Actress Kate Winslet was eager to show the world just how happy she is, planting a kiss on her new boyfriend’s cheek outside the Manhattan premiere of her latest film, Iris.
“He’s a good man,” she said of American Beauty director and paramour Sam Mendes. “You can say I said that with a very large smile on my face.”
“We’re very happy, unbelievable happy,” she told UK tabloid the Daily Mail. “It’s one of those unexplainable things that we’re together.”
Despite the excitement of her new romance, Kate – dressed in a red, low-cut Dolce & Gabbana dress – admitted she was less than eager to make their first public appearance as a couple. “But it had to happen sometime and someplace,” she said of their coming out.
Kate split from husband Jim Threapleton in September much to the surprise of the film making community. They were believed to have one of the strongest show biz marriages, and were often photographed around London cavorting with baby daughter Mia. However, the pair called it quits in September.
The Sense And Sensibility star, busy filming The Life Of David Gale in Austin, Texas, arrived in New York over the weekend sans Mia. “It wasn’t fair to put her through two long journeys across the country in less than 24 hours so Mia stayed in Texas. I have to be back there first thing Monday morning so it would have meant a lot of disturbance,” she said at the post-screening party at posh restaurant Fred’s. Jim flew in from London to care for their 14-month-old girl.
“Jim and I have both strived to ensure that Mia’s interests come first in everything,” added Kate. “By the time I finish my role on David Gale I will have worked 11 weeks in one year. The rest of the time I’ve been mum… My priority is that once filming has ended I get back to England with her for a big family Christmas.”
Iris, co-starring Dame Judi Dench, opens in New York and Los Angeles on December 14 to ensure eligibility for this year’s Academy Awards. The film is due for wide release early next year.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
