Labor Day

Labor Day

Kate Winslet is one of Hollywood's brightest and most talented stars, who has already enjoyed a career that has spanned over twenty years.

This week sees her not only receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but return to the big screen in new film Labor Day; which sees her team up with director Jason Reitman for the first time.

We take a look back over Winslet's great career and pick out some of her greatest roles and performances.

- Sense and Sensibility (1995)

It may have been Titanic that made her a global star, but it was her terrific performance in Sense and Sensibility that grabbed everyone's attention.

The fresh faced Kate Winslet teamed up with Emma Thompson as Elinor and Marianne Dashwood in the adaptation of the Jane Austen novel.

This is a stylish and witty scrip that is brought to life by the central performances by Winslet and Thompson; they really have great chemistry and drive the story forward.

For her performance, Winslet picked up a Best Supporting Actress Bafta and was nominated for a Golden Globe and Oscar. This kicked off her string of Oscar nominations over the coming years.

- Iris (2001)

Winslet turned her hand to the biopic film in 2001, as she and Judi Dench played writer Iris Murdoch in Iris.

Directed by Richard Eyre, the movie looked at the different stage of Iris' life and showed her battle with Alzheimer's.

Winslet played the young and vibrant Iris and delivered a fearless performance, which showed the real strength of this woman.

Winslet also really captured Iris' lust for life; this was contrasted beautifully with her battle with Alzheimer's.

From start to finish, Iris is a heart-breaking movie that is packed with fantastic performances.

Winslet picked up her second Best Supporting Actress Oscar nod, and her third overall nomination.

- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Michel Gondry returned to the director's chair in 2004, with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind; which saw Winslet team up with funny man Jim Carrey.

The movie follows a couple who undergo a procedure to erase each other from their memories. It is only then do they discover the very special thing that they had together.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was one of the most inventive movies to be release in 2004; it was an imaginative a film as it was bonkers.

This was a compelling and heart-breaking film, with Winslet and Carrey delivering some of the best and most powerful work; they really did make a great movie team.

Winslet found herself in the Oscar running once again, as she picked up a Best Actress nomination; she lost out to Hilary Swank for Million Dollar Baby.

- Finding Neverland (2004)

One of my favourite Winslet performances came in the form of Finding Neverland, as she teamed up with Johnny Depp.

The movie followed J.M. Barrie's friendship with the Davies family, and how they inspired him to write Peter Pan.

Finding Neverland is a movie about life, enjoying life and believing in anything and everything that it has to throw at us; Barrie was a man who saw things how he wanted to see them rather than how they were.

It may be Depp that takes centre stage, but it is a wonderful performance from Winslet as she plays the mother of the Davies children. She is a woman who battles adversity and illness, and find comfort and friendship in Barrie.

Together, Depp and Winslet deliver a heart-breaking and yet beautiful movie. It was one of the best dramas of 2004.

- Little Children (2006)

Little Children hit the big screen in 2006, and saw Winslet team up with director Todd Field and actor Patrick Wilson.

The lives of two lovelorn spouses from separate marriages, a registered sex offender, and a disgraced ex-police officer intersect as they struggle to resist their vulnerabilities and temptations.

Little Children is a movie that really does scratch the surface of utopia to see what and who lies beneath - it is a fascinating watch from start to finish.

Winslet excels in the central role of Sarah Pierce, a woman who feels stifled by her life as a dutiful wife and mother.

Winslet really does get under the skin of this character, to show a real sadness under the facade; she is a woman who just wants more from her life.

There was another Best Actress Oscar nomination for Winslet, but this time she missed out to Helen Mirren for The Queen.

- The Reader (2009)

Winslet finally tasted Oscar success in 2009, when she scooped the Best Actress award for her performance in The Reader.

The Reader was an adaptation of the book by Bernhard Schlink, and saw Stephen Daldry in the director's chair.

From start to finish, Winslet is simply superb in the central role of Hanna; she is a villain who is truly flawed and fascinating.

The Reader is a really complex story that is packed with emotional turmoil for all of the characters. However, it is Winslet's performance that really does stand out.

She went on to dominate the award's circuit that year, and finally got her hands on a much-deserved Oscar.

Other Winslet movies not to miss include Titanic, Heavenly Creatures, Quills, and Revolutionary Road.

Labor Day is released 21st March.


by for www.femalefirst.co.uk
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