Kate Winslet

 Ask Kate Winslet what she likes about her characters and the word "ballsy" will likely to pop up at least once. The British actress has made a decision to avoid simple pretty-girl roles in favor of more devilish damsels; as a result, she's built an eclectic resume that runs the gamut from Shakespearean tragedy to contemporary mysticism and erotica.Kate Elizabeth Winslet was born in Reading, Berkshire, into the family of stage actors - her parents Roger Winslet and Sally Anne Bridges-Winslet were both stage actors and maternal grandparents Oliver and Linda Bridges ran the Reading Repertory Theatre, and uncle Robert Bridges was a fixture in London's West End theatre district. Kate began to discover her talents early in life. She got her first professional gig at the age of 11, dancing alongside the Honey Monster in a commercial for a kids' cereal. The actress began her acting classes around the same time and was able to pursue formal training at an arts-based high school. She appeared regularly on stage during the following few years and was even offered an unimportant role in a sitcom. At the age of 17 she was a part of Heavenly Creatures (1994) as an obsessive teenage. Based on the true story about two girls with supernatural grips who kill a brutal man, the film had limited distribution, but was highly praised by reviewers.