Kate Winslet on working with her kids on screen: "Luckily, they're good"

Virgin Radio

12 Feb 2024, 17:10

Promising young actors Mia Threapleton and Joe Anders share the screen with their Oscar-winning mother.

In the latest episode of the hard-hitting anthology series I Am..., Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet finds herself sharing the screen with her talented offspring, Mia Threapleton and Joe Anders. The episode delves into the pressing issue of mental health among teenagers, a subject that hits close to home for Winslet, a mother of three.

Mia Threapleton, delivers a noteworthy performance as Freya, a young girl whose life is consumed by the perils of social media, earning her a BAFTA for her compelling portrayal.

Winslet, who plays the titular character Ruth—a mother grappling with the destructive influence of social media on her daughter—reveals that working with her children on this impactful project feels like a natural progression.

In an interview with PORTER magazine, Winslet shares her experience, humorously saying: "Luckily, they’re good. It felt normal.

"These are kids who have been testing [me] on [my] lines pretty much since they could read. They’ve seen me terrified beforehand. They’ve gone through it with me."

Addressing the overwhelmingly positive response to the episode's exploration of a relatable issue among teenagers, Winslet expresses her intention to spark conversations.

She notes: "The thing about going through something traumatic with a teenager is that it is completely automatic for any parent to feel like it is your fault.

"So then this strange shame comes into play – and when the shame comes in, you shut down and you don’t discuss it or share it.

"I wanted to tell a story that created a platform for people to just have a conversation. And that part of it has been overwhelming."

Winslet, who has recently returned to the big screen as celebrated war photographer Lee Miller in the biopic Lee, directed by Ellen Kuras, shares her dedication to the project.

Eight years in the making, Winslet not only starred in the film but also served as co-producer, going the extra mile to fund salaries for the cast and crew during a two-week funding delay.

"There was just no giving up," Winslet recalls. "What [Miller] stands for in representing truth and justice… [someone] who was powerful emotionally and charismatic and sexy and brilliantly skilled at her job and had a way of connecting with people – I am inspired by that."

Winslet further reflects on what she took from Miller, emphasising the remarkable freedom Miller had in her own physical self.

"I think that’s very unusual of historical female figures that we know of – and it’s very unusual of women today."