Acclaimed actress Kate Winslet has unveiled the deeply personal story behind her upcoming directorial debut, revealing she was the driving force that transformed a screenplay written by her son into a major motion picture.
A Mother's Instinct: From Script to Screen
The Oscar-winner, 50, explained that her son, Joe Anders, 21, wrote the script for 'Goodbye June' as an exercise during a screenwriting course. The story was inspired by the profound loss of his maternal grandmother in 2017. After reading it, Winslet was so moved she insisted it be made into a film, with her taking on the triple role of star, producer, and first-time director.
Appearing on The Graham Norton Show, set to air on Friday night, the Titanic star admitted she 'couldn't let it go'. She told her son, 'You’ve written a film and we are going to make it.' Winslet confessed, 'I knew I couldn’t let it go so now at 50 years old I am a director. It was an extraordinary experience.'
Star-Studded Cast and a Legend's Change of Heart
The family drama boasts an impressive cast including award-winning actors Toni Collette, Andrea Riseborough, Timothy Spall, and Dame Helen Mirren. Winslet shared a notable anecdote about recruiting the legendary Dame Helen, 80, for the titular role of June.
Mirren initially hesitated, telling Winslet she had a personal rule against playing characters with dementia or cancer. However, after reading Joe's script, she broke her own rule. Winslet recounted, 'She sent me an email saying she was breaking her own rule because it was such a wonderful project.'
Protecting a Son's Vision
In a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Winslet elaborated on her decision to direct, stating a primary motivation was to protect her son's creative vision. She feared handing the script to another director would mean the story 'becomes theirs'.
'I didn't want that for him,' she said. 'I wanted him to remain a part of it. I wanted him to experience seeing this beautiful thing that he had created come to life.' She praised Joe, whose father is director Sam Mendes, as 'very, very smart about film', calling their collaboration 'fantastic'.
The film adds to a growing family portfolio in Hollywood. Joe previously appeared in his father's Oscar-nominated film 1917 and starred opposite his mother in 2023's Lee. Winslet's eldest child, Mia Threapleton, 24, is also building an acting career, recently starring in Wes Anderson's The Phoenician Scheme, though she has rejected the 'nepo baby' label.
Goodbye June is scheduled for release next week, marking a significant family and professional milestone for Kate Winslet and her son.
