't think anyone can be fully prepared for how much this kind of fame can change a person's life."