LettMotif editions publish Kate Winslet, the discreet, by Jacques Demange. The contributor to the journal Positive it analyzes the filmography and acting of an actress who is demanding of herself and whose performances are objective in terms of the balance that underlies them.
A great figure in contemporary cinema, Kate Winslet is an actress with a career as rich as it is diversified. Born into a family of artists, she developed a strong taste for the stage from an early age, which led her to join a theater school at the age of eleven. This precociousness testifies to an innate passion which contributed to forging his talent and nourishing his determination. She truly revealed herself to the general public with the worldwide success of titanic in 1997. Since then, Kate Winslet has built an impressive filmography, collaborating with auteur filmmakers such as Jane Campion, Michel Gondry, Alan Parker or Sam Mendes. These collaborations allowed the actress to explore a multitude of registers, thus consolidating her reputation as a versatile performer.
As stated by Jacques Demange, Winslet’s playing style is characterized by a naturalism mixed with a certain discretion. But the actress does not hesitate to expose herself, both literally and figuratively. Accepting the flaws of her body, she transcends a certain aestheticism, thus reflecting a desire for truth and authenticity. She willingly uses objects such as glasses, cigarettes or clothes to establish her acting or to translate the psychological evolutions of her characters. The way she invests the space is also notable. She often seems enclosed, whether in a camera, the reflection of a mirror, next to a window or of a male actor who dominates her by his stature. These overframing phenomena testify to a keen sense of stage composition, where each element contributes to the overall meaning.
In her work, Winslet often took roles in costume films, adopting various nationalities and eras, which testifies to her great adaptability and her ease with changing accents. This “chameleonism”, aptly translated by the author, accentuates his ability to immerse himself in his roles, showing a deep empathy for his characters. However, his approach to acting has only ambiguous relationships with the Stanislavski method. If she deploys a willingly internalized game, often fair and up to those she embodies, she also seeks to maintain a certain distance with her characters. These subtle balances, on which Jacques Demange returns extensively, condition his acting and the construction of his roles.
Another interesting aspect of her career is how she is often seen through another’s subjective gaze, as in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind And Romance and Cigarettesor even through a redefined frame, as in neverland. These staging choices, proceeding through a form of dispossession, influence the interpretation of his characters and the viewer’s perception of them. The same goes for the representation of innocuous actions and gestures, which plays a crucial role in the apprehension of its roles. When she portrays a character, Kate Winslet does it by the menu and weaves it thread by thread, in particular through the most banal actions. The analysis of the decomposition, of her tactile play or of her physical performances to which the author devotes herself reveals an actress who excels in the art of detail. Her ability to convey emotion, intention, or character development through simple gestures, such as a look, intonation, or subtle movement, enhances the complexity and depth of her characters.
These physical and tactile performances are all the more interesting to observe in roles where Winslet’s body moves or interacts with the environment. Every gesture can become a storytelling tool, adding an extra layer to the character’s personality. Confronted with scenes requiring great emotional intensity, the actress was able to demonstrate her ability to express a wide range of emotions, both nuanced and vibrant, testifying to a great mastery of the dramatic art. And if she delves into the heart of her characters’ souls, she never does so head on, since she maintains the necessary distance to convey their emotions with precision and authenticity.
Kate Winslet, the discreet speaks of an actress whose talent and versatility remain undeniable. Her dedication to the truth of her characters, her ability to navigate between eras and accents, as well as her mastery of body language make her a leading actress in the film industry. Returning extensively to Winslet’s acting techniques and his choice of films, Jacques Demange delivers, in a structured and balanced way, a collection of fine observations, probing together the essence of his roles.
Kate Winslet, the discreetJacques Demange
LettMotif, February 2023, 234 pages