Kate Winslet is speaking out against the pervasive sexism in Hollywood, where even an Oscar win doesn’t guarantee support for women-centered stories.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, the 48-year-old actress, who stars in the upcoming biopic Lee, shared her frustrations with the industry’s reluctance to back films focused on historical female figures. The film Lee tells the story of Elizabeth “Lee” Miller, a fashion model turned war correspondent during World War II.
Winslet didn’t hold back as she described the challenges of raising funds for the film. “I’ve been in this industry for a long time, won an Oscar.
It doesn’t make any f**king difference when you’re making a film about a historical female figure,” she said, highlighting the uphill battle she faced despite her accolades.
Recalling a particularly infuriating encounter, Winslet shared, “There was a backer who said to me, ‘Why am I supposed to like this woman?’ And I thought, ‘Well, you’re not going to be part of our film – so f**k you’.”
For Winslet, the experience was a revelation.
She was more than willing to weed out those who didn’t share her vision. “Actually, that was great. To be able to just go, ‘We’re only going to make it with nice people who understand the story we are trying to tell,’” she said.
Lee, which promises to be a powerful portrayal of a groundbreaking woman, is set to release on September 13, 2024.