Directed by James Cameron and starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio as the lead characters, Titanic went on to become one of the biggest films of all time. Based on the sinking of RMS Titanic, the film follows two fictionalized characters, Jack and Rose, who fall in love after meeting on the ship. While the film went on to receive multiple accolades, including 11 Oscars at the 70th Academy Awards, things were a lot messy during its casting process.
Reports claim that James Cameron wanted to cast Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack, but the actor wasn’t interested in the offer. And Winslet, who wanted to play Rose, had to urge the director to give her the opportunity. The Holiday actress shared during an interview how she made sure that no one else got cast as Rose in Titanic.
James Cameron Did Not Want Kate Winslet as Rose in Titanic
James Cameron found the perfect actor for the role of Jack Dawson in the 1997 film after Leonardo DiCaprio’s audition. Despite the Oscar-winning actor not being interested in the offer, Cameron was adamant about casting him in the movie. Kate Winslet, who would star alongside him in Titanic, also believed that he was perfect to portray Jack in the film.
However, the director was still not sure about who he wanted as Rose. Reports suggest that he shortlisted Gwyneth Paltrow, Winona Ryder, Claire Danes, and Reese Witherspoon and didn’t even consider Winslet for the role.
While it would be hard to imagine anyone else as Jack and Rose, the director was not convinced about casting Winset in the film. Unlike the Avatar director, the Divergent actress desperately wanted to be Rose. And she decided to take matters into her own hands to convince James Cameron to give her the role in the Oscar-winning film.
Kate Winslet Knew She Was Destined to Play Rose
During an interview with Rolling Stone, Kate Winslet revealed that once share read the script of the film, she knew she had to be a part of the 1997 romantic drama. “I closed the script, wept floods of tears, and said, ‘Right, I’ve absolutely got to be a part of this,” she shared.
As her agent started campaigning for her to get the role, the Revolutionary Road actress started contacting the director herself. She shared that she once met him on the freeway and told him, “I just have to do this, and you are really mad if you don’t cast me.”
However, the director was hesitant about casting Winslet even after he was impressed by her screen test. Cameron also received a rose from the American actress with a note saying, “From Your Rose.” Both the actors were brought to the director’s attention by casting director Mali Finn.
And followed by Winslet’s multiple efforts, Cameron eventually cast her and Leonardo DiCaprio as the lead characters in the film. And the Jude star would go on to receive her first Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance in the 1997 film.
