Nearly four months after winning a BAFTA for her performance in the TV movie "I Am Ruth," Kate Winslet has taken on another powerful role, as photographer and journalist Elizabeth "Lee" Miller in the film "Lee."
Winslet, who portrays the model turned war correspondent in the drama and also co-produced the Ellen Kuras-directed film, called the experience of getting "Lee" off the ground a "phenomenal fight" in an interview with Vogue's Wendell Steavenson before the SAG-AFTRA strike, as the magazine's October cover star.
The actress, who's known for previous roles including Rose in 1997's "Titanic," Hanna Schmitz in 2008's "The Reader," for which she won an Oscar, and her Emmy-winning role in the 2021 HBO crime drama "Mare of Easttown," talked about the challenges that came with making "Lee," which included making sure the film focused on the late photographer's efforts to document Europe after World War II, and not on her lovers or celebrity image. Winslet also shared some of the condescending comments she received from male executives when she was trying to raise money for the film.
"I've even had a director say to me: 'Listen, you do my film and I'll get your little 'Lee' funded…' Little!" Winslet recalled. "Or we'd have potential male investors saying things like: 'Tell me, why am I supposed to like this woman?'"
While such comments might have affected Winslet when she was younger, she says her experiences since have taught her how to be tough. She also is in awe of younger actresses today who have been empowered by the #MeToo movement.
"Young actresses now -- f--- me -- they are unafraid," Winslet said. "The culture is changing in the way that I couldn't in my wildest dreams have imagined in my 20s."
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Winslet added that her experience as an actress over the years also has prepared her to take on the role of Miller.
"Lee was a woman who lived her life on her terms," Winslet said. "I wanted to tell the story of a flawed middle-aged woman who went to war and documented it."
"Lee" premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival over the weekend.
