A Nightmare Behind the Scenes
Kate Winslet recently opened up about one of the most iconic moments in film history—the kiss between her character Rose and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jack in Titanic—and revealed that filming the scene was far from the romantic moment it appeared on screen.
In an interview with Vanity Fair on June 12, 2024, Winslet reflected on the chaotic behind-the-scenes reality of filming the unforgettable “I’m flying” scene. “It was a nightmare,” she admitted, recalling the unexpected difficulties that made the iconic moment much more challenging to shoot than it seemed.
The first hurdle was the film’s unique set design. “This was a section of the ship—it wasn’t the whole set,” Winslet explained. The confined space made it hard for crew members to adjust hair and makeup between takes. As a result, Winslet found herself acting as the makeup artist for both herself and DiCaprio. “I had his makeup and brushes in my corset, and my own brushes on the other side,” she said. “Between takes, I was basically redoing our makeup.”
The Messy Reality of the Kiss
While the on-screen kiss became one of the most memorable moments of Titanic, the reality of filming it was far messier. “We kept doing the kiss, and I had a lot of pale makeup on. Between takes, I’d end up looking like I had sucked on a caramel chocolate bar because his makeup would come off on me. And he’d look like a patchy version of himself,” Winslet recalled with a laugh.
Despite the disarray, Winslet emphasized that the scene is still one of her proudest moments. “Titanic has just kept giving,” she said, reflecting fondly on the film that helped define her career.
Addressing Feud Rumors with James Cameron
Beyond the kiss, Winslet also addressed long-standing rumors about a feud with Titanic director James Cameron. Following the film’s release in 1997, Winslet was quoted as saying, “You’d have to pay me a lot of money to work with Jim again,” after enduring extreme physical hardships during filming, including suffering from hypothermia and nearly drowning twice. However, Cameron insisted that there was no real rift between them, offering an explanation for her comment. “She had a little postpartum depression when she let go of Rose,” Cameron noted, acknowledging the emotional and physical toll the intense filming process had on Winslet.
Clearing the Air on Their Relationship
In a separate interview with Variety, Winslet expressed regret that the “stupid, speculative” rumors had overshadowed her true relationship with Cameron, which she described as far from contentious. “We’ve talked about the fact that she goes really deep into her roles,” Cameron said, highlighting how Winslet immerses herself in her characters, often leaving a lasting emotional impact.
Winslet and Cameron have since worked together again on Avatar: The Way of Water, where she portrayed Ronal. Their professional relationship appears stronger than ever, and Winslet herself shared that the experience on the Avatar set was much more pleasant than her time on Titanic. “He is much calmer now,” she said, appreciating the growth Cameron has undergone over the years.
Titanic‘s Lasting Impact
Despite the challenges behind the scenes, Titanic remains one of the most significant films in cinematic history. Winslet, DiCaprio, and Cameron continue to reflect on the film with humor and fondness. Looking ahead, Winslet will reprise her role in the Avatar franchise when Avatar 3 is released in December 2025, ensuring that her relationship with Cameron continues to thrive on the big screen.
