Kate Winslet recently opened up about one of the most iconic moments in film history—her kiss with Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic—and revealed that filming the scene was far from the romantic moment it appeared on screen.
A Nightmare Behind the Scenes
During an interview with Vanity Fair on June 12, 2024, Winslet shared behind-the-scenes details about the filming of the famous “I’m flying” scene, which became a defining moment of the film. “It was a nightmare,” Winslet admitted, recalling the mishaps that made the scene much harder to shoot than it looked.
The challenges began with the unique set design. “This was a section of the ship—it wasn’t the whole set,” Winslet explained. The confined space meant that crew members couldn’t easily adjust hair and makeup between takes. As a result, the actress 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
Despite the chaotic filming, the actual kiss between Winslet’s character, Rose, and DiCaprio’s Jack became an unforgettable moment for fans worldwide. However, Winslet was quick to point out that the experience of filming the kiss was not as glamorous as it looked. “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,” she recalled with a laugh.
Winslet’s reflection on the messiness didn’t diminish her fondness for the scene, though. Despite the difficulties, she noted that Titanic has remained a significant part of her career. “It’s that film that just keeps giving,” she said with pride.
Addressing Feud Rumors with James Cameron
Beyond the kiss, Winslet also addressed long-standing rumors about a feud with Titanic director James Cameron. In 1997, during the film’s release, Winslet was reported to have said, “You’d have to pay me a lot of money to work with Jim again,” after enduring extreme physical hardships during filming. Winslet even suffered from hypothermia and nearly drowned twice. Cameron, however, insisted that there was never a rift between them. “She had a little postpartum depression when she let go of Rose,” he explained, acknowledging the toll that the intense filming experience had taken on her.
Clearing the Air on Their Relationship
In a separate interview with Variety, Winslet expressed her regret that the “stupid, speculative” rumors overshadowed her true relationship with Cameron, which was far from contentious. “We’ve talked about the fact that she goes really deep into her roles,” Cameron said, reflecting on how Winslet throws herself into her characters, leaving a lasting emotional impact.
The two have since worked together again on Avatar: The Way of Water, where Winslet played the role of Ronal, and their professional relationship appears stronger than ever. Winslet herself shared that her experience on the Avatar set was much more pleasant than her time on Titanic. “He is much calmer now,” she said, appreciating Cameron’s growth over the years.
Titanic’s Lasting Impact
As for Titanic, despite the behind-the-scenes challenges, it remains a defining moment in film history—and one that Winslet, DiCaprio, and Cameron have continued to reflect on with fondness and humor. Looking ahead, Winslet will reprise her role in the Avatar franchise when Avatar 3 is released in December 2025.