Key points
- Winslet directed her first feature film, Goodbye June.
- The film premiered to strong reviews at an international festival and its London world premiere.
- She described directing as “incredibly rewarding” and expressed pride in the experience.
- Goodbye June will be released in UK and US cinemas on December 12 and on Netflix on Christmas Eve.
ISLAMABAD: Kate Winslet, 50, the Academy Award-winning actor best known for Titanic, has stepped behind the camera for the first time. Her directorial debut, Goodbye June, premiered on Wednesday at a major international film festival.
The premiere of Winslet’s first-ever directed film won warm applause at the London World Festival.
Winslet received the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in The Reader (2008) and has won multiple BAFTA Awards for Sense and Sensibility (1995), The Reader, and Steve Jobs (2015). She has also secured seven Golden Globes for films including Titanic (1997) and Steve Jobs. She is admired for her versatility, emotional depth, and dedication to complex characters.
Speaking to AFP at the London premiere, Winslet said she was “so proud” of directing her first film and would “love to do more.” She described the experience as rewarding, highlighting her joy in working with actors, including children, and collaborating closely with the crew. The film, inspired by the death of her mother, was written by her son Joe Anders, whose father is director Sam Mendes. “I was so impressed by it and loved the dialogue — it was just phenomenal,” she said of her son’s script.
The film also stars Dame Helen Mirren, Timothy Spall, Andrea Riseborough, Johnny Flynn, Stephen Merchant, and Toni Collette.
Winslet said directing allowed her to explore storytelling from a new perspective. Festival attendees praised her for eliciting authentic performances while crafting visually compelling scenes.
The debut represents a new chapter in Winslet’s career, adding a hands-on dimension to her portfolio.
