Kate Winslet’s directorial debut Goodbye June draws early praise as she brings her son’s emotional script to life
Kate Winslet reveals reason why she hadn't directed before
( Image credit : IANS )
Netflix turned a quiet London afternoon into a warm celebration as Kate Winslet and Andrea Riseborough sat down for tea and an intimate conversation about Winslet’s deeply personal directorial debut, Goodbye June. The film, arriving December 24 on Netflix, marks a major milestone for the Oscar winner — not only because she’s stepping behind the camera, but because the script was written by her 21-year-old son, Joe Anders.
Los Angeles, Oct 13 (IANS) Academy Award-winning actress Kate Winslet, who is making her debut behind the camera, said she was "scared" to direct before making her debut behind the camera on the upcoming festive film “Goodbye June”.
Netflix harnessed the perfect warm, cozy London afternoon, hosting tea for Kate Winslet and Andrea Riseborough. The real treat was Winslet talking candidly about her long-awaited directorial debut, Goodbye June. The film, which comes to Netflix this Christmas Eve, marks an especially personal milestone for the Oscar-winning actress: it's written by her own 21-year-old son, Joe Anders.
The script is emotional, tender, and full of the sort of heartbreak and humour only family stories hold. At its center is Helen Mirren's June, who, upon her terminal diagnosis, gathers her four very unique children-Winslet, Riseborough, Toni Collette, and Johnny Flynn-once more. What follows is a messy, raw, at times funny exploration of grief, sibling tension, and complicated, binding love.
During the event at Netflix, Winslet talked about how the project wasn't even supposed to be hers; it was supposed to be pitched to financiers, with another director taking over. But Winslet just couldn't let it go, with so much of her son's heart in the story. She knew she had to take responsibility for it, and the results proved she made the right choice.
The shoot itself was frenetic: filmed in just 35 days, with Helen Mirren on set for only 16, Winslet had to be prepared for everything: dozens of adult actors, a large group of child actors, emotional scenes and multitude of locations. She joked that her son often looked at her on set with wide eyes, asking, “What’s happening? How have we done all this?” Winslet would laugh and say, “I don’t know! Let’s keep going!”
One of the most charming parts of the conversation was when Winslet described how she handled the children in the film. Her secret? Treat them like real kids, not performers. She told them not to memorize lines, encouraged them to make mistakes, and created playful moments on set so they'd stay natural and joyful — even while filming emotional scenes happening around them. At one point, Winslet would carry them onto the set saying, "I've hidden something in that bed…" and let them search, completely unaware they were in the middle of a scene.
Beyond the filmmaking, what touched everybody most was Winslet's pride for her son. She spoke about Joe Anders with the softness of a mother who's watched her child grow into his talent, saying he's always been a writer, always been imaginative, and incredibly humble. She wanted him to learn from the actors, to see how a story comes to life, and to trust his own creative instincts. With its blend of Christmas warmth and emotional depth, Goodbye June is already shaping up to be one of the most heartfelt releases of the season. And with Kate Winslet's powerful direction paired with her son's writing, it is a personal and unforgettable collaboration-one that has already drawn excited interest from fans well in advance of its December 24 Netflix release.
The script is emotional, tender, and full of the sort of heartbreak and humour only family stories hold. At its center is Helen Mirren's June, who, upon her terminal diagnosis, gathers her four very unique children-Winslet, Riseborough, Toni Collette, and Johnny Flynn-once more. What follows is a messy, raw, at times funny exploration of grief, sibling tension, and complicated, binding love.
During the event at Netflix, Winslet talked about how the project wasn't even supposed to be hers; it was supposed to be pitched to financiers, with another director taking over. But Winslet just couldn't let it go, with so much of her son's heart in the story. She knew she had to take responsibility for it, and the results proved she made the right choice.
The shoot itself was frenetic: filmed in just 35 days, with Helen Mirren on set for only 16, Winslet had to be prepared for everything: dozens of adult actors, a large group of child actors, emotional scenes and multitude of locations. She joked that her son often looked at her on set with wide eyes, asking, “What’s happening? How have we done all this?” Winslet would laugh and say, “I don’t know! Let’s keep going!”
One of the most charming parts of the conversation was when Winslet described how she handled the children in the film. Her secret? Treat them like real kids, not performers. She told them not to memorize lines, encouraged them to make mistakes, and created playful moments on set so they'd stay natural and joyful — even while filming emotional scenes happening around them. At one point, Winslet would carry them onto the set saying, "I've hidden something in that bed…" and let them search, completely unaware they were in the middle of a scene.
Beyond the filmmaking, what touched everybody most was Winslet's pride for her son. She spoke about Joe Anders with the softness of a mother who's watched her child grow into his talent, saying he's always been a writer, always been imaginative, and incredibly humble. She wanted him to learn from the actors, to see how a story comes to life, and to trust his own creative instincts. With its blend of Christmas warmth and emotional depth, Goodbye June is already shaping up to be one of the most heartfelt releases of the season. And with Kate Winslet's powerful direction paired with her son's writing, it is a personal and unforgettable collaboration-one that has already drawn excited interest from fans well in advance of its December 24 Netflix release.