Why we should celebrate Jada Pinkett-Smith and Gwyneth Paltrow getting real about their sex lives

Watch: Red Table Talk: Gwyneth Paltrow reveals she's having the "best sex" as a newlywed

Gwyneth Paltrow and Jada Pinkett Smith have been getting real about their sex lives this week.

The actor and Goop founder, whose new Netflix show, Love, Sex and Goop, is all about helping couples explore their sexual relationship, appeared on Pinkett Smith’s show Red Table Talk earlier this week and the pair's candid conversation about sex quickly lit up the Internet.

It seems nothing was off the table as the women discussed female orgasms, sensation play, and even used a vulva puppet to discuss the female anatomy.

Paltrow described how she believes she's having the "best sex" because she's a "newlywed".

The Goop entrepreneur married producer Brad Falchuk in September 2018 but admitted the novelty of being together still hasn't worn off and things are particularly exciting in the bedroom.

Host Jada Pinkett Smith kicked off the conversation by saying: "So we read that you're having some of the best sex these days, which yay! And you're 49."

To which Paltrow replied: "Yes, but I'm a newlywed, so it's like I'm cheating maybe a little bit. You know?"

Pinkett Smith has since addressed the misconstruing of some of the comments she made about how maintaining a healthy sex life in any marriage is “hard", explaining via Twitter that she and her husband, Will Smith, “have NEVER had an issue” in the bedroom.

While Pinkett Smith may now be understandably frustrated about the miscomprehension of her candid comments, the fact that she and Paltrow decided to share such an open and honest conversation about sex is something we should be celebrating.

Read more: Midlife women are happiest with their sex lives, study finds

Until recently, perhaps, discussion surrounding what's going on in the bedroom was typically filed away under other taboo topics, and therefore rarely discussed.

For far too long, our sex lives seem to be treated as something of a dirty little secret that everyone’s in on and no one can talk about, but this can lead to some pretty major problems in terms of how we think and talk about sex.

Nowadays, however, the subject of sex is being brought out from under the sheets, thanks in part to a growing band of celebrities refusing to stay silent about sex.

And why should they? The fact is people are having sex, in fact according to some reports some are having more of it than ever before, so why shouldn't we talk about it?

Read more: As Gwyneth goes TMI, here's how to talk to teens about sex

Just this week Lorraine Kelly opened up about her own bedroom antics, revealing to the mirror that at the age of 61 her sex life with her husband of 30 years Steve Smith, is "toddling along nicely" thank you very much.

Equally as important, however, is her revelation that this hasn't always been the case, as going through the menopause hit her hard, physically and mentally.

Discussing how things improved in terms of her sex life, she explained: "For me, HRT helped everything toddle along nicely in that department."

And Kelly certainly isn't the only one sharing her sex positive views.

From Dame Judy Dench opening up about how the older generation can still enjoy a healthy sex life to Amanda Holden revealing her and her husband still have "primal sex" and Amy Schumer discussing her post-baby sex life, more stars are feeling able to share.

Watch: 7 foods for better sex - plus a few to avoid.

While not everyone will feel comfortable opening up about what goes in in the bedroom (or any room for that matter), the refreshing honesty from certain female celebrities is actually rather inspiring.

By highlighting not just sex, but sexual pleasure and also sexual issues, the stars aren’t just acknowledging the fact that everyone has sex, but making it feel less off limits to talk about it.

And talking about sex can help us gain perspective on what is and isn't normal, what might be going wrong and why being open and honest about it could lead to a happier, more healthy sex life.

"Gwyneth Paltrow and Jada Pinkett Smith are an inspiration in being so honest and open about their sex lives," Annabelle Knight, sex and relationship expert with the sexual wellness brand Lovehoney.

Knight says the pair's honesty in discussing their sex lives can only help all women to improve their sexual happiness, particularly those in middle age like Paltrow and Pinkett Smith.

"Let's take Gwyneth first. She says she is having some of the best sex of life at 49 because she is a newlywed, having tied the knot with writer Brad Falchuk in 2018, whom she describes as her 'dream man'.

"This shows that sex can be enjoyed to the optimum whatever your age, and that sexual fulfilment can increase as we get older and feel more confident about expressing our sexual needs.

Read more: How to overcome intimacy anxiety - and have better sex

As Paltrow herself points out, she hopes that by sharing her experiences she can inspire others not to give up on love and good sex due to age and past relationship experiences.

"Paltrow has also been a pioneer in promoting news ways to enhance sex through her lifestyle site, Goop. It has done so much to normalise the use of sex toys and encourage couples to explore new ways to experiment sexually," Knight adds.

Pinkett Smith on the other hand has talked about the challenges of maintaining good sex - "keeping the motor running" as she puts it - particularly in a long term relationship.

"She singles out the one key determinant of good sex in long-term relationships - good communication," Knight explains.

"If you are not talking well, you are not loving well. Hopefully lots of women reading her analysis will learn from her experiences and put them to good use with their own partners.

"Whenever I talk to couples who are having sex issues, my first question is about how they are communicating. You'd be amazed how many are reluctant to spell out their wants and desires."