Kate Winslet [Photo/Agencies]

Kate Winslet: My life isn't a soap opera

'Monuments Men' to screen at White House

The 38-year-old actress was nominated for a Best Actress Golden Globe for her portrayal of depressed single mother Adele Wheeler - whose character was written by director Jason Reitman with Kate in mind - in the film, and admits she turned down the role at first only to be persuaded by filmmaker Reitman to reconsider.

She said: "I had just finished working in Paris with Roman Polanski [on 'Carnage'] and it was March of 2010 and Jason wanted to start filming in June and I knew that was quite quick for me. I wouldn't normally do things so close together.

"I loved the script, but said 'Sadly I can't do it' and he said, 'Why not?' Which I thought was incredibly bold, and I was enamoured by that response."

Despite Winslet - who is mother to three children from three different marriages - turning down the role, Reitman even changed the films production schedule to suit her.

She told Total Film magazine: "I'd made a commitment to myself in my life that I wasn't going to work until the following year. And he said, 'When would you do it?' And I said, 'A year from now,' and he said 'Ok.'

"And that has never happened to me before - someone's actually waited a whole year. And I felt very, very fortunate that he was prepared to do that."