My first encounter with *Titanic* remains indelibly etched in my memory. It was 1997; I was a mere 10 years old, illicitly sneaking into a cinema with a friend, courtesy of a lenient mother. Like any self-respecting 90s preteen, Leonardo DiCaprio’s luscious locks initially drew me in. However, it was Kate Winslet’s portrayal of Rose, the first-class aristocrat falling for the third-class artist Jack, that truly captivated me. From the moment she emerged, gazing upwards from beneath her extravagant Edwardian hat, I was mesmerized by her beauty – a feeling reinforced over the next three hours, including that infamous nude scene that has profoundly shaped Winslet’s public image ever since.
This week, in a compelling 60 Minutes interview promoting her latest film, *Lee*, Winslet eloquently detailed the harrowing experience of body shaming she endured in the wake of *Titanic*’s phenomenal success. She recalled confronting her tormentors, stating, “I hope this haunts you.” The raw emotion in her voice, the visible tears, powerfully underscored the depth of her pain. “It was horrific,” she confessed, “It was really bad.” While I, and many others, perceived her as breathtakingly beautiful, a woman whose curves celebrated a different standard of feminine beauty, the merciless media of the 1990s saw things differently.
This was the era of ‘heroin chic’, where extreme thinness was fetishized. Winslet’s figure, simply by possessing breasts and curves, was deemed unacceptable. The subsequent fat-shaming she endured was relentless and deeply personal. Prior to *Titanic*, she’d already been told by a drama teacher she’d be relegated to ‘fat-girl parts’. Yet, the public obsession with her weight intensified dramatically after the film’s release. The 60 Minutes interview showcased a particularly cruel red-carpet commentary where Winslet was described as having been ‘melted and poured’ into her dress, advised to wear a size or two larger. Such casually cruel remarks are almost incomprehensible today, in an era of growing body positivity.
It’s difficult for a younger generation to grasp the pervasiveness of such commentary in the 1990s. The casual acceptance of public criticism based solely on someone’s size was normalized, the fetishization of extreme thinness rampant, particularly within fashion magazines. Having been involved in critiquing media sexism in the 2010s with my satirical blog, *The Vagenda*, I’ve witnessed firsthand the significant shift in media landscape. The environment in which today’s young women are growing up is vastly different—a testament to progress. While new challenges undoubtedly exist, the change is undeniable.
However, true liberation remains a distant goal. It will only be achieved when women in Hollywood, and their audiences, are afforded the respect they deserve. This includes the ability to champion projects like *Lee* without facing insurmountable hurdles. Winslet’s commitment to this film is particularly poignant, given the struggles faced by its subject, Lee Miller, a Vogue war photographer who endured objectification throughout her life. Winslet’s dedication extended to getting a replica of Miller’s camera made and mastering its use. Ironically, even while promoting *Lee*, the conversation still centers around her body, albeit with a different focus—a frustrating reality for an Oscar-winning actress with a remarkable career. Even now, fans frequently ask for autographs on photos of the nude scene from *Titanic*.
While this piece inherently keeps Winslet’s body central to the discussion, I feel immense gratitude for her outspokenness. Not just as an adult woman, but as a representative of the little girl I once was. It was a strange time to come of age, and the scars of that era remain for many. If Winslet happens to read this, I want her to know the impact she had during a time of extreme body fascism. While her *Titanic* nude scene remains iconic, her lasting legacy is her undeniable talent. I eagerly anticipate seeing *Lee*, a film she fought tirelessly to create, a story she believed mattered, and I’m sure I’ll be awestruck by her performance once again.
