Kate Winslet teases intense love scenes with Ammonite co-star Saoirse Ronan: ‘It’s definitely not like eating a sandwich’
Saoirse Ronan and Kate Winslet share a kiss in the first trailer for Ammonite, directed by Francis Lee (Twitter)
Kate Winslet has opened up about the powerful same-sex love scene she shares with Saoirse Ronan in the eagerly-anticipated Ammonite.
The Oscar-winner is already being tipped for awards for her portrayal of real-life palaeontologist Mary Anning, in the highly-anticipated film from God’s Own Country director Francis Lee.
The first trailer for Ammonite teases a moving sex scene, and Winslet told The Hollywood Reporter about how she and Ronan were responsible for what viewers will see on screen.
“Saoirse and I choreographed the scene ourselves,” she said.
“It’s definitely not like eating a sandwich. I just think Saoirse and I, we just felt really safe.
Kate Winslet as Mary Anning and Saoirse Ronan as her lesbian lover in upcoming romantic drama Ammonite.
“Francis [Lee] was naturally very nervous. And I just said to him, ‘Listen, let us work it out’. And we did. ‘We’ll start here. We’ll do this with the kissing, boobs, you go down there, then you do this, then you climb up here.’
She continued: “I mean, we marked out the beats of the scene so that we were anchored in something that just supported the narrative.
“I felt the proudest I’ve ever felt doing a love scene on Ammonite. And I felt by far the least self-conscious.”
Kate Winslet took Ammonite role 12 hours after reading the script.
Winslet also opened up about her decision to take the part in Ammonite – saying she was inspired to do so after watching Lee’s debut feature film, the critically-acclaimed God’s Own Country.
She watched the film with her son Joe.
“At the time, he was 15, and everyone else was out, which was just a rare moment when you have three children,” she said.
“To be at home on a rainy day and able to watch the movie together on the couch, it was quite a memorable experience. And we both wept.”
Lee sent her his script for Ammonite in autumn of 2018 and she agreed to take on the role of Anning just 12 hours after reading it.
“It’s a story about women speaking up, speaking out. I think uncovering stories where women were repressed in such a systemic way is highlighting how history has covered up those successes.
“We’re not going to do that anymore, world.”
Details of Ammonite were first announced in 2018, with filming taking place last year.
The film’s first trailer was released Tuesday (August 25) to a feverish response from queer fans.
The film will debut at the Toronto Film Festival in September. A UK release date has not yet been confirmed.
