Thursday, October 17, 1996
Actress Kate Winslet proves that, despite the old-fashioned
characters she plays, she is a modern woman.By Lael Loewenstein
Daily Bruin Contributor
To meet Kate Winslet, you would never think she was anything but
a thoroughly modern woman. Elegantly attired in a tailored black
suit, the 20-year-old actress bears hardly a trace of the period
heroines she has played in "Heavenly Creatures," "Sense and
Sensibility" and now "Jude."
In "Jude," based on the Thomas Hardy classic, "Jude the
Obscure," Winslet plays Sue Brideshead, the urbane, free-spirited
love interest of title character Jude Fawley (Christopher
Eccleston). Refusing to be harnessed by the strict codes of late
19th century English society, Sue flouts convention by smoking in
public, speaking her mind and living in sin.
"Sue is very complex," says Winslet. "If you put her in blue
jeans today she would make just as much sense. She has a lot of
modern views on feminism, an uncompromising determination to win
through and be noticed, but perhaps she is not very different from
a lot of women who were trying to survive in Hardy’s time."
In an effort to survive, Sue acts defensively toward the society
that does not understand her. She inadvertently wounds those Â
like Jude  who care about her the most.
"It’s true, she is a manipulative character," says Winslet, "but
her manipulation stems from fear and her fear stems from
insecurity. She couldn’t control her need to be recognized and
loved and accepted. Sue was very vulnerable, frightened of who she
was and reluctant to give up any degree of her independence.
Unfortunately it comes out as incredible arrogance. In admitting
that she loved Jude, she thought she’d be sacrificing a part of
herself. She is just one walking damaged human being."
In defending her screen character, Winslet has clearly reflected
on Sue’s complex psychology. But the actress is not so analytical
as to be unaffected by the emotionally-wrenching story, in which
Jude and Sue both suffer enormous tragedies and horrible
losses.
"At times it was hell," she says. "The depth and alien quality
of the emotion was very hard and I had to be very strong and brave
to get through it. Often I had to stand back and close my eyes and
keep it all inside myself."
Though the "Jude" shoot was at times grueling, Winslet loves her
work. She says she’s still astounded by her success, which includes
an Oscar nomination for last year’s "Sense and Sensibility." Next
up are roles in "Hamlet" opposite Kenneth Branaugh and "Titanic"
opposite Leonardo Di Caprio.
"It has been an extraordinary time, and I’m very lucky to have
done consistent work. But I still carry a working head with me. I
don’t particularly want to be famous, I don’t particularly want to
be rich. It’s just not about that. I love acting so much, it’s
almost indescribable and unbelievable to me how much I love
it."
Pressed to elaborate on her craft, Winslet explains, "Maybe it’s
a greedy thing, because there are times when you hit incredible
highs and lows with emotions and you can be very indulgent with
yourself in one level of grief. It’s about the challenge of going
in to other worlds, not because I’m afraid of the one I’m in, but
it’s a way of wanting to create something that is honest and
profound and truthful and to convey that in such a way that moves
people."
Clearly, Winslet doesn’t take her good fortune for granted. If
anything, she is philosophical about her success.
"I’m working now, but after ‘Titanic,’ people might be tired of
me," she shrugs. "I might have to go back to doing part time jobs
in a delicatessen."
Though it seems unlikely that Winslet will be waiting tables in
a delicatessen any time soon, it’s likely she’ll continue her
streak of winning roles in period films. She says she’s not
remotely bothered by the idea of typecasting.
"If I have to do period films for the rest of my life, I’d be
perfectly happy," she smiles. "But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t
mind running around in a track suit rather than a corset for
once."
"Jude" opens this Friday.
GRAMERCY PICTURES
Kate Winslet stars as Sue Bridehead in "Jude," a film based on
Thomas Hardy’s "Jude the Obscure."GRAMERCY PICTURES
Kate Winslet and Christopher Eccleston are love interests in
"Jude."