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Kate Winslet Profile |
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Birth Date: October 5, 1975
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Birth Place: Reading, Berkshire, England, UK
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Birth Name: Kate Elizabeth Winslet
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Height: 5'6½"
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Biography |
Kate Elizabeth Winslet was born October 5, 1975, in Reading,
England. With acting deep-rooted into her genes, it was no
wonder Kate herself would also turn to the dramatic arts.
Her grandparents, Oliver and Linda Bridges, founded and
operated the Reading Repertory theater; father Roger Winslet
and mum Sally were both actors; uncle Robert Bridges
appeared in the original West End production of Oliver!; and
both her sisters Beth and Anna are actors. Her younger
brother Joss is probably the only Winslet that did not enter
the family business.
She made her debut at age 11, when she co-starred with the
"Honey Monster" in a commercial for a children's breakfast.
After acting lessons and a graduation from a performing arts
high school, Kate took to the stage in productions of Adrian
Mole and Peter Pan.
Kate then took the television route, with appearances on
sitcoms, most notably a recurring role on the British
comedy, Get Back. Kate went from a rather dark role in the
1994 film Heavenly Creatures (as a teen involved in a
murder), to the more children-oriented A Kid in King
Arthur's Court, where she starred as Princess Sarah.
The British actress' career was about to rise, after Kate
was cast as Marianne Dashwood in the adaptation of Jane
Austen's period piece, Sense and Sensibility, sharing the
screen with Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant.
The film's producers and director, Ang Lee, knew that Kate
was the one for the part during her audition, and to
underscore that decision, she received an Oscar Nomination
for Best Supporting Actress.
She may have lost the Oscar, but she did win the Screen
Actors Guild for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor
in a Supporting Role, and a British Academy of Film and
Television Arts Best Supporting Actress Award, both for
Sense and Sensibility.
As even more evidence that Kate was a natural in a corset,
she next starred in two more period pieces in 1996: Jude
(based on the novel Jude the Obscure), and Hamlet (the one
with Kenneth Branagh), where she starred as the tragic
Ophelia.
In 1997, Kate plunged into the icy waters and made movie
history, as the heroine of James Cameron's mega movie
Titanic. Her role as Rose DeWitt Bukater not only made her
the envy of teenage girls worldwide (for getting to share
breathing space with Leonardo DiCaprio), but it also marked
her transition from artsy, independent films, to commercial
blockbuster flicks. She received another Oscar nod, this
time in the Best Supporting Actress category, making her the
youngest actress to receive two Oscar nominations.
But Kate chose the road less traveled by supposedly refusing
the lead roles of Shakespeare in Love (Gwyneth sure owes her
a big thank you) and Anna and the King, in order to star in
two more alternative, independent films: Hideous Kinky
(1998) and Holy Smoke (1999).
2000 saw Kate in yet another period piece, only this time it
featured her in the critically-acclaimed Quills, in the
story of the Marquis de Sade. She will next be seen in
Therese Raquin, opposite Judi Dench; the romantic thriller
Enigma; and Iris: A Memoir of Iris Murdoch; and heard in the
animated feature Christmas Carol: The Movie, along with
Nicolas Cage.
Delving into children-oriented films isn't a bad idea, since
Kate is also mother to Mia (her daughter with ex-husband Jim
Threapleton)and Joe (her son with husband Sam Mendes).
Oscar sure does like Kate. She was nominated for an Academy
Award for the third time in 2002 as Best Actress in a
Supporting Role for Iris. And her fourth Oscar nod in 2005
was for Best Actress for her work in Eternal Sunshine of the
Spotless Mind (2004). Some might even argue that Kate was
robbed of a nomination for her stellar perfomance as a
widowed mother of four boys in 2004's Finding Neverland.
While she has yet to win a little gold statue, Kate is
surely on her way. |
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Other
Information |
Daughter Mia was born (in England) on the 12th October 2000,
weighing in at 8 pounds 9 ounces.
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 Shakespeare in Love
(1998) and the Jodie Foster role in Anna and the King
(1999).
Has very large feet and wears size 11 shoes.
At age 11 began attending the acting school Redroofs in
Maidenhead, England, UK.
Dated Rufus Sewell.
Sister of Anna Winslet and Beth Winslet.
The youngest actress ever to be nominated for two Academy
Awards (for Sense and Sensibility (1995) and Titanic
(1997)). [1998]
Dated Stephen Tredre. [1991-1995]
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."
Chosen by People (USA) magazine as one of the 50 most
beautiful people in the world. [1996]
Won Best British Actress, Empire Magazine Awards for
Heavenly Creatures (1994).
Younger brother, Joss.
Parents: Roger Winslet (actor) and Sally Bridges-Winslet.
After her first success in the film Heavenly Creatures
(1994) a reviewer predicted that she would always be
associated with that character, and would never be a big
star.
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. It reached the top ten in the UK.
[June 2001]
Announced that she and husband James Threapleton are
splitting up. [3 September 2001]
[November 2001] Confirms that she is dating director Sam
Mendes.
Purchased a $3 million (US) home in London with boyfriend
(later husband) Sam Mendes.
Holds a unique position in Academy Awards history: only
twice have two actresses been nominated for playing the same
role in the same film. The first was Gloria Stuart and Kate
in Titanic (1997). The second was Judi Dench and Kate in
Iris (2001/I).
Married director Sam Mendes in a private ceremony whilst on
holiday in the West Indies in May, 2003.
Daughter Mia's name is Italian for "mine".
Has sung in 5 of her films
Prefers to wear boots rather than ordinary shoes because it
makes her feel that her feet are "firmly on the ground."
Missed the premiere of Titanic (1997) because she was
attending the funeral of close friend and former boyfriend,
Stephen Tredre.
Son, Joe Alfie Winslet Mendes, was born on December 22,
2003, in New York, and weighed 7 pounds and 13 ounces.
Resides in both London, England and New York City, America.
Has a nephew, George.
Is residing in New York City while she and husband Sam
Mendes work on separate projects. After the projects are
finished, they will go back home to England. [2004]
Sprained her ankle on the set of Romance & Cigarettes (2005)
in May 2004.
She sold her North London home in Belsize Park to Gwyneth
Paltrow and Chris Martin.
Was considered for the role of Bridget in Bridget Jones's
Diary (2001) but it was then decided she was too young to
portray the role.
On the day she had to film the straightjacket scene in
Hamlet (1996), she learned she had won the role of Rose in
Titanic (1997).
While serving as host of "Saturday Night Live" (1975) one
week after Ashlee Simpson's "recorded song malfunction," she
opened the show by singing and dancing live.
Bust size 1996 - 34C
Born in the same year and on the same day as Parminder
Nagra.
Is the first actress to receive four Oscar nominations
before turning 30.
Recently bought a home in New York City. Her main home,
however, is in Cotswolds, England.
Was born in the same hospital as her husband, Sam Mendes.
Filmed her 2005 American Express commercial in Camden Town,
London, England.
First screen kiss was with Melanie Lynskey in Heavenly
Creatures (1994).
Was Peter Jackson's first choice to star in King Kong.
Her performance as Clementine Kruczynski in "Eternal
Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" (2004) is ranked #81 on
Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time
(2006). |
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