Kate Winslet is a national treasure. Britain’s adulation for the actress started with her role in the epic romance and disaster film Titanic, which made her one of the most well-known stars in Hollywood.
Having taken a year out from acting following the success of TV show Mare of Easttown, the 46-year-old is now set to return to our screens in the Channel 4 drama, I Am.
The talented actress will appear in the show alongside her daughter, Mia Threapleton.
With filming for the series soon to be wrapped up, the Daily Star has taken a look at Kate Winslet’s life both on and off screen.
Humble beginnings
(Image: Getty Images)
Kate was born on October 5, 1975, to her parents Sally Anne and Roger John Winslet.
The family struggled when Kate was growing up with her father, an actor, having to take on labouring jobs to support them.
They lived on free meal benefits and were supported by the Actors’ Charitable Trust.
To make matters worse, Kate’s dad severely hurt his foot when she was 10 and he found it even harder to work.
However, Kate has said this never stopped her parents always making her and her siblings feel cared for.
Acting career
Kate’s big break was in Peter Jackson’s Heavenly Creatures, for which she beat more than 170 other girls to the role.
However, this wasn’t the star’s first acting gig.
While at school Kate appeared in a Sugar Puffs advert, although she has since revealed you can only spot her left arm in the ad.
Kate later had her heart set on playing Rose in James Cameron’s Titanic.
The director was originally unwilling to cast her, preferring the likes of Claire Danes and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Kate pleaded with him and famously said: “You don’t understand! I am Rose! I don’t know why you’re even seeing anyone else!”
Luckily, her persistence got her the part.
It wasn’t all plain sailing during filming, though, as Kate almost drowned, suffered from hypothermia, managed just four hours of sleep per day and had bruises on her arms and knees.
Kate enjoys playing “angst-ridden women” and recently starred in Mare of Easttown before taking a short career break to spend time with her family.
Leonardo DiCaprio bond
(Image: Publicity Picture)
Kate and Leonardo DiCaprio played young lovers in Titanic, with moviegoers quick to spot their onscreen chemistry.
Throughout their careers, the pair have always denied romance rumours, insisting they just have a very close friendship.
They later returned to work together on Revolutionary Road, during which time Leo gifted Kate something special.
He gave her a gold ring which she wears in addition to her wedding ring.
Kate has teased fans by revealing there is an engraving on the ring but refuses to disclose what it says.
In Kate’s 2012 wedding to Edward Abel Smith, Leo walked her down the aisle and gave her away.
Tragic death of first love
At 15 years old, Kate began a relationship with actor Stephen Tredre, despite him being 12 years older than her.
The pair started living together in London in 1991.
While they broke up in 1995, they remained close until he died of bone cancer two years later.
Kate considered Stephen to be a major influence in her life and missed the premiere of Titanic to attend his funeral.
She said this decision led to some insensitive calls from people involved with the making of the film, questioning if Stephen would have wanted her at the premiere instead.
She reportedly replied: “No he bloody wouldn’t. Stephen would have wanted me at his funeral and I’m going to be there.”
In a 2008 interview, Kate admitted to having never got over his death.
Near-death experience
(Image: Reuters)
In 2011, Kate was on holiday with her children Mia Threapleton and Joe Mendes when a huge fire broke out.
The family were staying at billionaire Richard Branson’s estate on Necker Island.
People had to evacuate the campus as a result of the inferno.
However, it wasn’t all tragedy as the ordeal led to Kate meeting her third husband, Edward Abel Smith (formerly known as Ned Rocknroll).
Edward, who is Richard Branson’s nephew, was staying in a house adjacent to Kate and her family.
She said she followed him because he was “the only dude to have a head torch and a pair of shoes, everyone else left everything behind.”
The couple married in December 2012.
They had a son the following year who they named Bear Blaze Winslet, with his middle name being a way to remember how they met.
Superhuman skill
(Image: @officialavatar /Twitter)
The Hollywood actress is set to star in the sequel to James Cameron’s Avatar.
Kate has had to learn a special skill for the role — breath-holding.
In the film, Kate plays a reef person and so spends a lot of time in the water.
In an interview, she said: “I learned how to breath-hold and held my breath for seven minutes, which is completely true and I’m very proud of that.”
This impressive feat saw her break Tom Cruise’s on-film breath-hold record which had been set at six minutes.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
