Kate Winslet reveals why her film Goodbye June is so personal for her “brilliant, clever” screenwriting son

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“I truly didn’t intend for things to turn out this way,” Kate Winslet insists. For a moment, her somewhat sharp reply makes me think I’ve offended her by pointing out how everywhere she seems to be as Christmas nears.

A TikTok trend is currently building to help Kate Winslet achieve the Christmas number one song. Fans are sharing videos of themselves lip-syncing to “What If,” a song from her 2001 animated movie, Christmas Carol: The Movie.

Each year around this time, people fondly remember Kate Winslet’s 2006 romantic comedy, The Holiday, which has become a beloved classic. And this December, you can see her in the new Avatar movie, Fire and Ash, hitting theaters on the 19th. Plus, if you listen to BBC Radio 4 on December 21st while wrapping gifts, you’ll hear her music choices on Desert Island Discs.

The real reason Kate Winslet agreed to talk with TopMob is a project she’s deeply passionate about. The film, Goodbye June, is special for both Winslet and her family because it features a script written by her 22-year-old son, Joe Anders. Beyond acting in and producing the movie, it also marks her first time directing a film.

Okay, so I’m warning you – if you’re not usually one to get emotional over movie trailers, this one might change that. Seriously, seeing Helen Mirren as a woman on her deathbed, surrounded by her on-screen family – Kate Winslet, Andrea Riseborough, Timothy Spall, Johnny Flynn, and Toni Collette – all grappling with the idea of losing her? It’s incredibly powerful. And honestly, Kate Winslet seems almost… relieved by the emotional impact, which is fascinating.

She’s perfectly happy with everything, including the return of ‘What If.’ She jokes that her husband, Edward Abel Smith, likes to play it “just to get a reaction” during family vacations – especially when she’d rather he didn’t! She says with a smile that she feels fortunate to have been involved in so many different projects.

Honestly, directing wasn’t something I ever thought she’d be interested in. She’d already had an amazing career, winning an Oscar for The Reader and a bunch of Golden Globes and Baftas. But it was while working on Danny Boyle’s Steve Jobs movie that she started thinking about directing herself – that’s where the idea really took root, it seems!

During a complicated scene with many performers, a problem occurred while filming. Despite the issue, Kate Winslet immediately understood exactly where they needed to start over.

I suggested we could work around the problem by editing it out later, just to make sure we had something usable. Danny immediately pointed out that actors generally don’t handle technical fixes like that themselves, and I jokingly replied that I do. Since then, people on set – both crew and other actors – have told me I was right to step in and help.

Kate Winslet recently turned 50 and explains why she decided to produce and star in “Goodbye June” now. She describes it as a deeply meaningful and personal story that she felt compelled to bring to life. She acknowledges that the project will likely face extra scrutiny because her son, Anders, is also involved, given their close family connection.

This touching story will resonate with anyone who’s felt powerless while waiting to see a loved one in the hospital, especially when facing a difficult goodbye. It beautifully depicts a family accepting that their mother’s last Christmas might be spent in a hospital room. The film pays close attention to small, realistic details, and many viewers will wonder if the actor’s powerful performance as the son struggling with the situation is drawn from the director’s own life.

Kate Winslet, who has three children – Mia Threapleton, Joe, and Bear (age 12) – shared how her son Joe reacted to the death of her mother, Sally, in 2017. At the time, Joe was 13 years old. She described it as a deeply impactful event for him, and he particularly remembered the remarkable effort made by their large family – including nieces, nephews, and siblings – to come together and support each other, something she noted was rare given everyone’s locations.

When the pandemic disrupted his studies during A-levels and left him feeling lost, Anders secured a spot on a competitive screenwriting course at the National Film and Television School after submitting a short film. Upon reading his screenplay, his mother immediately thought of Riseborough, whom she knows.

They became close friends after first connecting on FaceTime, before Riseborough joined Winslet’s project – a biopic about photographer Lee Miller.

Riseborough remembers their first meeting as a pivotal moment, both professionally and personally. While traveling to a fitting in London, she explained how Kate Winslet gave her the screenplay, and she knew instantly she wanted to be involved. She also wondered if it was unusual for someone so young to write with such emotional depth.

She admitted there’s a bit of truth to the statement, but also disagreed. Having known Joe for a long time and watched him mature, she believes he’s remarkably humble and open-minded – a truly wonderful quality.

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In the film Goodbye June, Jessie Buckley plays Molly, a stressed and dissatisfied mother who feels trapped at home with her children. She looks at Julia (played by Winslet) with envy, wondering how Julia balances a demanding career with raising a family. Winslet explains that as she explored the character, the line between Julia’s experiences and her own life became blurred. She shares a personal example: watching her youngest son perform a song he wrote himself via FaceTime while she was away was particularly difficult, highlighting the sacrifices inherent in balancing work and family.

You often see people online seeming to handle life perfectly. I wanted to challenge that image and tell the story of two women whose connection has broken down, and who’ve even forgotten why.

Riseborough felt the core of the film was the complex relationship between Julia and Molly. She described working with her co-star as an honor, explaining that they approached the challenging scenes with sensitivity and care, allowing for nuanced moments even amidst the tension and conflict.

Despite collaborating with renowned directors like James Cameron, Woody Allen, Peter Jackson, and Sam Mendes, Kate Winslet surprisingly credits Mike Leigh as the biggest influence on her film, Goodbye June. Interestingly, she’s never even met or spoken with him.

I was struck by the feel of the movie Goodbye June – it felt like a comfortable blend of Secrets & Lies and Four Weddings and a Funeral. Like many of Leigh’s films, Winslet was encouraged to improvise, which was especially helpful given the number of children involved. Pay close attention to the spontaneous conversation between Winslet and Flynn, which happened while the actor playing her son, five-year-old Benjamin Shortland, was actually asleep in her arms.

I do wonder, though, if Helen Mirren – after telling Kate Winslet she avoids playing characters with cancer – would have even considered reading the script if it had come from someone less famous. Winslet remembers Mirren calling her back and saying, ‘I’ll make an exception to my rule, I want to support you with this.’ Winslet was thrilled when Mirren agreed to take on the role – she couldn’t believe it!

Riseborough shared Mirren’s excitement, recalling how much support Mirren gave her in 2010 when she landed her first leading role in Brighton Rock. Riseborough, who was very young at the time, said Mirren was incredibly encouraging and has continued to be a supportive mentor, always championing well-written stories and demonstrating excellent taste.

Kate Winslet hopes people will view ‘Goodbye June’ as a film set during Christmas, rather than strictly a ‘Christmas movie.’ She points out that some of the most beloved holiday classics weren’t immediately recognized as such. Ultimately, she and director Joe are simply eager for audiences to connect with the story and see a bit of their own lives reflected in it.

Being back home in Sussex at my parents’ place, we’re definitely planning our usual Christmas Eve tradition – watching ‘The Snowman’, of course! And honestly, I love taking on Christmas dinner. I really enjoy it, especially making my husband his special lentil and walnut Wellington. He’s vegan, and he gets so many leftovers – he’s always thrilled and doesn’t want to share!

This Christmas routine is clearly well-established and has been perfected over time. Kate Winslet enthusiastically describes loving everything about it – from the letters supposedly sent by Santa to the joyful mess and flurry of activity, even retrieving gifts from under the tree. She speaks with the energy of someone who enjoys taking the lead, and when it comes to the Christmas meal, she both directs and stars in the show – a role she’s uniquely good at.

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2025-12-09 20:44