‘The Holiday’: Jack Black Felt Relieved He Didn’t Make Out With Kate Winslet
Jack Black ventured out of his comedy comfort zone with 2006’s The Holiday, a film that many regard as a Christmas classic. Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, and Jude Law also played leads in the two-in-one story that followed two women looking to recover from heartbreak. Black’s character found love with Winslet’s Iris, but their romance did not entail any frisky business. That turned out to be a good thing for the actor.
Jack Black glad to skip make-out scenes with Kate Winslet in ‘The Holiday’
When audiences met Jack Black’s Miles Dumont, they learned he was a talented composer. He was sweet, attentive, and responsible — though he also created a running joke about boob grazing.
Kate Winslet’s Iris Simpkins did not expect to meet anyone as charming as him when she swapped her home in England for a short stay in Los Angeles. But she fell for Miles. They had a more mellow and saccharine journey compared to Amanda and Graham, but fans loved it. And there were no sex scenes for Iris and Miles.
When Black did an interview with ComingSoon.net back in 2006, he was asked whether he was disappointed about not having a make-out scene with Winslet.
“Not bummed, in fact I was worried they were going to try to sneak one in,” he said. “Just because, oh God, I am not one for big public displays of affection and you can’t get more public than in a major motion picture. So I was relieved that our story was the sweet one and the other one was the full tongues-a-blazin’.”
Black also joked about tapping into his more serious, tender side for the film. “It was a challenge; I don’t usually show the soft and cuddlies. I think I am getting a little red right now.”
Winslet called Jack Black cute too
Black mentioned that director Nancy Meyers cast him because she thought he was adorable, and she’s since confirmed it. But Winslet agreed and thought he made the perfect love interest. During an interview with Hollywood.com, she shared all the qualities that made Black the ideal acting partner in The Holiday.
“He’s just so cute,” she said. “He’s so sweet and so sensitive as well as being funny. It’s the combination of those things and his charisma that make him so appealing. I mean, I think he’s the perfect romantic lead. I loved working with him and trust me, it was not difficult to fall in love with Jack Black at all.”
Where to stream ‘The Holiday’
For those in the mood to revisit this rom-com classic, The Holiday is available to stream on several platforms. Netflix, Google Play, Vudu, and Apple TV have it, and Hulu users with a premium subscription can also watch the film. It remains Black’s top movie in the genre, and it’s the only time he’s co-starred with Winslet — so far.
