Kate Winslet, acclaimed for her roles in Titanic, Quills, and Hamlet, is embarking on a new chapter in her career as a director. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Oscar-winning actress is set to direct her first feature film, Goodbye June, for Netflix. Not only will Winslet direct the film, but she will also produce and star in it. The cast will feature a star-studded ensemble, including Toni Collette, Johnny Flynn, Andrea Riseborough, Timothy Spall, and Helen Mirren. The screenplay is written by Joe Anders, Winslet’s son with ex-husband Sam Mendes, and Kate Solomon will co-produce alongside Winslet.
Goodbye June is described by Netflix as a “touching, yet humorous” drama about a fractured family of siblings coming together in the face of unexpected and challenging circumstances. Production will begin shortly in the UK.
Solomon, who also produced Winslet’s recent project, Lee, is onboard for the new film. Lee, which tells the story of model-turned-WWII photographer Lee Miller, featured Andrea Riseborough in its cast and earned Winslet a Golden Globe nomination. The film also received a BAFTA nomination for Outstanding British Film of the Year.
In an interview on the How to Fail podcast with Elizabeth Day, Winslet shared her thoughts on directing. She admitted that, despite initial resistance due to the significant time commitment, she now feels a strong sense of “urgency” and responsibility to women in Hollywood. Winslet explained that for years, people on film sets would ask her why she wasn’t directing, but she always brushed it off. However, with the growing need for change in the industry, she now feels it’s time to take on the role herself. “I’m really starting to feel that in quite a loud way,” she said.
She emphasized the importance of more women stepping behind the camera, stating that the more female directors there are, the more they will inspire others to follow suit. Winslet also reflected on how her deep understanding of the technical side of filmmaking has prepared her for this new challenge, adding, “There’s no way I’m ever going to do something unless I really know how to do it properly.”
In addition to her directorial debut, Winslet was recently nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance in The Regime, an HBO limited series. Her impressive career also includes an Oscar win in 2009 for her role in The Reader.
