When it comes to the rich and famous, we often think about their relationships with celebrity friends and lovers. We wonder about their private lives, jealous of the stories that make them human. But what about their first dates? What was the first date between Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio like? Let’s take a look at the facts and find out.
They Were Both Set On Movies When They Met
Winslet was filming Her, a 2014 biopic about Olive Whistlesnap, when she first met DiCaprio. The actor was already established in Hollywood, having starred in several critically acclaimed films, including Wolf Hall and The Revenant. Winslet was impressed with DiCaprio’s work and went on to call him “one of the most extraordinary living actors,” alongside Warren Beatty and Marlon Brando.
But in the early 1900s, DiCaprio was going by the name “Leo,” and he was just a little-known stage actor from Brooklyn, New York. And while he may have been recognized for his work on Broadway, he hadn’t yet found the fame and fortune that would soon follow.
They Shagged Before Their First Date
According to E! News, shortly after their meeting, Winslet and DiCaprio started dating. They were both 28 at the time and began a passionate love affair that would last for seven years.
While they may have enjoyed a physically intimate relationship that lasted for years, their first date was more of a business deal than anything romantic. According to DiCaprio’s biography It’s Only Fair, the two first met in New York City at a lunch arranged by their mutual friend, costume designer Erin Brockovich. As Brockovich explained in a 2016 interview with Oprah Winfrey, they needed someone to vouch for them at the restaurant, as they hadn’t yet been able to prove their identification.
From there, they went to a nightclub to see a band they both liked. But the night was interrupted by a call from an old friend of DiCaprio’s, who sounded frantic. He needed help immediately with his script, which was the only thing on his mind. So the two had to cut their date short, and Brockovich had to fly out to California to help finish the script.
The night of the premiere of Her in 2014, DiCaprio and Winslet took the opportunity to finally date openly. The two were accompanied by friends and family as they welcomed the movie to the big screen in Los Angeles. It was an event that was celebrated on social media outlets as fans and non-fans alike posted about the joy of the moment.
They Enjoyed A Luxurious Lifestyle
While their love for each other may have prevented them from being entirely practical, it certainly didn’t prevent them from enjoying a luxurious lifestyle. They spent their time together traveling the world and enjoying the finer things in life. Winslet even referred to the pair as “The Brads” in a 2013 interview with Elle, referring to Brad Pitt and his then-partner Angelina Jolie. When asked what she would like to see happen with her own life, Winslet answered, “I’d like to see love conquer all. So that everyone could experience something like what The Brads have. It would be amazing if they could remain together forever.”
As for the couple’s respective careers, it appears that they enjoyed great success. After dating for seven years, DiCaprio produced and starred in the 2006 film The Dilemma, for which he received critical acclaim. Winslet also appeared in several films during this time, including The Town and The Dressmaker, before accepting the role of Billie Whitelaw in the 2014 film The Great Gatsby. Since then, she has appeared in the 2017 thriller Filmstar and will star in the upcoming 2020 film The House of Gucci.
They Were Friends Before And After Their Relationship
In addition to being a dating couple, Winslet and DiCaprio are also longtime friends, having known each other for more than 20 years. They met backstage after a play in London where DiCaprio was performing, and the two became fast friends. According to Brockovich, when they first met, DiCaprio felt “a great connection” and thought it was “amazing” that they had both been chosen for the same play. They later starred in several films together, including The Aviator and The Great Gatsby.
In another early sign of their enduring friendship, in 2008, Winslet and DiCaprio founded the production company Flower Films alongside Roman Coppola. The company was created to develop and produce original works that the duo were passionate about and wanted to see come to life.
Although they had been together for a number of years and enjoyed a very fruitful professional relationship, in 2014, Winslet admitted that she had “never felt so insecure in [her] life” as during the making of The Dressmaker. The film was a critical and commercial failure, and many believed it was due to the actress’ performance, which according to one critic, was “so over-the-top that it borders on parody.”
The next year, Winslet appeared in the critically acclaimed film The Housemaid, for which she received widespread praise. Even now, more than five years after the film’s premiere, people are still talking about it. Winslet was able to find confidence in her acting and turned in a nuanced and compelling performance as the titular housemaid, who explores her own inner turmoil and questions her place in the world, alongside Saoirse Ronan and Emma Stone.
Winslet has continued to find success since then, with her latest film, Heavenly Creatures, topping the box office this month. The actress is currently filming Woody Allen’s next movie, which is due to be released in 2021.
They’ve Been Seeing Each Other Since Before Their Relationship
Winslet and DiCaprio’s exclusive relationship began in the early 2000s, which according to her, was fueled by an “unconditional love and devotion.” Despite the media scrutiny that comes with being in a committed relationship with a well-known celebrity, the pair have always been incredibly private and have rarely been photographed together outside of their big family celebrations and celebrity friend gatherings. They are even featured on the cover of one of their own autobiographies, with a silhouette of the two embracing, as a symbol of their enduring love.
Are They Still A Couple?
It’s been a wild ride for the couple of the most famous people in the world. Their romance was a love story made famous by the media, who followed their every move. Now that the world knows them as “the power couple,” will they still be together in 20 or 30 years? The answer, it seems, is yes. According to DiCaprio, their love will last forever. And as for Winslet, she seems content to embrace her role as “the other woman” and continue to support and stand beside her devoted partner.
It’s a romantic story that’s been told many times over. But what do the numbers say? According to online dating website Zoosk, there are currently 797,000 single people in LA who are looking for that “one special person” to spend the rest of their life with. Will the same be said about Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio?