Movies

Kate Winslet says kissing Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic was “a mess”

"It was not all it’s cracked up to be.”

It might be time to let go of your Titanic Jack Dawson crush because Kate Winslet just revealed that kissing Leonardo DiCaprio wasn’t as dreamy as it looked.

In fact, she says it was a bit of a mess!

Kate Winslet Leonardo DiCaprio Titanic
Kate Winslet says kissing Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic was a “mess”. Paramount

Kate Winslet says kissing Leonardo DiCaprio on Titanic was “not all it’s cracked up to be”

Revisiting the film’s iconic “I’m flying” scene with Vanity Fair, Winslet shared that while Leo was undoubtedly charming, their kissing scenes were far from magical.

“My god, he’s quite the romancer, isn’t he? No wonder every young girl in the world wanted to be kissed by Leonardo DiCaprio,” Winslet joked. However, she added, “It was not all it’s cracked up to be.”

Winslet explained the messy reality behind those kisses: “We kept doing this kiss, and I’ve got a lot of pale makeup on. I would end up looking as though I’d been sucking a caramel chocolate bar after each take because his makeup would come off on me.”

Meanwhile, DiCaprio looked as if “there was a bit missing from his face” thanks to the residue of her paler cosmetics. “Oh God, it was such a mess,” Winslet said.

Behind-the-scenes chaos

The chaos didn’t end with the makeup mishaps. Winslet also recalled banging her knee on the railing several times and needing multiple takes to get everything right.

“This was a nightmare,” she said, remembering how DiCaprio couldn’t stop laughing throughout the scene.

Despite the on-set difficulties, Winslet said she’s proud of Titanic and its lasting impact. The film won 11 Oscars, including Best Picture, and remains one of the highest-grossing movies ever.

“I do feel very proud of it,” Winslet said. “Whole other generations of people are discovering the film or seeing it for the first time, and there’s something extraordinary about that.”

One downside to the film’s enduring popularity is that Winslet can’t board a boat without being asked to reenact the beloved “I’m flying” scene.

“It does my head in,” she admitted, though she sometimes obliges.

You can stream Titanic on Disney+.

Want to CHATTR with us? Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more entertainment news.