Washington DC, Feb. 20 -- Actress Gwyneth Paltrow has described her longtime friendship with Kate Hudson as being "like family," saying the Oscar-nominated star is "like a little sister to me," according to People.

Paltrow, 53, made the remarks while introducing Hudson, 46, at the Arlington Artist of the Year Award event during the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, where Hudson was honoured for her Oscar-nominated performance in Song Sung Blue.

"I am here because Kate Hudson and I are real, true, old friends," Paltrow said during her speech. "She's like a little sister to me. I'm much older than she is, but I remember seeing her when she was little," according to People.

Paltrow noted that her parents, Blythe Danner and Bruce ...