Kate Winslet: Rising above Hollywood's harshest trials
Kate Winslet travelled a challenging and rocky road to reach the pinnacle of acting. When she first began working on film sets, many crew members placed obstacles in her path. As she admitted, her supposedly excessive body weight was pointed out to her in an offensive manner.
Kate Winslet is one of the most sought-after and acclaimed actresses in recent years. She is an Oscar winner for the critically acclaimed melodrama "The Reader," has won five Golden Globes, and has received dozens of other awards over a career spanning more than 30 years. Audiences, who have consistently assured her of their immense admiration, see her not just as a big-screen star, but above all as the girl next door.
However, the Brit doesn't reflect fondly on her early days in the profession. During an extensive interview on CBS's "60 Minutes" at 15:00 GMT, she discussed the pressure imposed especially on young women, who have every skin imperfection and extra pound scrutinised. As she admitted, she too was a victim of the still prevalent fat-shaming in the entertainment industry.
Kate Winslet experienced a painful collision with the brutal world of show business
The first scathing comments began reaching the actress during the promotion of "Titanic," which cemented her position in the film market. During the Golden Globes ceremony in 1998, she appeared in a black lace dress with a nude back. Years later, she revealed that one of the journalists present on the red carpet told her directly that she looked "chubby" in it.
It was absolutely terrifying. What kind of person do you have to be to do something like that to a young actress who is just trying to get to know this world and learn all of it? - she asked rhetorically during the conversation.
Kate Winslet's debut on the big screen was preceded by her five-year education at Redroofs Theatre School. A drama teacher bluntly made an offensive comment to her, which would have traumatised many a student.
Listen, Kate. I'm telling you, darling, if you look like this, you'll have to settle for roles as the fat girl - she reportedly heard during one of the classes.
The 49-year-old revealed that despite the clear stigmatisation of such phenomena, various flaws are still pointed out to her. She recalled a story from last year when a member of the "Lee" team, the latest film she was involved in, suggested that the actress straighten up during one of the scenes in a swimsuit. This was intended to "hide the belly rolls." An amused Kate promptly clarified that criticism no longer bothers her at all, recommending such an approach to her much younger colleagues in the profession.
