Born
into a family of thespians--parents Roger and Sally were both
stage actors, maternal grandparents Oliver and Linda Bridges ran
the Reading Repertory Theatre, and uncle Robert Bridges was a
fixture in London's West End theatre district--Kate came into
her talent at an early age. She scored her first professional
gig at 11, dancing opposite the Honey Monster in a commercial
for a kids' cereal. She started acting lessons around the same
time, which led to formal training at a performing arts high school.
Over the next few years she appeared on stage regularly and landed
a few bit parts in sitcoms. Her first big break came at age 17,
when she was cast as an obsessive adolescent in Heavenly Creatures
(1994). The film, based on the true story of two fantasy-gripped
girls who commit a brutal murder, received modest distribution
but was roundly praised by critics.
Still
a relative unknown, Winslet attended a cattle call audition the
next year for Ang Lee's Sense and Sensibility (1995). She made
an immediate impression on the film's star, Emma Thompson, and
beat out more than a hundred other hopefuls for the part of plucky
Marianne Dashwood. Her efforts were rewarded with both a British
Academy Award and an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Winslet followed up with two more period pieces, playing the rebellious
heroine in Jude (1996) and Ophelia in Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet
(1996).
The
role that transformed Winslet from art house attraction to international
star was Rose DeWitt Bukater, the passionate, rosy-cheeked aristocrat
in James Cameron's Titanic (1997). Young girls the world over
both idolized and identified with Winslet, swooning over all that
face time opposite heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio and noting her
refreshingly healthy, un-emaciated physique. Winslet's performance
also garnered a Best Actress nomination, making her the youngest
actress to ever receive two Academy nods.
After
the swell of unexpected attention surrounding Titanic (1997),
Winslet was eager to retreat into independent projects. Rumor
has it that she turned down the lead roles in both Shakespeare
in Love (1998) and Anna and the King (1999) in order to play adventurous
soul searchers in Hideous Kinky (1998) and Holy Smoke (1999).
The former cast her as a young single mother traveling through
1960s Morocco with her daughters in tow; the latter, as a zealous
follower of a guru tricked into a "deprogramming" session in the
Australian outback. The next year found her back in period dress
as the Marquis de Sade's chambermaid and accomplice in Quills
(2000).
Off
camera, Winslet is known for her mischievous pranks and familial
devotion. She has two sisters, Anna Winslet and Beth Winslet (both
actresses), and a brother, Joss. In 1998 she married James Threapleton,
whom she met on the set of Hideous Kinky (1998); the pair had
a daughter, Mia, in October of 2000.
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Daughter
Mia was born (in England) on Thursday, October 12, 2000 weighing
in at 8 pounds, 9 ounces. This is her first child with Threapleton.
Kate
met husband, James Threapleton, on the set of her movie Hideous
Kinky (1998), where he was working as an assistant director.
Won
a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for Children (2000)
Turned
down the Gwyneth Paltrow role in Shakesepeare in Love (1998)
and the Jodie Foster role in Anna and the King (1999).
Has
very large feet and wears size 10 shoes.
At
age 11 began attending the acting school Redroofs in Maidenhead,
England, UK.
Dated
Rufus Sewell
Sister
of Anna Winslet and Beth Winslet
(1998)
The youngest actress ever to be nominated for two Academy
Awards (for Sense and Sensibility (1995) and Titanic (1997)).
(1991-1995)
Dated Stephen Tredre
Began
studying drama at age 11.
Her
first acting job was dancing with the Honey Monster in a commercial
for Sugar Puffs cereal.
Nominated
for Best Supporting Actress, Manchester Evening News Award
for her role in "What the Butler Saw."
(1996)
Chosen by People (USA) magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful
people in the world
Won
Best British Actress, Empire Magazine Awards for Heavenly
Creatures (1994).
Younger
brother, Joss.
Parents:
Roger Winslet (actor) and Sally Bridges-Winslet.
Kate
Winslet portrays Juliet Hulme in the movie Heavenly Creatures
(1994) in which Juliet murdered another person. Juliet would
then change her name to Anne Perry and write murder-mystery
novels. She did a series of Inspector Pitt novels, one of
which was made into the A&E movie, Cater Street Hangman,
The (1998) (TV). Kate Winslet's older sister, Anna Winslet,
had a part in that movie.
(August
2000) Purchased a rural home in Southern England for 1.75
million.
(June
2001) Recorded a song for the soundtrack for the movie Christmas
Carol: The Movie (2001). Producers were so impressed at her
efforts they have decided to release the ballad - called "What
If?" - as a single.
(3
September 2001) Announced that she and husband James Threapleton
are splitting up.
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