Several big-name stars were considered for the role (Rose) before Kate Winslet was locked.
Kate Winslet was a relatively unknown face in Hollywood till the night before 'Titanic' premiered. And with the film's release, she emerged as an overnight sensation, winning over the entire world with her role as Rose DeWitt Bukater. Beyond her sheer beauty and grace, it was because of the remarkable emotional depth that she had brought to her performance. From a restrained woman caught between her own emotions and societal expectations to a free soul fighting against all odds of life - her journey made each of us laugh, cry, and everything in between.
Well, 'Titanic' without Kate Winslet, and vice versa, is impossible to even imagine! However, that did almost happen. Today, on the actress's 49th birthday, let's learn more about that in this article.
Yes, Kate Winslet wasn't the first choice of James Cameron to play Rose. The director was considering some A-list actresses, such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Winona Ryder, and Reese Witherspoon, for the role. In fact, Gwyneth Paltrow was almost finalized for the same.
Some reports suggest that Paltrow herself turned down the part in 'Titanic'. It was during this time that Cameron met Winslet.
Before 'Titanic' happened, Winslet had starred mostly in period pieces, like 'Sense and Sensibility', 'Jude', and 'Hamlet'. She was seen as a typecast and was often referred to as Corset Kate in the industry.
Ang Lee directing Kate Winslet in SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, 1995. pic.twitter.com/5yD0DAL9qq
— MUBI (@mubi) October 23, 2020
Credit: MUBI
Cameron initially passed her up as it "seemed like lazy casting". And he held firmly to his opinion for quite a long time.
Right after reading the 'Titanic' screenplay, Winslet knew she would have to be a part of the film. She got Cameron's number from her agent and then called the director on his car phone.
As the actress later shared in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, "I closed the script, wept floods of tears and said, 'Right, I've absolutely got to be a part of this. No two ways about it", adding, "James was on the freeway, and he said, 'I'm going somewhere.' And I think he pulled over, and I said, 'I just have to do this, and you are really mad if you don't cast me.'"
Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio with director James Cameron from the set of ‘Titanic’
Thus, she convinced the director to take an audition of her. And well, she performed extraordinarily in that audition. After a few days, she sent him a bunch of roses with a note that read, "From your Rose."
As already mentioned, James Cameron wasn't really keen on casting Winslet. But seeing her audition, he was moved by her understanding of the character. And there's the incredible charm of Winslet that convinced him that she would be the most perfect for the role.
As Cameron later shared in an interview with Variety, "She’s very alive. She comes into a room with a great deal of confidence, and she’s got that spark of life."
Well, it's also worth noting that Leonardo DiCaprio was not the first choice for Jack. But you know... destiny and all!
