Kate Winslet

One of the things that pleases most about Kate Winslet (Reading, Berkshire, Great Britain, 1975) is that she does not seem like a woman obsessed with her physique. At a time when size matters, and a lot, to succeed in the cinema, which sends the wrong messages to many immature young women, it is a relief that Kate appears plump… and pretty, it must be said.

Kate’s parents, Roger and Sally, were stage actors, as were her maternal grandparents and an uncle. And two sisters of the actress, Anne and Beth, have also followed the path of acting. Thus, it is not surprising that at only 11 years old she made her debut before the camera in a cereal commercial. It’s almost weird that her brother Joss is the only one in the family who hasn’t become an actor.

While recording her spot, Kate began her studies at an acting school. She does not leave things to chance, to a supposed natural grace. Caste comes to the greyhound, yes, but you also have to work.

Winslet’s first jobs were on television, nothing memorable, in series like Dark Season (1991). But he hit the ball when he was only 17 years old in the unhealthy film by New Zealander Peter Jackson Heavenly Creatures (1994) That story of an unhealthy friendship between two schoolgirls, who lived in a fantasy world that disconnected them from reality, was overwhelming. Curiously, Jackson and Winslet embarked on a path that would lead them to success and fame; instead the second schoolgirl, Melanie Lynskey , who continues to make films regularly, did not achieve that rise to the top.

From this moment Winslet begins a stage that leads him to be part of prestigious literary adaptations:Sense and Sensibility (1995) ( Jane Austen ), directed by Ang Lee , opposite Emma Thompson , which gave her her first Oscar nomination;Jude (1996) ( Thomas Hardy ), directed by Michael Winterbottom ; and Hamlet (1996) , ( William Shakespeare ) in Kenneth Branagh ‘s version , where she played Ophelia. All of these works had one element in common, a constant in Winslet’s career: the actress puts everything on the grill, she gives herself without reservation.

Everything was ready to sail inTitanic (1997), a film that initially heralded an economic collapse in accordance with the story that was told, but which became the most successful film in film history, making Winslet –again nominated for an Oscar– and Leonardo DiCaprio in fashionable actors. Others would have spoiled their careers from then on ( James Cameron , for example, has remained “king of the world” with no movies ever since), but both showed unexpected maturity, and what is certain is that they have thought the films in which they acted, and if they have not always made the right choice, we must recognize their risk capacity.

And the risk was in Winslet’s case to make movies likeHoly Smoke (where she is a clueless young woman seeking mystical experiences) orQuills , new period film about the Marquis de Sade. In both titles, the actress showed that her modesty was not her thing, since she did not mind showing off her nudity. The two aforementioned titles and others that followed –one about spies in World War II,Enigma , a two-part writer biopic with a new Oscar nomination, Iris (2001) , and a plea against capital punishment, The Life of David Gale – all proved her acting chops, but were by no means memorable. The weirdo had more interestForget about me! , by the also weird Charlie Kaufman and Michel Gondry , a surreal film that paired him with Jim Carrey and fourth Oscar nomination.

She must have liked playing mother inDiscovering Neverland , where she was the widow with four children who inspired the creator of Peter Pan. And the fact is that the actress has two children. A girl, Mia, who was born in 2000 from her first marriage, to James Threapleton. And a boy, Joe, born in 2003, who she had with her current husband, director Sam Mendes . In this matter of motherhood, Winslet also shows that she is going against the current of Hollywood, where actresses tend to leave the issue of children for “later”.

Her versatility has been proven by Kate in her latest works from 2006: animation ( Mousepolis ), romantic comedy ( The Holiday ), prestigious literary adaptation (All the King’s Men ) and drama about a society in crisis (secret games ).

Now, finally, it looks like the Winslet is going to be led by her husband. Sam Mendes preparesRevolutionary Road , a title based on the novel by Richard Yates , which will also serve to reunite him with the actor with whom he shared a ticket and prow on a certain ill-fated ship, Leonardo DiCaprio. Will have to see it.