Kate's dress raises £20,000 for charity - Feb 18 2008
A dress specially designed for Kate Winslet was bought at auction by a mystery bidder for £20,000.

The occasion launched Kate's role as ambassador of Cardboard Citizens, the UK's only homeless people's professional theatre company.

And the Vivienne Westwood creation, described as a "beautifully flowing deep red number", was sold just one day after the designer showed her collection for the first time in 10 years.

The actress auctioned her outfit at the end of a charity evening at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London's Knightsbridge.

According to organisers, she quickly changed into an "ultra-chic all-black ensemble" following the winning bid. The Westwood dress was then packaged up for the mystery bidder to take away.

Kate said: "I am delighted that the proceeds from the auction of the dress will make such a useful contribution to the wonderful work of Cardboard Citizens with homeless people in London."

She added: "Vivienne Westwood created the dress especially for me for this occasion and it is a really beautiful piece.

"I hope that the winning bidder enjoys wearing it as much as I did."

The Homeless People's Theatre Charity Dinner held on Friday raised a total of £150,000.

Kate steps into Nicole role - Jan 9 2008
Kate Winslet is apparently set to replace Nicole Kidman in dramatic film The Reader after the pregnant Aussie actress pulled out.

People.com reports that British actress Kate was first choice for the role in the film, but couldn’t do it, due to scheduling commitments for Revolutionary Road, directed by her husband Sam Mendes and co-starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

"Kate was offered it first before Nicole but couldn’t do it because the dates clashed," says an insider. "So the dates changed, Nicole then got pregnant and now it has come back to Kate."

The film is based on German author Bernhard Schlink’s bestselling 1995 novel, which also gained fame in the US after being selected for Oprah Winfrey’s Book Club. It details the affair between a teenage boy and an older woman in post World War II Germany.

"Actually everyone is happy now - Nicole as she has a baby on the way, Kate because she has this great role she originally wanted to do, and the filmmakers are too," says the source.

Titanic stars reunite for new film - Mar 24 2007
Titanic stars Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio are reuniting for the first time since their Oscar-winning film.

They have been cast as a young couple in new movie Revolutionary Road, set in the 1950s, which will be directed by Kate’s husband, American Beauty film-maker Sam Mendes.

The production, from BBC Films and DreamWorks, is based on the celebrated novel by Richard Yates, and work on the movie - about "thwarted passion and the search for fulfilment" - begins this summer.

The 31-year-old actress became a Hollywood star with Titanic, notching up her second of five Oscar nominations for her role as love-struck Rose opposite Leo’s Jack.

David Thompson, head of BBC Films, said: "Having bought the rights to the book and developed it, we could not be more delighted at the way this film has come together.

"This is an extraordinary story with wide international appeal and resonance.

"To be working with such outstanding talent from both sides of the Atlantic is particularly exciting, and is very much in line with our strategy of attracting world class talent to BBC Films’ projects as well as giving opportunities to new talent."