Kate Winslet is undeniably one of the most successful actresses working in Hollywood today. One of the most impressive aspects of her career is her ability to excel in all film and TV genres. She is best known for her dramatic period pieces, but she has starred in comedies, sci-fi, and adventure fantasy films over the years, and excelled in those roles — so much so that she even earned Oscar nominations for her work in some of them.
Winslet's first feature film was the 1994 thriller/drama Heavenly Creatures directed by Peter Jackson. Quickly after that, she played the role of Marianne in Sense and Sensibility, for which she earned her first Oscar nomination, but her big break into stardom didn’t hit until 1997 when she portrayed Rose DeWitt Bukater in Titanic. James Cameron's movie is not only Winslet’s most memorable role to date, but the film is arguably one of the most successful movies of all time. Titanic has become somewhat of a phenomenon due to the technological walls it broke down in terms of film and the connection audiences developed with the ill-fated lover's Jack and Rose.
While people still think of Rose DeWitt Bukater when they think of Winslet, she has starred in dozens of movies since then, where she gives just as incredible of a performance. Some of these films include The Reader, Revolutionary Road, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Steve Jobs, and most recently Winslet collaborated with Cameron once again in Avatar: The Way of Water set to be released on December 16, 2022. Here are eight of Kate Winslet’s most memorable scenes to date, ranked.
8 You Are a Leading Lady — The Holiday
While she is best known for her dramatic roles, The holiday starring Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, and Jack Black, is one of the rare moments in the actress' career where she gets to show her ability to excel in a light-hearted comedy. Winslet plays Iris, a woman from the UK who swaps homes with a woman in Los Angeles (Diaz) to escape reality for the holidays. While in LA, Iris meets a Hollywood movie icon named Arthur, whom she ends up getting dinner with, and the two share a very meaningful conversation. Iris is at a low point in her life, and Arthur is able to lift her spirits and boost her confidence by telling her she has the capability of being a "leading lady" not "the best friend."
7 Make Things Alright with Lisa — Steve Jobs
In Steve Jobs, Winslet takes on the role of playing Joanna Hoffman, the right-hand and confidant to the brilliant yet brutal founder of Apple, Steve Jobs, played by Michael Fassbender. Joanna seems to be the only person who can get through to Steve, and she is tired of watching him destroy his relationship with his daughter Lisa. She tells Steve in this scene that being a father is meant to be the best part of a person, but for him, it is the worst because he has valued his job and success over being a good dad for the past 19 years. Joanna breaks down in this scene, and Winslet does an incredible job portraying her, making it no wonder that the performance received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
6 Train Ride — Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Another very different yet successful role for Winslet is that of Clementine in the romance/sci-fi film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, in which she starred alongside Jim Carrey. This role brought Winslet back into mainstream stardom after her years of working on mostly independent films. One of the reasons why the actress' career has been sustainable is that she will always prioritize roles that she is passionate about over ones that may bring the most fame and fortune. In this scene, Clementine meets Joel for the first time and doesn't hold anything back when it comes to expressing her true, quirky, and unforgettable self. The two ride the train together, bickering back and forth and testing each other's limits.
5 Mare and Lori — Mare of Easttown
The HBO Max limited series Mare of Easttown stars Winslet as Mare, a local police detective struggling to solve a series of crimes in her community located right outside Philadelphia. Mare is strong, direct, and determined, but as she keeps getting met with obstacle after obstacle, we see that, deep down, Mare is just as sensitive and damaged as the rest of us. When things take an unfortunate turn, revealing the murderer to be the most unlikely suspect, Mare and her best friend Lori break down trying to process everything that's happened. This scene is heartfelt and passionate, making it one of the most memorable moments in the entire series. The two women's friendship proves to be strong enough to stand against even the darkest of circumstances.
4 Fight Scene — Revolutionary Road
In 2008, the fan-favorite duo Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio teamed up for the first time since they starred as Jack and Rose in Titanic to play two characters involved in a much different kind of romantic relationship. In Revolutionary Road, the two portray Frank and April, a married couple who always dreamed of traveling the world and defying social standards until they get pregnant with their first child and inevitably get sucked back into the life of a suburban family. They have hopes of starting up their adventures once again until April gets pregnant with their third child. Frustrated and angry, the two break into a massive fight, exposing the worst parts of their relationship and themselves. Winslet and DiCaprio are two of the strongest actors of their generation, and this film is full of incredible scenes with them.
3 Court Scene — The Reader
The Reader is definitely considered to be Winslet's best performance to date as it received incredible reviews from critics everywhere, and it won the actress her first Academy Award for Best Actress. The film centers around Hanna Schmitz, a woman in a passionate love affair with a younger man who she is absolutely infatuated with her. It is later revealed in the film that Hanna is on trial for a terrible Nazi war crime, and this scene of Winslet in court is undeniably one of the best performances she has ever given. The Reader is definitely a must-watch, if just for the reason that Winslet is so incredible in it.
2 I'll Never Let Go — Titanic
Possibly the most iconic line in cinema history is "I'll never let go" from Cameron's 1997 Best Picture Oscar-winner Titanic. Everyone knows the story of Jack and Rose, the ill-fated lovers on the ship of dreams, who prove that true love can live on no matter what. During the last act of the film, after the Titanic has already sunk, Jack and Rose are struggling to withstand the cold temperatures of the North Atlantic and stay alive. Jack uses his last moments to tell Rose how grateful he is that they met and makes her promise him that no matter what happens, she will go on to live a long happy life and will never give up. Rose then promises Jack that she will "never let go," and the two continue out this iconic scene.
1 I'm Flying — Titanic
Coming in at number one on the list is not only Winslet's most memorable scene, but one of the most famous scenes in all cinema history. The image of Jack and Rose standing at the bow of the Titanic is one that's engraved in everyone's mind. This moment is the height of the two characters' happiness and the beautiful moment where they forget about money, social class, and societies expectations, and embrace their true love. The gorgeous cinematic image of looking over the ocean at sunset with the idea that these characters have their entire future right in front of them is one that continues to stick with viewers over 20 years after the film's initial release.