Hold on to your Santa hats, folks! Even though The Holiday is a Christmas staple for countless families, Kate Winslet just dropped a bombshell: her own family never watches it. What?! The actress, known for her iconic role in the beloved rom-com, revealed this surprising tidbit while discussing her directorial debut, Goodbye June. But here's where it gets even more interesting...
For many, The Holiday, a 2006 film starring Winslet and Cameron Diaz as two women who swap homes across the Atlantic to escape heartbreak, is as much a part of Christmas as trimming the tree. Jude Law and Jack Black rounded out the cast as the charming love interests. It's a feel-good movie that seems tailor-made for cozy nights in.
However, Winslet emphatically stated that The Holiday isn't part of her family's traditions. "No, we haven't seen The Holiday for years," she shared. "We don't sit down and watch films I'm in. I barely do." She added that she's usually only seen the films she's been in once, describing watching her own performances as an "excruciating experience" that she simply has to endure. Many actors can probably relate to the sometimes-uncomfortable feeling of watching themselves on screen!
This revelation came up as Winslet discussed her new project, Goodbye June, which marks her first Christmas film in nearly two decades. The film, penned by her son Joe Anders, is a deeply personal story inspired by the loss of her mother, Sally, to ovarian cancer in 2017. It follows siblings who attempt to reconcile their differences and come together to honor their mother as she receives palliative care during the Christmas season.
Now, you might be thinking, "A film about palliative care? That doesn't sound very festive!" But Winslet insists that Goodbye June is more about celebrating life than dwelling on death. "It's not actually a film about dying," she explained, highlighting why she believes it's suitable for a Christmas Eve viewing on Netflix. "It's a film about living more than anything. People have been finding it very, very uplifting." Think of it as a reminder to cherish the present and the people you love, which is a powerful message for the holidays.
Goodbye June boasts an impressive cast, including Dame Helen Mirren, Timothy Spall, Andrea Riseborough, and Stephen Merchant. And this is the part most people miss: this film is not just a starring role for Winslet; it's also her directorial debut!
After a decade of contemplating a move behind the camera, and facing constant questions about why she hadn't yet taken the plunge, Winslet felt that the time was finally right. Now that her children are older, she felt she could dedicate the necessary mental energy to the project. "Now is a time when I've felt that my children are grown up enough that I can be that little more absent, just mentally absent," she explained. She emphasized that being a mother to her children has always been her priority, and she wouldn't have taken on directing if she didn't feel fully prepared.
Winslet also touched on the challenges faced by female filmmakers, particularly actresses transitioning into directing. "There is a thing with female filmmakers, certainly actresses who turn into directors, there's a strange almost judgey thing. 'Do we really know what we are talking about? Do we really know what we are doing with the camera?'" She argues that her 33 years in front of the camera have provided her with an invaluable education in the technical aspects of filmmaking. "I do really feel at this time in my life I have learnt everything."
The numbers speak for themselves: last year, only 16 out of the top 100 films at the UK box office were directed or co-directed by women, compared to 84 by men. Winslet believes that the demands of motherhood often make it difficult for women to pursue directing. "A lot of us are mothers and it really is very hard. You can't just stop doing that to go to work, but actually the job of being a director is so incredibly intense and demanding, it is just simply not possible." But she also points to a lack of belief in women's capabilities as directors. "Actually, we're incredibly forward thinking, incredibly resilient, we can cope extremely well with very little sleep and we get things done."
Several actresses, including Scarlett Johansson, Kristen Stewart, and Zoë Kravitz, have recently made their directorial debuts, and Dakota Johnson is set to follow suit. Winslet credits Australian director Jocelyn Moorehouse, known for films like Proof and The Dressmaker, as a major influence, noting that Moorehouse has faced significant scrutiny throughout her career.
Winslet hopes that her decision to direct will inspire a new generation of female filmmakers. "I certainly felt that in making the decision to direct now, at this time in my life - I turned 50 this year - it felt meaningful to me, to be actively participating in hopefully changing that culture," she said. "If there is more of us doing it then hopefully more will follow and we'll be giving across the message that we are perfectly capable of doing that job just as well as the men."
And now, a potentially controversial topic: nepotism. Two of Winslet's three children have entered the film industry, and both have consciously chosen not to use her famous last name. Her daughter, Mia Threapleton, recently starred opposite Benico del Toro in Wes Anderson's The Phoenician Scheme, while her son, Joe Anders, not only wrote Goodbye June but also appeared in Lee and had a small role in 1917.
Winslet takes offense to the suggestion that her children are "nepo babies," arguing that they are not receiving any special treatment. "These kids are not getting a leg up," she insists. "Joe would say to me, 'I don't want people to think this film is just being made because you're my mum'." She emphasizes that the script for Goodbye June is excellent and attracted the talented cast regardless of her involvement. She also encourages her children to "follow your heart" and points out that children in many professions often follow in their parents' footsteps.
But here's where it gets controversial... Is it really possible to completely separate a child's success from their parents' influence, especially in a field like entertainment? Or is the "nepo baby" label simply a way to diminish the hard work and talent of young actors and filmmakers? What do you think?
Winslet concludes by saying that her children have "carved their own paths" and that she teaches them to "ignore the white noise of silly terms like nepo baby, which you can't really do anything about."
Goodbye June is in cinemas now and will be available on Netflix starting Christmas Eve. And if you're still craving that Christmas rom-com fix, The Holiday is available on BBC iPlayer. Now, spill the tea: Will you be watching Goodbye June this Christmas, or sticking with tradition and re-watching The Holiday? Let us know in the comments!
