Kate Winslet On 'Cruel' Criticism Of Her Weight Post-'Titanic': I Was Labeled 'Ballsy, Outspoken'

Kate Winslet has recalled the "horrible" criticism she received about her weight following the release of "Titanic" and how she was labeled "ballsy and outspoken" for defending herself.

The "Ammonite" actress, now 45, spoke about the media's "straight-up cruel" treatment of her when she was just getting started in Hollywood in a recent interview with The Guardian.

Winslet recalled that her weight was often a topic of discussion when she was in her 20s, and she had spoken up against the criticism aimed at her body. "And I would be called to comment on my physical self. Well, then I got this label of being ballsy and outspoken. No, I was just defending myself," she said.

The actress admitted that she "held back" sometimes as women were more afraid to speak out at the time. But she believes the #MeToo movement and women "feeling an inherent sense of connection with each other" played a role in changing that.

Looking back at some of the tabloid articles written about her in the late 1990s, when was only 19, Winslet said, "And it was almost laughable how shocking, how critical, how straight-up cruel tabloid journalists were to me."

"I was still figuring out who the hell I bloody well was!" she continued. "They would comment on my size, they’d estimate what I weighed, they’d print the supposed diet I was on. It was critical and horrible and so upsetting to read. But it also made me feel so… so moved. By how different it is now."

The negative comments about her appearance did leave their mark on her.

“It damaged my confidence. I didn’t want to go to Hollywood because I remember thinking, ‘God, if this is what they’re saying to me in England, then what will happen when I get there?’ Also, it tampers with your evolving impression of what’s beautiful, you know? I did feel very on my own. For the simple reason that nothing can really prepare you for… that," she shared.

"But then of course, I had Mia when I was 25. And so all that shit just kind of…evaporated," said Winslet about her daughter Mia, who began her acting career last year.

Meanwhile, a video showing a different ending for "Titanic" has gone viral on Twitter.

The 1997 film, which also stars Leonardo Di Caprio, ends with an older Rose (played by Gloria Stewart) throwing the "Heart of the Ocean" necklace into the water. She is alone when she throws away the necklace in the sea. But in the viral video, she is surrounded by treasure hunter Brock Lovett (Bill Paxton) and his team, who were looking for the jewelry piece.

Before dropping the necklace in the sea, Rose places the locket in Lovett's hand and says, "You look for treasure in the wrong places, Mr Lovett. Only life is priceless, and making each day count."

"The alternate ending to Titanic is hilarious. This would have absolutely ruined the film for me," one Twitter user posted Wednesday.

The video has garnered 1.3 million views and 42,000 likes so far.