The actor Kate Winslet called the best of their generation
In 1997, James Cameron released a movie that would transform cinema forever. Titanic, an epic story of love and disaster, emerged to significant box office success, becoming the highest-grossing movie in cinema history at the time. We all know the tale, which brings a romantic narrative to the real-life story of the eponymous ship’s tragic sinking, and whether you love it or hate it, the film remains simply iconic.
At the heart of the film is the love story between Kate Winslet’s Rose and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jack. Despite coming from different social backgrounds and existing at opposite ends of the class scale, the pair are instantly attracted to each other when they meet onboard the ship. After Jack coaxes Rose down from the edge of the ship, intending to kill herself, they engage in some steamy portraiture and have sex in a car, falling in love just like that.
Tragedy might have struck for the characters, but Winslet and DiCaprio were suddenly at the height of their fame, earning big bucks and critical acclaim for their performances. Winslet was nominated for ‘Best Actress’ at the Oscars, and from there, her star power significantly increased, landing her more roles in high-profile productions. She has appeared in everything from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind to The Holiday and Flushed Away, possessing an incredibly varied filmography.
Yet, in 2008, she reunited with DiCaprio for Revolutionary Road, an adaptation of Richard Yates’ 1961 novel. Telling the tale of a couple whose relationship crumbles over the course of the film, despite it seeming perfect on the outside, Winslet and DiCaprio play the leading pair, giving incredible performances. Getting to work with DiCaprio again thrilled Winslet, who thinks very highly of her co-star.
Talking to Cinema, Winslet explained that she was delighted to accept the role. “Because the novel is so spectacular and it’s so important to us to honour that story, it’s good that it’s Leo and me together because we might pull in a different audience. Leo is amazing. I genuinely think he’s the best actor of his generation.”
It’s a bold claim but one that has plenty of legs to stand on. DiCaprio has been acting since he was a child, and throughout the years, he has garnered plenty of acclaim. In the early days of his career, he was celebrated for performances in movies like What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and The Basketball Diaries before taking on other popular movies like Romeo + Juliet and The Beach.
From The Departed to Inception, Django Unchained, The Revenant and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, DiCaprio has starred in lots of blockbuster hits, becoming a go-to bankable star. The Oscar-winning actor is often heralded as one of cinema’s most popular actors, but he evidently has the talent to live up to the title, not just a commercially successful filmography.
Talking to Entertainment Weekly, Winslet once revealed her first impressions of the actor when they met for Titanic. “He was this kind of mess of long, skinny, uncoordinated limbs. And he was just very free with himself, and he had this effervescent energy that was really magnetic. And I remember thinking, ‘Oh, this is gonna be fun. We’re definitely gonna get along.’ And we just really did. We just really did.”
