Kate Winslet Said Childhood Bullying Made Her ‘A Lot Stronger’
Kate Winslet opened up on how she was bullied and body shamed as a child, and how it affected her. The 40-year-old actress said that she was once chubby and taunted with names like “Blubber.”
In 2009, the actress won an Oscar for her portrayal of Hanna Schmitz, an illiterate Nazi concentration camp guard, in The Reader. Winslet’s acclaim runs far and wide, and she became a star in her role as Rose DeWitt Bukater, in Titanic.
Kate said she did not receive positive messages on body image from any females during her formative years. Winslet said, “I only heard negatives. That’s very damaging because then you’re programmed as a young woman to immediately scrutinize yourself and how you look.”
Early in 2015, during an appearance on Running Wild with Bear Grylls, she recalled running into a childhood bully later in life. Winslet said she went up to the woman and said, “Hello, I want to thank you for being such a b***ch because it made me a lot stronger.”
Because of her experiences, she wants young girls to have positive role models and receive affirmation for who they are. Winslet believes it’s important to communicate that actresses dress up for award shows, but look normal in their daily lives, per People magazine.
“You know, we walk down red carpets. You know, it’s part of the job. But I think I feel very strongly that it’s important to also say to young girls that we don’t look like that all the time.”
Kate Winslet is opening up about her painful experience being bullied as a child https://t.co/Jckv0cLUDa pic.twitter.com/nwZvXKKac3
— People magazine (@people) December 31, 2015
Winslet states she is not much of a “show off” and on a daily basis, fashion is not a priority. Despite the acclaim and fortune, she sounds like a busy mom whose children are a priority, saying “I even do the school run in my dressing gown, bathrobe, and pajamas. Yup, absolutely,” added People.
Kate’s admission on childhood bullying may be surprising to some, because she is considered glamorous by many. She is a spokesmodel for Lancôme Tresor Perfume and Cosmetics.
Winslet recently announced that her new ads will not be retouched. Her contract with Lancôme’s parent company, L’Oréal, specifies that changes can’t be made to her face in the photo ads, noted New York magazine. She feels a responsibility to the women who look at magazines and knows she is a role model.
She explained further that young women need “strong” leaders, and Winslet believes she is one of them, stating, “It does feel important to me, because I do think we have a responsibility to the younger generation of women.” She went on to say that when women look at magazines, they should see “the truth” about who she is.
Known for her acting prowess, Winslet also talked about how she obtained a role in the Steve Jobs film, per CBS. Joanna Hoffman was an Apple marketing executive who was known for her skills, as well as the ability to engage with Jobs. Although Winslet does not share physical similarities to Hoffman, the actress wanted the opportunity to portray Hoffman on the big screen. She sent a selfie, showing herself wearing no makeup, glasses and a short, dark wig to the film’s producer, Scott Rudin, and landed the role.
Kate Winslet used a selfie to land her role in #SteveJobs: https://t.co/Qa6sk8X9Pk pic.twitter.com/BnBqEjzPik
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) December 31, 2015
Kate Winslet, a six-time Academy Award nominee, will talk about bullying, her role in Steve Jobs and Hollywood in a CBS Sunday Morning segment that will air on January 3, 2016, at 9:00 – 10:30 a.m., ET.
[Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images]
