Kate Winslet's movie roles ranked

By Bryanne Salazar 5:03am PDT, Oct 3, 2017

On Oct. 5, 2017, Kate Winslet — our favorite British beauty and film star — turns 42. In honor of her big day, Wonderwall.com is taking a look back at her top movie roles over the years and ranking them from good to the absolute greatest. You'll never guess which tormented character made it to our No. 1 spot. Keep reading to find out more…

No. 24: Dr. Erin Mears in "Contagion"

There's nothing we don't love about Kate Winslet playing Dr. Erin Mears — the brainy epidemiologist for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who's trying to stop a deadly outbreak from taking over the world — except (spoiler alert) she dies from the disease halfway through the film. We believe in Erin, but her role in the film is minimal and has a sad ending, which is why it landed in last place.

No. 23: Jeanine Matthews in "Divergent"

Kate Winslet doesn't often play the villain, but she did it with gusto in the role of Jeanine Matthews in both "Divergent" and "Insurgent." As the leader of the Erudite faction, it's Jeanine's drive for ultimate power that leads her to enslave anyone who could pose a threat to her rule. She's also super-manipulative and two-faced, and we sort of love it.

No. 22: Claire in "Collateral Beauty"

Even though Kate Winslet's character Claire was kind of a backstabbing b—- in "Collateral Beauty," there's a redeeming quality that makes us forgive her for it. Yes, Claire was a greedy jerk willing to throw her friend and business partner under the bus by making others think he was insane, but she still seemed like someone we'd want to hang out with in our PJs on a Friday night while drinking Merlot.

No. 21: Clementine in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"

Anyone who's ever had a difficult breakup can connect with Kate Winslet's Academy Award-nominated performance as Clementine in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." The film co-starred Jim Carrey and was all about a former couple trying to move on from their relationship by having their memories of one another erased. Throughout the movie, Clementine is authentic (bordering on kooky) and emotionally raw, which makes her feel succinctly real.

No. 20: Sarah Pierce in "Little Children"

In "Little Children," Kate Winslet gave us a complicated portrait of an everyday woman named Sarah who's torn by her responsibility to her husband and child, yet hungry for an emotionally and physically satisfying connection with a man. When Sarah engages in an affair with a married father (played by Patrick Wilson), she is forced to face her choices and reckon with her desires. Kate earned her fifth Oscar nomination for this performance.

No. 19: Nancy Cowan in "Carnage"

In the 2011 dramatic comedy "Carnage," Kate Winslet played Nancy Cowan, a mom, wife and investment banker who, along with her husband, visits another couple's home to discuss their children's fight. We loved Nancy (even if she was totally pretentious) because she was every mom who's ever stood up for her child, even when they're in the wrong. Plus, she got drunk and vomited all over the other couple's coffee table, which felt like sweet, sweet revenge.

No. 18: Adele in "Labor Day"

Kate Winslet is at her quintessential best as Adele in "Labor Day" co-starring Josh Brolin. Theirs is an unlikely love story — he's an escaped convict with a dark past, she's a depressed single mother aching for someone to cling to — but somehow, they find one another and form a deep, healing bond. Throughout the film, we want nothing more than for Adele to have her happily ever after, and that's all due to Kate's magic on-screen.

No. 17: Julia in "Hideous Kinky"

Although there are times in "Hideous Kinky" that we want to strangle Kate Winslet's character, Julia, we can't help but be charmed by her big dreams and reckless abandon. As a mother to two young girls, Julia fails to be a source of consistency and security to her daughters, but as a woman, Julia's passion for life and lust for experiencing the world is something so many of us yearn for — so we can't help but cheer for her throughout her adventures.

No. 16: Marianne Dashwood in "Sense and Sensibility"

Why do we love Kate Winslet as Marianne Dashwood in "Sense and Sensibility"? Because she is the epitome of a teenage girl, someone fueled by her passions and possessing a flair for drama. Marianne falls hard for the wrong guy while turning a blind eye to Mr. Right. Although she tries her hardest to be "sensible" and proper, we see how her emotions get the best of her and we love every antiquated second of it. For her performance, Kate earned her first Oscar nomination.

No. 15: Juliet Hulme in "Heavenly Creatures"

In the biographical crime drama "Heavenly Creatures," Kate Winslet played Juliet Hulme — a chronically ill teenage girl prone to fantasy (her first-ever movie role). The true story focused on the relationship between Juliet and best friend (and later lover) Pauline Parker and how they ended up committing one of the most gruesome crimes in New Zealand's history by bludgeoning Pauline's mother to death with a brick.

No. 14: Anne Stanton in "All the King's Men"

In the 2006 political thriller "All the King's Men," Kate Winslet (seen here with Jude Law and Mark Ruffalo) plays Anne Stanton, the kind-hearted woman who's caught in a romantic scandal with the governor. Throughout the film, which was largely panned by critics for being poorly written, Anne shines in an almost angelic light, proving that Kate can take even the most lackluster roles and make them appealing.

No. 13: Alex Martin in "The Mountain Between Us"

Although Kate Winslet's newest movie, "The Mountain Between Us," isn't out until Oct. 6, 2017, early reviews and breathtaking trailers give us a glimpse at the drama set to unfold. Kate plays Alex Martin, a headstrong, impulsive photojournalist who survives a plane crash with Ben Bass (Idris Elba), a man she met just before take-off. Spoiler alert: We hear there might be a steamy love scene between the two.

