Kate Winslet says never say never when it comes to being.

It was the most successful film to date, winning a staggering 11 Oscars. So it's not surprising Kate Winslet's grateful to have starred in it. But it's not just because the movie gave her one of the highest profiles in Hollywood - it's also because it forged a close friendship with her screen lover Leonardo DiCaprio.

Sadly for Kate, the very success of Titanic has since placed a barrier between them. The two are now in such demand that opportunities to spend time together are few and far between.

'Still, we talk on the phone a lot and he's exactly the same as ever - still funny, still eccentric,' says Kate. 'He's quite mad, the same old Leo. He's great, I love him.'

The pair did recently meet again, even if it was unplanned. 'The last time I saw him was in London.' Kate recalls. 'We bumped into each other after I'd just finished shooting Quills and we were having an end-of-picture party in a bar.

'Well, into the bar walks a gang of guys who turn out to be Leo and his mates. We hadn't seen each other for a year and we fell on each other. I was finally able to introduce him to my husband (film director James Threapleton), which was nice. They'd both heard a lot about each other, but hadn't met.'

Unfortunately, their meeting turned out to be a brief encounter. 'Leo was only in town for three days working on The Beach, so it was really amazing luck that we happened to meet at all.

'I said: "You've got to come to dinner". He said: "Yes, I will", and I replied: "No, you won't, you're too busy!" And, as it turned out, I was right. Next time.'

The profound impact that Titanic made across the globe was brought home to Kate on a trip to the foothills of the Himalayas. 'I was visiting an ashram in preparation for my role in Holy Smoke. One day I went out for a walk - just me, my backpack and the mountains. I walked for a good way, miles and miles from any city or town and, suddenly, I saw an old man leaning on a stick coming towards me. He must have been 85 and was blind in one eye.

'As we drew closer, I nodded hello to him. He looked at me, pointed and said: "You? Titanic?" I said: "Yes." He put his hand to his heart and just smiled and said: "Aaah."

'I burst into tears. It was only then that I began to understand exactly how much that film had given to people all over the world.'

Despite making numerous films since Titanic, Kate's quite happy to be for ever identified with her role as Rose, the heiress who falls in love with penniless artist Jack (DiCaprio) aboard a doomed liner.

'It was a film that touched so many people. How can I complain about having been part of it?' she says. 'I've never had a career agenda, as such...I just make the films I want to make. I wanted to make Titanic because I loved the script and I loved the character. If other people agree, that's fine by me!'

At 24, Kate believes she's changed radically from the insecure young actress of just a few years ago. 'I've grown up a lot. I think the early twenties are a frightening time for a lot of young women. We're so desperate to find the answers: Who am I? Will I succeed at the work I want to do? Where's my ideal man? There are so many gaps in our lives. At 20, I was the most emotionally erratic I've ever been. One day I was the most sorted-out person on the planet, the next day, I just wanted to die. These days, between having been in Titanic and finding a wonderful husband, I'm much calmer. I'm lucky to have had all this happen to me so young. Not many people have that good fortune. My life is very nice, thank you.'

Her new movie Quills, based on the last days of the infamous Marquis de Sade, opens early this year. 'I play a woman who really existed, who had an affair with the Marquis but, by the time the movie opens, they're just firm friends. So I haven't been reading the Marquis's works for this film, but lots of biographies. It's more like studying for a history exam than reading pornography.' Right now, shes' taking time off. But she admits that, if someone came to her with an idea for a Titanic sequel, she'd consider it. 'It couldn't be a conventional sequel, as such,' she points out. 'The boat's sunk, for heavens sake. What are they going to do, raise it? Still, I think the story of what happened to Rose later on could be interesting. Nothing has been discussed, but my feeling is never say never.'