Kate Winslet Says Her Life Was 'Quite Unpleasant' After 'Horrible' 'Titanic' Fame
Kate Winslet spoke candidly with Net-a-Porter about skyrocketing to superstar status following the groundbreaking drama film 'Titanic'— calling her new found fame "horrible."
At the ripe age of 22, Winslet became an overnight superstar, which she called an "unpleasant experience."
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"I felt like I had to look a certain way, or be a certain thing, and because media intrusion was so significant at that time, my life was quite unpleasant," Winslet, 48, began.
She continued: "I was grateful, of course. I was in my early twenties, and I was able to get a flat. But I didn't want to be followed literally feeding the ducks."
The 'Avatar: The Way of Water' actress explained that she went on to seek smaller, more independent roles after her breakout success because being famous was "horrible."
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"Journalists would always say, 'After 'Titanic,' you could have done anything and yet you chose to do these small things... and I was like, 'Yeah, you bet your f*** life I did! Because, guess what, being famous was horrible," she said.
When asked how she feels about fame now, she replied, "It's such a ridiculous word!"
"I wear it really lightly," she said. "It's not a burden, any of it. The only time I am like, 'Oh god, hide,' is if we are on a boat somewhere."
Winslet also reflected on how the industry has changed, mentioning her daughter, Mia, 23, who is starting her career as an actress.
"Mia is very much her own person," she stated, crediting young women today for knowing how to use their voices.
Today, Winslet is in a rest period, spending as much time with family as she can. "I have a family," she said. "That is my life."
James Cameron's epic film became a cultural sensation, pulling the heartstrings of viewers globally. The 1997 film won 11 Oscars including Best Picture, becoming the highest-grossing film worldwide, raking in an unprecedented $1 billion.
