Kate Winslet talks playing a villian for the first time

Kate Winslet’s new film Divergent is out in the UK on 4th April, and she recently discussed how she only realised this was her first villianous role after signing on.

"I haven’t played a villain before but I didn’t realise that until I agreed to play the role and said ‘Oh, she’s actually kind of evil through and through’," said Kate.

© Photo: Getty Images

She then went on to add: "It was a big, fun, exciting, new challenge for me.

"Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, the British Oscar winner added that playing the villian was "great fun".  Starring Shailene Woodley, Divergent is a young adult adaptation of a dystopian novel by Veronica Roth.

The film had its American premiere in Los Angeles last night and Kate's co-stars including Downton Abbey actor Theo James, Zoe Kravitz, Miles Teller and Ansel Elgort all turned out.

Kate Winslet as Jeanine Matthews with Theo James as Four

Although a critically acclaimed actress, it will be Shailene’s first big franchise role, and Kate talked about how she is regularly asked if she has any advice for the young star.

“It’s really funny. People keep saying to me ‘would you give Shailene advice?’ and ‘do you guys talks about your experience on Titanic and what she’s about to face now?’ They’re describing it as if she’s walking into a war zone with no body armour on,” said Kate, before revealing how she feels about the Sundance award winner.

“I have to say Shai is one of the most gorgeous women I have ever met and she’s a very dear, sweet, humble person, and she’s really gentle and grounded and I think she’s going to be okay.,” continued Kate.

Kate has been making the rounds this week, and after receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame earlier this week, the 38-year old spoke to Ellen DeGeneres about her son, Bear Blaze.

“Bear’s second name is Blaze because my husband and I met in a house fire basically,” she explained. “The house burned down and we survived,' said Kate, before adding: “But we wanted something of the fire and so Blaze was the name that we came up with. Bear Blaze.”