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Hollywood is filled with talented actors and actresses, and, over the years, many of them have become legendary icons. Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Denzel Washington, and Robert De Niro are just a few. On and off the screen these individuals have won over audiences with their craft, personalities, and performances.

Kate Winslet is another popular actress who is highly respected in the entertainment industry. Take a look back at Winslet’s journey to the spotlight and what the star had to share about one of her most well-known roles. 

Kate Winslet’s journey in the spotlight 

Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet at Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 2017 | C Flanigan/Getty Images

Winslet was born in Reading in 1975, and she began acting at a young age. The England native grew up in a family that valued performance and theatre. Both of Winslet’s parents were professional thespians, and her grandparents were well-known for running the Reading Repertory Theatre.

When Winslet was 12 she had the opportunity to appear in a Sugar Puffs commercial. Winslet went on to attend a performing arts high school and began getting cast in small roles such as Reet on Dark Season and Eleanor Sweet on Get Back.

In 1994, the British actress landed her first big break when Winslet was cast for the role of Juliet Hulme in Heavenly Creatures. The following year Winslet appeared in A Kid in King Arthur’s Court and Sense and Sensibility, but, of course, it didn’t end there.

Winslet seemed to have a knack for taking on roles set in other time periods, and in 1996, she appeared as Ophelia in Hamlet. Though Shakespeare’s works are definitely considered to be a classic, it was Winslet’s next acting role that would turn her into an “international star”.

Kate Winslet’s iconic role in the film ‘Titanic’

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet | CBS/Getty Images

Titanic premiered in 1997, and audiences everywhere were blown away by Winslet’s performance. The actress was cast as Rose Dewitt Bukater, and Winslet’s character was heading to Philadelphia where she was set to get married.

As the story goes, on the ship, Rose meets Jack Dawson, who is played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Jack ended up on the ship after winning the tickets in a poker game.  Despite the two character’s incredibly different backgrounds and lives, they found themselves in the middle of a fleeting love story.

Winslet received a nomination for Best Actress for her performance. 

What did Kate Winslet reveal about her ‘Titanic’ performance?

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Kate Winslet Practically Begged For Her ‘Titanic’ Role

It was clear that many fans and viewers loved Titanic and Winslet. However, surprisingly enough, the talented star didn’t quite feel the same way about her performance.

In an interview with The Telegraph Winslet explained: “Every single scene, I’m like ‘Really, really? You did it like that?’ Oh my God…Even my American accent, I can’t listen to it. It’s awful,” “Hopefully it’s so much better now. It sounds terribly self-indulgent, but actors do tend to be very self-critical. I have a hard time watching any of my performances, but watching Titanic I was just like, ‘Oh God, I want to do that again.'”

Perhaps some would say she was being too hard on herself. After all, it is still considered to be one of the most impactful and successful movies ever created. 

Winslet has appeared in many films and productions since her iconic performance as Rose Dewitt Bukater. More recently the ambitious actress has been recognized for her work as Joanna Hoffman in Steve Jobs. Looking forward, Winslet’s fans and followers can expect to see her in Avatar II and Mare of Easton

Titanic continues to be a popular movie in today’s day and age, and Winslet’s reputation and successes are a testimony to her talents and skills.