Published By: Sayan Paul

Happy Birthday, Kate Winslet: Did You Know The 'Titanic' Actress Was A Sandwich-Maker In Her Early Life?

Kate Winslet grew up in a humble family and hence started working at a very young age.

How many actors can you name who, even after becoming superstars, hardly cared about their commercial appeal and remained dedicated to their art only? There aren't many, I agree. But among the few, Kate Winslet comes atop the list. She became a global sensation at the age of 21, all thanks to 'Titanic'. However, despite being flooded with offers of big commercial films, she chose to be part of small-scale content-driven projects, such as 'Hideous Kinky', 'Holy Smoke!', 'Quills', and 'Iris'.

Well, born on October 5, 1975, Kate Winslet is a phenomenal actress who can express a lot on the screen without even uttering a word. And beyond her craft and all, she has a deep understanding of life, which is reflected in each of her performances. Speaking about her acting process, Winslet shared in an interview, "I can't just learn my lines and do my job, but perhaps that's because I don't want to act, I want to be. And I do think there's a difference."

Credit: TIME

A recipient of several accolades, including an Academy Award, Winslet celebrates her 49th birthday today. On this occasion, we share an interesting fact about her that you probably didn't know.

Kate Winslet Worked As A Sandwich Maker In Her Early Life

Kate Winslet grew up in a humble family; her father was a struggling actor, while her mother worked as a nanny and waitress. When Winslet was around 10, her father suffered a major accident due to which he found it extremely difficult to work.

Credit: Comunidade Cultura e Arte

The 'Titanic' star decided to pursue acting at a very young age. However, due to her family's limited financial means, she had to take on various jobs during her teenage years. Of course, she tried acting jobs at first and even managed to secure a few roles as well. But she couldn't earn much from there, and hence, at the age of 16-17, started working as a sandwich maker in a delicatessen in Reading in southern England. And she used her paycheck to buy train tickets to London for auditioning.

Here's How She Got Her First Major Role

After doing several small roles in television series and films, Winslet got her first major role in 1994 with Peter Jackson's psychological drama 'Heavenly Creatures'. Her portrayal of Juliet Hulme earned her immense acclaim from across the world.

Notably, Winslet was among 175 women to audition for the part. She tried it while working as a sandwich maker at the delicatessen, and even learned about the offer while there. As the actress later shared in an episode of 'The Late Show', "The phone rang. And it was the strangest thing; there was something about the way the phone rang that I remember thinking, 'Oh, it's for me'. I've got turkey in one hand and mayo in the other, and I look at this [customer], and [say], 'I'm so sorry. I can't make this sandwich for you anymore,' and ran to the telephone."

Credit: Vogue Magazine

The rest, as they say, is history. She showcased her remarkable acting prowess, winning the hearts of critics and audiences alike. Desson Thomson, a reviewer for The Washington Post, described her as "a bright-eyed ball of fire, lighting up every scene she's in". And it paved her way to films like 'Sense and Sensibility', 'Jude', 'Hamlet', and of course, 'Titanic'.

Credit: Moviewa

Happy Birthday, Winslet. Thanks For All The Amazing Films!