Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet has spoken with striking honesty about the profound impact of body-shaming comments she received as a teenager, revealing a period of significant eating struggles she now describes as her one true regret.
A Damaging Comment That Lingered
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, the Titanic star, now 49, recalled a pivotal moment early in her career. A drama teacher told her she could have a future in acting "if you're happy to settle for the fat girl parts." Winslet admitted the words stayed with her for years, shaping her self-perception as a young performer. "I didn't aspire to play leading roles ever," she said. "I was just Kate from Reading."
Teenage Years Marred by Dieting Panic
The actress, born in Reading in 1975, gave a candid account of her teenage years. Between the ages of 15 and 19, she was "on and off diets," a pattern that escalated until she was barely eating. "It wasn't healthy," Winslet stated. "I'd wake up panicking about whether I looked fat. It's the only thing in my life I really regret."
Her career began early, winning a place at Redroofs Theatre School in Maidenhead at 11 and quickly landing voiceover work paying £65 a day. Her breakthrough came with the 1994 film Heavenly Creatures, before global superstardom followed with 1997's Titanic opposite Leonardo DiCaprio.
Finding Peace and a New Directorial Role
Now firmly at peace with herself, Winslet is channelling her energy into projects that reflect real life. Her latest venture is the film Goodbye June, which marks her directorial debut. The movie, written by her 21-year-old son Joe Anders, tells the story of four siblings reuniting at Christmas. It features a stellar cast including Helen Mirren and Timothy Spall.
Winslet, married to Ned Rocknroll since 2012, emphasised the importance of family. She described a chaotic, happy childhood in Reading and said her current family Christmases involve brining the turkey, long walks, and "lots of silly games." Goodbye June is in limited theatrical release and will debut worldwide on Netflix on Christmas Eve.
