During a recent episode of the “Team Deakins” podcast, acclaimed actress Kate Winslet delved into her debut performance in Peter Jackson’s 1994 drama-thriller, “Heavenly Creatures.” The film famously portrays the dangerously obsessive friendship between two teenage girls, played by Winslet and Melanie Lynskey.

Winslet shared a personal and previously unrevealed insight into how she connected with her character, Juliet. She explained that some of her “first intimate experiences” as a young teenager were “with girls,” which profoundly aided her understanding of the “really intense connection” at the heart of the film’s narrative. Winslet clarified that at that stage of her life, she had “kissed a few girls, and I’d kissed a few boys, but I wasn’t particularly evolved in either direction.” She described herself as curious, and felt an immediate pull into the “vortex” of the characters’ world, acknowledging how it became “horrendously damaging to both of them” due to their “huge insecurities and vulnerabilities.”

While she admitted she “couldn’t truly understand” the more destructive elements of the story, Winslet found a deep resonance with the formation of intense personal connections during one's vulnerable youth. “Heavenly Creatures” marked a significant milestone for Winslet, serving as her breakout role, a fact she emphasized by stating she had “never held a film script” before auditioning for the part.

The film was also a pivotal moment for director Peter Jackson, representing his first venture into the drama genre. Prior to “Heavenly Creatures,” Jackson was known for his work in horror, with films such as “Bad Taste” and “Dead Alive,” and the dark comedy “Meet the Feebles.” Following her acclaimed performance in “Heavenly Creatures,” Winslet went on to star in other notable films including “Sense and Sensibility,” “Jude,” and “Hamlet,” before achieving global superstardom with “Titanic” in 1997.