Kate Winslet reflects on being body shamed after ‘Titanic’
English actor Kate Winslet has reflected on the time she confronted the press for bullying her about her weight after the success of Titanic.
The Academy Award-winning actor has spoken in the past about the body shaming she was subjected to after starring in James Cameron’s 1997 blockbuster film that launched her career, which was incredibly difficult for Winslet to deal with at the time.
During a new interview on 60 Minutes, a clip was played to Winslet in which a television reporter said Winslet looked “a little melted and poured into” a dress she was wearing during award season, saying that she “needed two sizes larger and she’d be fine”.
When reflecting on the impact of his abuse, Winslet said, “It’s absolutely appalling. What kind of person must they be to do something like that to a young actress who’s just trying to figure it out?”
While many women in the public eye do not get the opportunity to stand up for themselves, Winslet described one time when she confronted the press, recalling, “I did get face to face. I let them have it. I said, ‘I hope this haunts you’. It was a great moment because it wasn’t just for me, it was for all those people who were subjected to that level of harassment. It was horrific. It was really bad.”
Speaking with The Sunday Times in 2022, Winslet revealed that she was encouraged to accept ‘fat girl’ parts while studying in acting school. After the release of Titanic, the scrutiny over her appearance and body shaming only worsened, explaining how audience members would use the ending to mock her weight by saying that Rose was too fat for Jack to also survive on the door that kept them afloat in the freezing waters.
Winslet said, “Apparently I was too fat. Why were they so mean to me? They were so mean. I wasn’t even fucking fat. I’m a young woman, my body is changing, I’m figuring it out, I’m deeply insecure, I’m terrified, don’t make this any harder than it already is. That’s bullying, you know, and actually borderline abusive, I would say.”
Many women in the public eye have spoken about the scrutiny of their bodies and the negative impact this has had on their mental health. There is an expectation that is nearly impossible to reach, which is held against many women in the entertainment industry, with abuse and harassment being normalised. However, in recent years, some celebrities have started to speak out against this in the hopes that the press and media will be more considerate of their language and the way they treat celebrities.
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