Acclaimed British actress Kate Winslet has spoken candidly about the damaging body shaming she endured as a young performer, revealing a drama teacher once told her she would only succeed if she settled for playing "fat girl parts".
A Childhood of Cruel Comments
Winslet, whose directorial debut Goodbye June was released this month, described being teased at school for her size. She was called names like "blubber" and even locked in the art cupboard by her peers. The actress told the BBC she developed a "pretty thick skin pretty early on" as a result of this relentless bullying.
However, the most impactful criticism came from an authority figure. "I really remember vividly a drama teacher... and she said to me, 'Well darling you'll have a career if you're ready to settle for the fat girl parts'," Winslet recalled. She responded to the memory with defiance, stating simply: "Look at me now. It's appalling the things people say to children!"
The Lasting Impact on Health and Diet
The actor, who left school at 16 around the time she landed her first film role in Peter Jackson's 1994 thriller Heavenly Creatures, said the experience had a profound effect on her relationship with her body. She revealed she began on-and-off diets from the age of 15.
By the time she was 19 years old, the situation had escalated. "I was barely eating," Winslet admitted, describing that period as unhealthy and one she now regrets. She credits her family and her unwavering focus on acting as her sanctuary during those difficult years. "I wouldn't let them spoil a trajectory that I was determined I was on," she said. "And at least I had a lovely family to go home to."
From Bullying to an Award-Winning Career
Despite the negativity, Winslet was inspired from a young age by photographs of her grandparents performing on stage and was set on an acting career. She often played supporting roles, which she says she didn't mind. Her determination to succeed in the face of such criticism has led to one of the most celebrated careers in modern cinema, including an Oscar, Emmy, and multiple BAFTA awards.
Her story highlights the lasting damage that careless comments from teachers and peers can inflict, while also serving as a powerful testament to personal resilience and talent triumphing over prejudice.
