Since making a name for herself in the role of Rose DeWitt Bukater in the 1997 film Titanic, Kate Winslet has gone from strength to strength. In a career spanning over two decades, Winslet has starred in a range of films, including The Reader, Revolutionary Road, Labor Day, Divergent and her newest film, The Dressmaker which is in cinemas now. She turned 40 this October, and has an Academy Award, an Emmy award, three Golden Globes and a Grammy Award, not to mention awards from the Screen Actors Guild and BAFTA all under her belt. Here’s a few of her life lessons that we could all take some inspiration from.
‘You need to live through heartbreak’
We’ve all felt feelings of heartbreak, whether it’s a messy break up or a case of someone you like not liking you back, and it can feel like the worst feeling in the world. You may feel like you are not good enough, but going through heartbreak only makes you stronger in the future. It shows you what you deserve and makes you realise how much you are worth, whilst you remember never to settle for anything less.
Winslet explains, “I’m no stranger to heartbreak or rejection” but “I’ve always been quite emotional, but when something like that happens, you have to find a way to move on. I went through that as a teenager. I was always falling for the wrong guy, or I was the girl who never got the guy.” She says, “I think heartbreak is something that you learn to live with as opposed to learn to forget.”
‘Accept your imperfections’
On some days there are things we would all change about ourselves but the sooner you learn that no one is perfect and accept your flaws anyway, the happier you will be. As Winslet explains, “I don’t look in the mirror and go, ‘Oh, I look fantastic!’ Of course I don’t. Nobody is perfect. I just don’t believe in perfection. But I do believe in saying, “This is who I am and look at me not being perfect!” I’m proud of that.”
‘The importance of empowering other women’
As women, we are often pitted against each other and sometimes people can take the easy route of bringing others down to try and make themselves feel better. As career girls, it is so important to empower other women and encourage them to achieve their goals and believe they can do whatever they set their mind to. Winslet says, “I do think it’s important for young women to know that magazine covers are retouched. People don’t really look like that. In films I might look glamorous, but I’ve been in hair and make-up for two hours.”
‘Learn not to care what others think’
In life it can be so easy to spend hours worrying about what others think, wondering whether someone likes you or wondering what someone will say if you wear a bold outfit on a night out. And the truth is, why should you care what someone thinks? If you can look at yourself in the mirror and feel proud of yourself and happy the way you are, then no one else’s opinion should matter.
Since turning 40 this October, the Oscar-winning actress has opened up about not caring about the opinions of others. She says, “And it is lovely being 40 because I literally don’t have to give a sh*t what people think any more and it’s f***ing great.”
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‘Live your life’
Perhaps the most important lesson from the actress comes down to learning how to live your life. Don’t waste time putting things off by saying you’ll do it someday. Someday may never come so if you want to go and see the world, then do it. If you’re unhappy with your job and are desperate for a new one, then go after it. Life can be short so don’t waste time making excuses; take control and live your life.
Don’t let anyone or anything stand in your way and as Winslet says, “Life is short, and it is here to be lived.”
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