At times, the entertainment industry can be intimidating for young actors trying to make it in the business. But among the glamor, there are also some shining stars like Kate Winslet, who not only has amazing talent but also a touching empathy for her young co-stars.
The Academy Award-winning actress shared a special anecdote that perfectly captures her commitment to creating a setting that is safe and welcoming for her fellow actors.
Angourie Rice, one of her co-stars in the crime drama limited series Mare of Easttown, caught The Reader actress’ attention as the former seemed uneasy in one scene. Winslet, who had previously dealt with similar circumstances, did not want the 22-year-old to experience the same emotions.
Also note that critics praised Mare of Easttown for its plot, characters, acting, and representation of women.
Behind-the-Scenes Heroism of Kate Winslet
In Mare of Easttown, Kate Winslet‘s young co-star was nervous as they were filming a crucial scene that called for them to share a tender and private moment.
Vanity Fair reported that the actress, 47, volunteered to take on the role of intimacy coordinator on the set of Brad Ingelsby’s crime drama series to support her on-screen daughter, Angourie Rice, 22.
“There was no intimacy coordinator called in that day, which was fine — it was not a mistake, it was just a scene they weren’t required for. But having gone through this as a young actor myself, I remember there are even certain lines of dialogue that feel awkward when you’re young and perhaps a bit inexperienced, or as a person who has had less experience than the character has. Sometimes just having a conversation about those scenes with a director, even that in and of itself can feel a bit awkward because they might just be conversations that you’re not really emotionally ready to be able to have.”
In the HBO series, Winslet portrayed Rice’s mother and undoubtedly provided some maternal support when the younger actor most needed it. She explained further:
“I did end up getting in the car. I was like, ‘Girls, I’m just going to get in the trunk. I’m just gonna be in the trunk if anyone needs me.’ And actually it was quite good that I was there because the camera operators were the only other people in the car, and they happened to both be men — lovely, respectful, wonderful gentlemen, but still, it made it awkward for those two actors internally. To be there, it just sort of cut through the ice a little bit.”
Kate Winslet Sensed That Angourie Rice ‘Was Nervous’
The goal of Kate Winslet’s unconventional behavior was to establish a safe, comfortable environment and ensure the emotional stability of her younger co-star.
On the How I Found My Voice podcast, Winslet thoroughly explained that because the characters were covered up (with clothes) the entire time, there was no need to hire an intimacy coordinator for the scene:
“Because there were no clothes that come off in the scene they didn’t consider bringing in an intimacy coordinator. And I just got the sense that she was nervous. So I said to her, ‘I’m going to be around for this, I’m going to stay, I won’t leave the set.’”
The Titanic actress added the following:
“She [Angourie Rice] said: ‘Thank God Kate, thank you so much.’ And I ended up being in the car. I ended up being in the boot of the car. I knew it would make them feel better to have that one person who would be able to put their hand up and say: ‘Actually we need to cut now, is everyone feeling OK?’”
Intimacy coordinators are a relatively new concept, and Winslet acknowledged that having one on staff would have been beneficial in her previous roles:
“Sometimes even directors don’t feel comfortable communicating with actors about intimate scenes, even if it’s just kissing.”
With 16 Primetime Emmy nominations, Mare of Easttown won four, including ‘Outstanding Lead Actress’ for Winslet. The series was praised for its actors’ largely accurate pronunciation of the Philadelphia accent, which is uncommon in popular culture.
Along with Cailee Spaeny, the series also starred Evan Peters, Sosie Bacon, David Denman, Neal Huff, James McArdle, Guy Pearce, and Neal Huff.
You can stream Mare of Easttown on Max.
Source- Vanity Fair; How I Found My Voice
