'It damaged my confidence': Kate Winslet admits she struggled to feel beautiful after cruel jibes were made about her weight in her 20s

 Kate Winslet has revealed her confidence took a hit when her weight was scrutinised when she was in her 20s and starting out in the acting world.  

The film star, 45, explained that a slew of cruel comments 'tampered with her impression of beauty' and she lamented the fact she was dubbed 'outspoken' when she tried to defend herself. 

When Kate appeared in Titanic in 1997 opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, comedian Joan Rivers joked: 'If she just lost 5lb, Leo would've been able to fit on the raft'. 

Looking back: Kate Winslet has revealed her confidence took a hit when her weight was scrutinised when she was in her 20s and starting out in the acting world (pictured in 2018)

Speaking to The Guardian, Kate recalled: 'In my 20s, people would talk about my weight a lot. And I would be called to comment on my physical self. Well, then I got this label of being ballsy and outspoken. No, I was just defending myself.'

Asked if the remarks about her weight had any impact, Kate revealed: 'It damaged my confidence. I didn’t want to go to Hollywood because I remember thinking, "God, if this is what they’re saying to me in England, then what will happen when I get there?"

'Also, it tampers with your evolving impression of what’s beautiful, you know? I did feel very on my own. For the simple reason that nothing can really prepare you for… that.'  

Kate recalled: 'In my 20s, people would talk about my weight a lot... It damaged my confidence' (pictured aged 23 in 1998) 

Kate also spoke about her role in Ammonite, about real-life self-taught geologist Mary Anning and her romance with fellow would-be scientist Charlotte Murchison, played by Saoirse Ronan.

The actress said working on the flick made her realise how film has 'forever objectified women' and there was a great sense of 'equality' in the project. 

Her co-star Saoirse previously detailed why she wasn't nervous about getting intimate with Kate in the romantic drama set in 1840s England.

Jibes: When Kate appeared in Titanic in 1997, comedian Joan Rivers joked that: 'If she just lost 5lb, Leo would've been able to fit on the raft'

She told The Sunday Telegraph: 'I wasn't nervous, no. I never really feel nervous doing sex scenes because I've always worked with people I trust, which is massive, and I know not everyone can say that.

The five-time Oscar nominee added that having the director, Francis Lee, let the pair move freely with the scenes' 'choreography' helped make them both comfortable.

'It was great to have that authority over those intimate scenes, which can often make you feel incredibly vulnerable, but instead we felt empowered by it,' Saoirse said.

'We really felt like we were steering the ship. There was a plan in place for us that we created for ourselves, so there were no surprises and nothing was unexpected.'

Project: The actress said working on Ammonite with Saoirse Ronan made her realise how film has 'forever objectified women' and there was a great sense of 'equality' in the project

Elsewhere during her interview, Kate admitted she now regrets working with directors Woody Allen on Wonder Wheel in 2017 and Roman Polanski in Carnage, released in 2011, following sexual assault allegations made against them. 

She said: 'I shouldn't have worked with Woody, or Roman [Polanski], and I'll probably always grapple with those regrets. It's just unbelievable to me now that those men have been held in such high regard in this industry, and for such a long time.'

However, Kate added that would 'defy anyone' in the film industry to deny that parts in their films were highly coveted, which has only recently changed.

Polanski fled the United States in 1978 after being charged with the statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl, and has never returned.

Several other women have accused him in recent years of sexual misconduct, all of which he has denied.

Despite the allegations, Polanski won an Oscar in 2003 for directing World War Two drama The Pianist as well as a best director award at France's Cesar Awards this past February that caused several women to walk out in protest.

'What the f*** was I doing?': Kate admitted she 'regrets' working with directors Woody Allen and Roman Polanski (pictured in Allen's Wonder Wheel)

Scandal: Polanski fled the US in 1978 after being charged with statutory rape of a 13 year-old girl, and has never returned, he has also been accused of sexual misconduct by several women

Meanwhile in 1992, it emerged that Allen, then aged 57, was having an affair with his partner Mia Farrow's adoptive daughter Soon-Yi Previn, then aged 21.

After the scandal broke, Farrow and Allen had an acrimonious and public break up, during which she accused the venerated director of sexually assaulting their adopted daughter, Dylan, seven.

Allen was investigated but never charged and he has vehemently maintained his innocence ever since.

The allegations were brought again into the public eye with the #MeToo movement as Allen's son, the journalist Ronan Farrow, supported his sister Dylan's and mother Mia's abuse claims.

Sexual assault claim: Meanwhile in 1992, Allen's ex partner Mia Farrow accused the venerated director of sexually assaulting their adopted daughter, Dylan, seven