Academy Award-winning actress Kate Winslet has publicly criticised the film industry for systemic sexism, revealing that crew members on her directorial debut were forced to accept lower pay due to budget constraints she attributes to gender bias.
The Budget Struggle and Calling in Favours
Speaking candidly on the Kermode & Mayo's Take podcast, the 50-year-old Titanic star explained the financial hurdles she faced while making Goodbye June for Netflix. Winslet stated that being a female director meant she was compelled to 'call in favours' extensively, as securing sufficient investment proved disproportionately difficult.
This resulted in a situation where department heads and their teams, who were eager to work on the project, had to take a financial hit. 'Sometimes people take a little bit of a hit because they want to come and be part of that experience and they want to support you,' Winslet admitted, confirming this occurred on her film.
A 'Different Language' for Women in Directing
Winslet highlighted a stark contrast in how male and female actors transitioning to directing are perceived. She argued there is an automatic assumption that men will know what they're doing, whereas women face scepticism and underestimated capabilities.
'People just think that you're a little bit too vain and want to stay in your trailer all day, and "will you really do it well?"' she said of the prejudice faced by actresses-turned-directors. In contrast, she noted that male actors are often simply 'allowed to get on with it.'
This bias, she contends, directly impacts the ability to secure necessary budgets, making it 'harder for us to get films made.' Winslet also pointed out a 'different set of language' is used when addressing female directors compared to their male counterparts.
Personal Project Amid Professional Pressure
The family drama, which landed on Netflix last week, holds deep personal significance. The screenplay was written by Winslet's son, Joe Anders, 21, and the story of a mother's declining health resonated with the actress following the death of her own mother from ovarian cancer in 2017.
The film features an all-star cast including Helen Mirren as the titular June, Timothy Spall, Toni Collette, Andrea Riseborough, and Johnny Flynn. Despite the pressures behind the camera, including hiding her own fatigue from the cast, Winslet said she would 'really, really love to direct again.'
In a lighter moment during a Q&A, Winslet shared her succinct personal mantra for directing herself as an actor in the film: 'Don't f*** it up.'
