Academy Award winnerKate Winsletis one of the most respected actresses of our time, but that didn’t spare her from hurtful comments during her rise to stardom. Winslet became a household name following her starring role in 1997’sTitanic. At the time, the James Cameron film became the highest-grossing film and the first to bring in over one billion dollars to the global box office. It also earned Winslet an Academy Award nomination.
The film, which told the tragic love story between Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose Dewitt Bukater (Winslet) is celebrating its 25th anniversary today, with many outlets celebrating the beloved film. During a recent appearance on theHappy Sad Confusedpodcast, however, Winslet recalls the downside of starring in the widely discussed film. She told host Josh Horowitz:
“Apparently, I was too fat—isn’t it awful? Why were they so mean to me? I wasn’t even f—ing fat.” She continued: “If I could turn back the clock, I would have used my voice in a completely different way. I would have said to journalists…‘Don’t you dare treat me like this. I’m a young woman. My body is changing. I’m figuring it out. I’m deeply insecure. I’m terrified. Don’t make this any harder than it already is.’ That’s bullying and actually borderline abusive, I would say.”
Winslet went on to acknowledge that times have changed before adding that commenting on women’s bodies is “getting better, but we’ve still got such a ways to go.” Other actresses have recently spoken about their own struggles: Jennifer Lawrence opened up about being asked to lose weight for her role of Katniss Everdeen inThe Hunger Games, while Bryce Dallas Howard said her weight being a topic of conversation before the filming ofJurassic World.
Related:Kate Winslet Says Tom Cruise Is Probably ‘Fed Up’ Hearing About Her After Breaking One of His Records
Winslet’s Thriving Career
Before starring onTitanic, Winslet appeared inHeavenly CreaturesandSense and Sensibility. The latter, based on the novel by Jane Austen, earned Winslet her first Oscar nomination.
Winslet’s career flourished followingTitanic’s success, and she went on to star in many renowned films includingEternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,Finding Neverland, IrisandLittle Children. She’s also made waves on television, earning Emmy Awards for her roles inMare of EasttownandMildred Pierce. In 2008, Winslet reunited with Dicaprio forRevolutionary Road, and received a Golden Globe Award for her performance in the film. In 2009, she earned an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award forThe Reader.
Winslet’s appearance inAvatar: The Way of Waterreunited with herTitanicdirector Cameron. She’ll next portray Elizabeth “Lee” Miller, a photographer turned esteemed war correspondent for Vogue during World War II inLee.
