FILM 98 (British TV Show)
Hosted By -- Barry Norman
January 1998
Submitted By - Sara Hutchinson
Barry Norman: The thing that perplexes me is, why did you want to be in "TITANC" bearing in mind that everybody knew how it was going to end, and that there had been a not bad film made "A NIGHT TO REMEMBER", so in a sense it might be regarded as a re-make, so why were you so keen to be in it?
Kate Winslet: To me, it was an extrodinary love story and, uh, remains to be that, and when i read the treatment, i think it is very rare that as an actor and as an individual you can be genuinly moved by a novel or a script, and, um, I was on an aeroplane when i read it and was in floods of tears at the end. And a treatment is very different to a script, it's more a sort of praeceed version of what will eventually be said, um, and has more description as opposed to dialogue, but nevertheless, FLOODS of tears, and i thought 'I've got to do this, I've really got to do this.'
B: Why did James Cameron want you? Because I've heard that Fox and Paramount, knowing it was going to be an expensive film to start with, wanted bigger names than you and DiCaprio. Why did Cameron want you?
K: Who knows? To be honest with you, I would hope that my determination had alot to do with it, because Rose - whom I play in "TITANIC" - is incredibly determind and very, very strong and brave, and I connected alot with that um, and, I wouldn't let him, I wouldn't let Jim off the hook, I mean I remember endless telephone conversations with him, sometimes when he was in his car saying 'Just, just let me show you that i really feel that i can do this' and, uh, I think he sort of thought 'hmmm, this is a, bit of a tough cookie' and I'd ring him up sometimes and pretend to be american y' know, because I wanted him to overcome that hurdle as well, I didn't want anyone to be afraid of casting an english person in such a role.
B: Now while the film was being made, and the budget was getting bigger and bigger and bigger, and the cynics around the place were saying 'this is going to be the biggest turkey of all time...
K: (nods) Mmmm...
B: Did you ever get at all discouraged, did you ever think 'what the hell am I doing in this'?
K: No, I never got discouraged because I had so much, sort of, belief in it, and, uh, well Leo and I, well we all did, but Leo and I were particually adamant that this love story was going to be the thing that made people connect with this film, y' know. To us it was never about a sinking ship, it was never another Titanic movie. And we believed that if we really stuck together we could make people forget that it was y' know, the Titanic.
B: Now, it's opened, and of course all those critics and cynics have been totally refuted because it's a huge sucess in America, isn't it?
K: Aaah, Yes! (smiles)
B: Um, were you at all surprised at that, that it opened so big with not only popular acclaim, but critical acclaim?
K: Jim Cameron doesn't do thing half-heartedly, so I always knew that he was adamant that this was going to be right accross the board and a big epic thing, um, I think part of me was slightly afraid of connecting with that, because I didn't really want to think about what it might do in terms for my career because I so want to kind of be at home, y' know, and see my family and work, because I love my job and not for any other kind of commercial reasons, so I never entertained much thought in that direction, but now that that is happening it's incredibly exciting!
B: At the moment you have no idea which director you're going to go and button hole next and bully him into giving you a role.
K: I have my plans, I DO have my plans, which I can't share and I wich I could but, uh, there is something that I really want to do, um, which would start shooting in July-time, um, not in this country. (sighs) I wish I could elabourate more, it's so frustrating and I'm so sorry, but, there will be work on my part to do, in order to get that job, because I know that this director is seeing alot of actresses for that role, and quite rightly too, but, uh, I'm very determind about that, I'd really love to do it.
B: So look out for a director with a harassed expression who keeps looking over his shoulder to see whether you're behind him.
K: Ya (grins)
B: And then I'll know what the film is.
K: Ya! Absolutely!
B: Well, in the meantime Kate, congratulations in "TITANIC", and the globe, the golden globe nomination
K: Thank you, thank you.
B: And good luck for the oscars!
K: Thank you very much (expression of mock fear) aaah!