Kate Winslet's Daughter Has Grown Up To Be Her Twin

In 1994, Kate Winslet made her feature film debut in Peter Jackson's "Heavenly Creatures." Just three years later, she became a global sensation, thanks to her unforgettable performance in "Titanic" alongside Leonardo DiCaprio. After that, her filmography only continued to blossom; time and time again, she's proven to be one of her generation's most beloved and respected actors. Her work in films such as "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," "Little Children, and "The Reader" have earned her widespread acclaim, including an Academy Award for her role in the latter. 

Winslet is also the proud mother of three kids. Her only daughter, Mia Threapleton, is the spitting image of Winslet in "Heavenly Creatures" and "Sense and Sensibility." With their expressive eyebrows, golden blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and stunning smiles, the resemblance is uncanny. Of course, Threapleton is not the first child of a movie star who happens to look a lot like their very famous parent... but come on, she even has the same beauty mark above her lip. 

When Threapleton arrived on October 12, 2000, Winslet embraced the role of mom. "I'm becoming much more squishy and vulnerable and emotional, and I'm sure I'll find it a lot easier to cry on-screen," Winslet said in the U.K. Daily Mirror (via Salon). And now, Threapleton's all grown up and crying on-screen, too. As Winslet's career and legacy continue to shine, her firstborn child sure seems equipped to carry on said legacy. 

One of Mia Threapleton's first big acting roles happened to be alongside her mother in Dominic Savage's "I Am... Ruth," an emotionally charged drama. This project was part of the "I Am..." female-led anthology series produced by Channel 4. "I Am... Ruth," which was released in 2022, dives into the complexities of a strained mother-daughter relationship. In the series, Winslet stepped into the role of Ruth, a mother struggling to connect to her emotionally distant daughter. Opposite her, Threapleton played the character of Freya, Ruth's teenage daughter.

As if acting opposite a once-in-a-generation talent like Kate Winslet so early on in your career might seem like an intimidating undertaking, acting opposite your own mother seems like an entirely different level of overwhelming. However, Threapleton didn't let any of it get in the way of her performance. Critics and audiences alike were wowed by Threapleton; the Independent called her a "revelation." It should come as no surprise, but Winslet sure seems to be her kid's biggest fan. As she said in an interview for the Royal Television Society, the Oscar winner was floored by her scene partner. "She's just phenomenal, and very, very brave, and I was incredibly proud of her," Winslet said. 

And for how Threapleton felt about working alongside her veteran actor mom? By all accounts, she cherished the experience. As Threapleton told British Vogue, "I feel like it brought us closer."

In the gripping portrayal of a mother and daughter in crisis in "I Am... Ruth," the mother-daughter duo of Kate Winslet and Mia Threapleton delivered performances that transcended mere on-screen drama. Turns out, even a veteran actor like Winslet can still struggle with the line between reality and fiction from time to time, especially when it comes to acting opposite her actual daughter. In a 2022 chat with the Independent, the Oscar winner noted that this particular project came with some emotional challenges. As she recalled to the outlet, she had a visceral reaction during a scene where Threapleton's character grapples with a panic attack. "I wanted to hug her and make it stop," Winslet confessed. "My instinct was to go, 'I've got you,' straight away, and I had to resist it at every turn."

On top of resisting their real-life instincts, Winslet and Threapleton also had to improvise their dialogue. As Winslet told Glamour, "There was no script... Every single word that came out of our mouths, we made up on the day." Perhaps unsurprisingly, Winslet and Threapleton fell right into the improvisational process and naturally played off of one another. As Winslet said in the Independent, "[W]e know how to push each other's buttons." This familiarity became an invaluable asset in bringing depth and authenticity to the complex dynamics portrayed in "I Am... Ruth."

When Mia Threapleton was ready to break into the film industry, she hoped to do so based solely on her own merits. While some might recommend she start using her mom's last name to open doors, she continued to use her father's last name. Her dad, filmmaker Jim Threapleton, presumably has his own connections in the industry, but it's not unfair to say Winslet is the household name. And as anyone who has followed the "nepo baby" discourse knows, being related to a household name not only can get you far in show business, but it can raise questions about whether or not you would've "made it" without that name.

So, Mia Threapleton didn't want to use her mom's name when she was first trying to get her big break. Clearly, the plan worked out. "What's been really great for her, is that she has a different surname," Kate Winslet said on "Lorraine." "So, that initial job out of the gate, she slipped right under the radar, and the people who cast her had absolutely no idea that she was my daughter. And of course, that was my biggest fear and most important for her self-esteem, of course."

Despite her A-lister status, Kate Winslet prioritizes the ordinary aspects of motherhood. Contrary to what some may expect, Mia Threapleton and her brothers weren't dragged along to their mother's movie sets on a regular basis or stuck watching her do take after take. "[Visiting a set] was always a special treat," Threapleton shared with Variety. "I loved every second of it." Evidently, Winslet recognized how much Threapleton enjoyed her visits: On a 2015 episode of "Lorraine," Winslet expressed that her kids seemed "fascinated" whenever they stopped by her work.

Threapleton's childhood memories involve her mother in the kitchen, packing lunches, and taking the bus — experiences that Winslet deems crucial for her children to have a "typical" upbringing. As she said in The Guardian in 2004, she's always made an effort to be there for her little ones and give them a sense of normalcy. 

In an interview with Parade, Winslet expressed, "I don't want them to feel that they are any different because of my job." In the midst of Threapleton's growing independence, Winslet emphasized in an interview with Harper's Bazaar the continued importance of her role in her daughter's life: "There are days when I think Mia doesn't need me any more, because she's so independent, but then I realize that, in many ways, she needs me now more than she ever did."

As far as favorite Kate Winslet films go, Mia Threapleton's top choice may come as a surprise. Spoiler alert: It isn't "Titanic." In a 2022 chat with People, Winslet shared that her daughter and her eldest son, Joe Mendes, are massive fans of 2004's "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." The veteran actor went on to say that her kids love the soundtrack, too. 

Winslet also made it clear that her children only watch her movies when they want to; she isn't interested in making them sit down with her filmography against their will. So, Threapleton's love of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" is all the more special. "I'll hear from someone's bedroom, Beck blasting. I'll be like, 'That's "Eternal Sunshine."' So that's kind of amazing," she said. The Oscar winner also admitted that her kids will recite her own lines of dialogue, but she won't always realize what they're quoting. "So they are kind of clinging onto these things that's really fun and certainly unexpected," she said. 

While he may not be in "Eternal Sunshine" it sure seems safe to assume Threapleton is also a big fan of actor Leonardo DiCaprio. As noted in Heat magazine, Winslet's former co-star and longtime pal is "Uncle Leo" to her kids. Jack Dawson? More like Jack Dawww-son.