Kate Winslet on what question she’d like to have asked Lee Miller

Kate Winslet on what question she’d like to have asked Lee Miller

As a history enthusiast and a passionate cinephile, I must say that Kate Winslet‘s portrayal of Lee Miller in the film “Lee” is nothing short of extraordinary. The film, which delves deep into Miller’s life during the Second World War, is a testament to the courage, resilience, and dedication of a woman who dared to document the harsh realities of war for the world to see.


In her latest movie, titled “Lee,” Kate Winslet delivers yet another outstanding portrayal, this time as the acclaimed American war photographer, Lee Miller.

Previously based in Paris as a fashion, fine art, and surrealist photographer, Miller took on the role of documenting the Second World War for Vogue Magazine. During this period, he snapped several images that are now essential records of the horrific acts carried out by the Nazis.

The central part of the movie revolves around this particular phase of Lee’s life, yet it opens and closes with a narrative structure where an older version of Lee is seen in interviews, discussing her past events.

She replied, “There are numerous questions I’d like to ask her,” but decided instead to focus on just one specific question.

“I think I would probably ask her, ‘How did it really feel to get into Hitler’s bath?’

Since her friend Davy Sherman, a photographer for Life magazine, captured an iconic photo of her during the war, they were almost inseparable. Together, they managed to gain access to Hitler’s private apartment unofficially.

She went on to say: “By then, Hitler had already disappeared. He’d made his way to his bunker in Berlin. This revelation came on the day of Dachau’s liberation, and Lee and Davy happened to be there that morning. They were among the earliest arrivals, and afterwards, they headed to Munich. She knew the location of his apartment.

In another room, a regiment was celebrating. She discovered a bathroom and decided to use it, finding that the faucet provided hot water. It seemed they had gone without hot water for six weeks, not washing or changing their clothes. Naturally, she chose to take a bath.

After that, she understood, yes, that’s quite a discovery. Davy, come inside and snap a picture of me, and he ended up in the frame too, splashing around in the bath. I can’t help but wonder, ‘What must have been going through your mind at that moment?’ She displayed incredible courage.

Kate Winslet on what question she’d like to have asked Lee Miller

Movie director Ellen Kuras, a long-standing companion of Winslet’s, and someone who worked alongside the actor as a cinematographer during the filming of “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” similarly faced challenges in selecting just one question to pose.

Lee Miller’s life is incredibly multifaceted,” she noted. “If I could converse with Lee Miller herself, I would inquire about her experiences as a photographer, her initial ventures into surrealism, and the emotions that propelled her onto the battlefield… what led her to explore the hidden aspects instead of just documenting the combat itself.

I’m curious about the source of inspiration behind that. I’d love to hear more about her discussing it, as well as her intense dedication to uncovering the truth and sharing it honestly. Additionally, I’d be interested in learning how she felt about all this when she returned, and what insights she gained from the experience regarding her own life.

For a number of years, Winslet has nurtured a deep-seated interest in the film ‘Lee’, investing eight years in its creation. She shared that the concept ignited following her purchase of a table from an auction, which had once belonged to Lee’s residence and was inhabited by numerous surrealist artists such as Man Ray, Paul Éluard, and Max Ernst.

She acknowledged that she recognized Lee Miller and was acquainted with many of her photographs. However, she emphasized that a crucial decade in Miller’s life, one that wasn’t necessarily underestimated, but rather less explored or examined, stood out as particularly significant.

As a film enthusiast, I’ve always found it intriguing how she has been primarily perceived through the lens of male perspective. She was often portrayed as Man Ray’s former muse, a past cover girl, and a model, labels that were somewhat condescending, reducing her to an infantile figure. This narrow viewpoint seems to be rooted in a specific phase of her life during her twenties.

Once she purchased the table, she began pondering why nobody had produced a movie about Miller’s life up until then. She decided to assume responsibility for rectifying this situation herself.

Nine years have passed, and I’ve come to understand why no one has ever created a movie about Lee Miller before – it’s truly astounding!

As a movie critic, I found it challenging to encapsulate the pivotal phase of her life that resonated deeply with me, yet this film brilliantly showcases her extraordinary journey as a woman who dared to stand at the forefront of conflict, navigating bureaucratic hurdles, and unveiling the horrors of the Nazi regime for Vogue’s female readership – a truly groundbreaking feat.

She never hesitated to reveal the truth; she was relentless in her pursuit until she uncovered it.

Lee is now showing in UK cinemas. 

Read More

2024-09-13 14:04