No. 12: Sabine De Barra in "A Little Chaos"

It turns out Kate Winslet was pregnant with her third child while filming the role of Sabine De Barra in the 2014 British romantic drama "A Little Chaos." As she portrayed a landscape designer in the French countryside, she also battled wearing a corset while her midsection grew. Because Kate's immensely talented, no one could even tell she was with child in the film — where her character Sabine shattered the 17th century glass ceiling and proved women were capable of taking charge of their own destinies.

No. 11: Madeleine in "Quills"

In 2000, Kate Winslet starred alongside Joaquin Phoenix in the biographical drama "Quills." Her character, Madeleine "Maddy" LeClerc, was a laundress for the insane asylum where the Marquis de Sade was held as a patient and prisoner. Not only does Maddy engage in an affair with the Marquis, but also with the asylum overseer (played by Joaquin). We love Maddy's courage to defy social norms while abandoning herself to her passion.

No. 10: Bitsey Bloom in "The Life of David Gale"

In the 2003 crime thriller "The Life of David Gale," Kate Winslet played Bitsey Bloom, a news magazine journalist sent to interview death row inmate David Gale. While Bitsey is initially doubtful of David's innocence, she later learns he was framed and will be executed for a murder he didn't commit. Bitsey becomes obsessed with obtaining evidence to exonerate David, but may not find what she needs in time to save him.

No. 9: Rose in "Titanic"

One of Kate Winslet's most memorable on-screen roles was as Rose, a wealthy passenger en route to New York, in the 1997 blockbuster "Titanic." The romantic drama co-starring Leonardo DiCaprio gave us some of the most iconic Kate moments we have to date, including the beautiful nude drawing scene where Rose whispers, "Draw me like one of your French girls," and the moment where Rose and Jack first kissed while standing on the edge of the ship. Kate received her second Oscar nomination for the performance.

No. 8: Tilly Dunnage in "The Dressmaker"

We all aspire to be Tilly Dunnage in "The Dressmaker" — at least, we all fantasize about coming back to our hometown while looking fierce and getting revenge on the people who wronged us. Kate Winslet manages to sparkle in the role, even when the woman she plays is a tiny bit evil (but in a totally satisfying way). While Tilly is one bad mama-jama, her heart is pure gold when it comes to the man she loves (played by Liam Hemsworth).

No. 7: Iris in "The Holiday"

Over the years, we've seen Kate Winslet in numerous romantic comedies and dramas, but none captured our heart quite like her character Iris in "The Holiday." Iris is a woman in love — the only problem is the man she's fallen for is a selfish jerk who doesn't return her feelings. Instead of spending her Christmas crying into her bowl of cereal, Iris decides to take a trip abroad, swapping houses with another woman in need of an immediate vacay. While she's on holiday, she meets a wonderful man and learns love doesn't have to be a one-way street.

No. 6: Sylvia in "Finding Neverland"

In the biographical drama "Finding Neverland," Kate Winslet stars as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies — a terminally ill widow and mother whose children became the inspiration for the play "Peter Pan." Although Sylvia faces public scrutiny for her friendship with renowned playwright J.M. Barrie (played by Johnny Depp), she continues the relationship because she sees how happy it makes her sons. Her encouragement and support help the novelist and playwright create one of the most popular stories in modern history.

No. 5: Irina Vlaslov in "Triple 9"

When Kate Winslet plays the bad girl, she does it so well. In the 2016 film "Triple 9," Kate takes on the role of Irina Vlaslov, a leader in the Russian mafia intent on getting her convicted husband freed from federal prison. Irina is particularly vicious, using any tool in her grasp, including a man's child, to get exactly what she wants.

No. 4: Joanna Hoffman in "Steve Jobs"

Kate Winslet starred as marketing executive Joanna Hoffman in the biographical drama "Steve Jobs" — a role that won her a Golden Globe and a BAFTA and garnered her a seventh Oscar nomination. Joanna was Steve's right-hand woman, confidant and moral compass who helped the Apple co-founder and CEO realize his dreams. She was also one of the few people who was ballsy enough to stand up to Steve despite his notorious temper.

No. 3: Mildred Pierce in "Mildred Pierce"

Okay, we admit that "Mildred Pierce" isn't exactly a movie (it was a five-part miniseries, which is kind of like a really long film), but the titular role Kate Winslet played was so powerful, we couldn't imagine leaving it out (she even won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her performance). Mildred Pierce is both a survivor and a hustler, although neither are something she set out to be. She weathers many difficult storms, including abandonment by her first husband, the loss of a child and the horror of her daughter seducing her new husband. Although Mildred is strong, she is flawed and, at times, frustratingly naive, which makes us want her to succeed all the more.

No. 2: Hanna Schmitz in "The Reader"

Kate Winslet won her first and only Academy Award (so far) for her role as Hanna Schmitz in the 2009 romantic drama "The Reader." Hanna is a woman driven by her desires and emotions who first engages in an affair with a teenage boy before joining the SS as a guard and taking part in the executions of hundreds of innocent Jewish prisoners during World War II. When her young lover finds her years later on trial for her crimes, he discovers a powerful secret she kept from him that led her down the terrible path of becoming a murderer.

No. 1: April Wheeler in "Revolutionary Road"

Kate Winslet's Golden Globe Award-winning work as April in "Revolutionary Road" was one of the most complex, beautifully delivered performances ever brought forth on the big screen. April (seen here with husband Frank, played by Leonardo DiCaprio) was a deeply troubled woman battling depression and a powerful loss of purpose, which drove her to make dangerously unhealthy choices (like having an affair with her married neighbor). Of all of Kate's character portrayals, none have left us as wounded and contemplative as April, and for that, it wins our No. 1 spot.

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