As the Second World War moves further into the past, we experience challenges learning about its atrocities. (Sky Cinema)
Kate Winslet Reflects on Self-Doubt, Defying Norms, and Her Latest Role in Lee
Despite her decades-long career and an Oscar to her name, Kate Winslet admits she still battles moments of insecurity on set. While discussing her new film, Lee, in which she stars as World War II photographer Lee Miller and also serves as a producer, Winslet shared that self-doubt is something she hasn’t completely shaken.
“In those moments, I’ll turn to someone on set and joke, ‘They must have read the wrong name when they cast me,’” Winslet said during an interview with 60 Minutes. Even after winning the Academy Award for her performance in The Reader (2008), she confesses that the pressure of landing a role she truly wants can feel “terrifying.”
Reflecting on her work in Lee, Winslet admitted she questioned her suitability for the role. “I would sit there thinking, ‘Surely there are at least five other actresses who could have done this better.’” However, Winslet threw herself into preparation, collaborating with Lee Miller’s son and a historian to recreate Miller’s camera, which she used to take actual photographs during filming. “It wasn’t just a prop,” she explained. “I had to feel like it was part of me.”
Winslet is proud that the film has grossed nearly $25 million worldwide, but she remains critical of Hollywood’s double standards. Reflecting on her early career, when she faced scrutiny for her weight, she noted how men and women are treated differently onscreen. “People say to me, ‘You’re so brave for not wearing makeup or for showing wrinkles.’ But do we say to men, ‘You were brave for growing a beard’? No. It’s just playing the part.”
Her stance on authenticity even caused a small standoff on set when a crewmember suggested she adjust her posture to appear more flattering. Winslet refused. “Lee wouldn’t have done that,” she said. “Her confidence in herself was something she earned.”
As for revisiting her past, Winslet was asked about Titanic and the long-debated question of whether Jack could have survived alongside Rose on the floating debris. Her response? “I have no idea,” she said with a laugh, though she admitted it’s curious how Titanic still overshadows conversations about her current projects.
Winslet’s reflections reveal an artist who, despite her accolades, continues to push boundaries while remaining grounded in her craft. “It’s exhausting to constantly worry about appearances,” she said. “Sometimes, it’s about letting go and just doing the work.”
