Gwyneth Paltrow was early secret source for journalists who investigated Harvey Weinstein

Gwyneth Paltrow was a secret early source for journalists investigating Harvey Weinstein, and played a "much more active" role than previously known in the events that ultimately led to his arrest.

The Hollywood actress was "one of the first" people to pass information about the movie mogul to New York Times journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, they have revealed.

On one occasion, Paltrow faced a "hair-raising" situation as Weinstein turned up early at her house for a party she was hosting, unaware that the actress was already speaking to journalists about him.

Paltrow hid in her own bathroom and telephoned the journalists, saying: "What do I do? He's here!"

Her role is detailed in Kantor and Twohey's book "She Said," which details events leading to Weinstein's arrest, and the #MeToo movement.

The journalists first started writing about sex allegations against Weinstein in newspaper articles in October 2017.

Ms Kantor said: "She [Paltrow] did play a much more active role than anybody's ever known. But it was hair-raising for her, because Harvey Weinstein had been such an important influence."

Paltrow won an Oscar for best actress in 1999 after working with Weinstein on "Shakespeare in Love".

Ms Twohey said: "Gwyneth Paltrow was one of Harvey's biggest stars, and he had really presented himself as a godfather to her over the years.

"So, I think many people will be surprised to discover that, when so many other actresses were reluctant to get on the phone, and scared to tell the truth of what they had experienced at his hands, Gwyneth was actually one of the first people to get on the phone."

She said Paltrow had, from an early stage, been "determined" to help the investigation, "even when he [Weinstein] turned up early to a party at her house, and she was forced to hide in the bathroom."

She added: "Harvey Weinstein was extremely aware, and extremely scared, what the implications would be if his biggest star actually ended up going on the record."

Early in their investigation Paltrow agreed to talk to the journalists, and told them she had gone to a meeting with Weinstein in a hotel room when she was in her early 20s.

She claimed he ended the meeting by putting his hands on her, and saying: "Let's finish in the bedroom."

As a flood of allegations unfolded against Weinstein, Paltrow did ultimately agree to make her story public.

Ms Kantor said: "There are so many good reasons not to go on the record with a story like this. The famous women often felt 'this will become a sleazy, Hollywood sex story that I don't want to be part of'."

The book also claims that Lisa Bloom, a high profile victims’ rights lawyer, allegedly offered to help Weinstein by discrediting actress Rose McGowan, one of his accusers.

Ms Bloom, who built her reputation as a feminist representing victims of sexual abuse, was working for Weinstein at a rate of $895 an hour.

The book, out this week, quotes a confidential memo Ms Bloom is alleged to have sent to Weinstein about McGowan, in which it says: "I feel equipped to help you against the Roses of the world because I have represented so many of them.

"We can place an article re her becoming increasingly unglued, so that when someone Googles her this is what pops up and she’s discredited."

Ms Bloom, who previously resigned from the Weinstein case, publicly apologised, and thanked the authors of the book for "forcing me to confront the colossal mistake I made working with Weinstein two years ago."

She added: "Especially to the women: I am sorry."

In a statement a spokesperson for Weinstein said: "'She Says' is all you need to know to appreciate that this book contains one-sided allegations without having adequately investigated the facts of each situation. There is a very different side to every story."

Weinstein is facing a criminal trial on charges of rape and predatory sexual assault and has pleaded not guilty.