Kate Winslet is one of the most well-known and talented actors of her generation, with a career spanning more than 25 years.
She began her career working with Peter Jackson on the murder thriller “Heavenly Creatures” (1994) and has since dabbled with classic literature, modern auteurs, and some of Hollywood’s top directors. She has been nominated for an Academy Award seven times.
This section focuses on her film roles. Check out some of her best performances by scrolling down.
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Winslet’s transformation into Clementine Kruczynski should have easily beaten out an Oscar field that included Hilary Swank, who took home her second best actress award for “Million Dollar Baby.” She brings one of the best modern love stories to life, set against the words and vision of Charlie Kaufman and Michel Gondry, and paired with Jim Carrey’s single best performance.
Role: Clementine Kruczynski
Directed by: Michel Gondry
Written by: Charlie Kaufman, Michel Gondry, and Pierre Bismuth
2. Revolutionary Road (2008)
Winslet eventually won her long-awaited Academy Award nomination in 2008, but it was for the wrong film. Following a category swap, her significantly less superior film “The Reader” (which was being promoted as a supporting actress) was nominated for lead actress instead of Mendes’ romance drama. Her portrayal of a woman trapped in a loveless marriage (in her second pairing with Leonardo DiCaprio) was recognized by the Golden Globes (in addition to “The Reader”), and it raised an intriguing question that we’ll never know the answer to: would she have won two Oscars that night if she had been double nominated for “Revolutionary” and “Reader?”
Role: April Wheeler
Directed by: Sam Mendes
Written by: Justin Haythe (based on the book “Revolutionary Road” by Richard Yates)
3. Little Children (2006)
While we adore Helen Mirren’s performance as Queen Elizabeth in Stephen Frears’ “The Queen,” Winslet’s role as a stay-at-home mother who begins an affair with underachiever Brad (played by Patrick Wilson) certainly should have won in one of the finest actress lineups of the aughts. Her ecstatic reaction to her beloved catching a football is one of the best scenes in the movie, demonstrating her variety and depth of character comprehension.
Role: Sarah Pierce
Directed by: Todd Field
Written by: Todd Field, Tom Perrotta (based on “Little Children” by Tom Perrotta)
4. Titanic (1997)
The role that launched her career: The world fell in love with Jack and Rose in James Cameron’s vast epic, which won 11 Oscars, tying “Ben-Hur” and later, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” for the most in history. Winslet transforms a whining, spoiled young girl into a protagonist and complete appealing character thanks to her excellent chemistry with Leonardo DiCaprio.
Role: Rose Dewitt Bukater
Directed by: James Cameron
Written by: James Cameron
5. Heavenly Creatures (1994)
It’s hard to think this was Winslet’s first acting role, but she showed promise right away in Peter Jackson’s film about two New Zealand girls who form a strong bond in 1952. In one of the greatest kept mysteries of the 1994 film year, Winslet discovers the dark yet fascinating light of the tale opposite the brilliant Melanie Lynskey. Despite the fact that the picture was recognized for its creative writing, she was a rookie to the scene and was snubbed, which is disheartening given the lackluster best actress lineup.
Role: Juliet Hulme
Directed by: Peter Jackson
Written by: Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh