Daughter of Sally Anne, a barmaid, and Roger John Winslet, a swimming-pool contractor, Kate didn’t have a much privileged childhood. Her parents were "jobbing actors". Her sisters, Beth and Anna Winslet, are also actresses.
Winslet began studying drama at the age of eleven at the Redroofs Theatre School, a co-educational independent school in Maidenhead, Berkshire. She began her career in 1991 with a role in the BBC children`s science fiction serial ‘Dark Season’. In 1994, she starred In ‘Heavenly Creatures’, for which she was selected out of 175 candidates auditioned. Her break through came with 1995 movie ‘Sense and Sensibility’ which gave her BAFTA and Screen actors guild award.