Kate Winslet has candidly discussed her initial reaction to Ricky Gervais' now-infamous joke about her in the hit British comedy series Extras, admitting it wasn't easy to hear at the time.
In a recent interview, the Oscar-winning actress reflected on the 2005 episode where Gervais' character, Andy Millman, quipped that Winslet might win an Oscar for playing a Holocaust victim because "doing a Holocaust movie guarantees awards."
The Emotional Impact
"It wasn't easy to hear," Winslet confessed. "At that point in my career, I was still finding my feet in Hollywood, and that kind of joke - while clearly satire - did sting a bit."
Understanding the Satire
However, the Titanic star acknowledged that Gervais' humour was always intended to push boundaries. "Ricky's comedy has always been about exposing truths through uncomfortable humour," she said. "Looking back, I understand what he was doing - holding up a mirror to Hollywood's sometimes questionable awards culture."
A Turning Point
Ironically, Winslet would later win her first Academy Award for The Reader (2008), where she played a former Nazi concentration camp guard. "Life has a funny way of coming full circle," she mused. "That role was about so much more than awards, but yes, the irony wasn't lost on me."
The actress emphasised that she holds no ill will towards Gervais, praising his comedic genius while acknowledging that such humour can sometimes hit close to home for its subjects.
