Kate Winslet on redefining Lee Miller away from the male gaze in ‘Lee’
Kimberley French/Sky UK
Kate Winslet is photographer Elizabeth “Lee” Miller in the new film Lee, in theaters now.
The movie tells the true story of the fashion model-turned-photographer who became an acclaimed war correspondent as she covered World War II for Vogue magazine.
While Winslet was familiar with Miller’s work before joining the film, she did not know all of the details of her life. She told ABC Audio she is happy to share Miller’s story with the world.
“I did not know just how extraordinary what she actually did as a middle-aged woman in going to the front line, and pushing through and into male-dominated spaces where women were not allowed in order to be that visual voice for the victims of the conflict,” Winslet said.
Another thing that attracted Winslet to the project was the idea of reshaping the way Miller had been framed in history.
“She had been, I think, somewhat defined by the male gaze in history,” Winslet said. “She was referred to as the muse of Man Ray, the former lover of X, Y, Z … this was this chapter of her life, a tiny little chapter in her 20s, but somehow these somewhat infantilizing labels had been stuck on her.”
“She became so much more and way beyond that when she moved into those powerful decades of her life in her 30s and 40s,” Winslet continued.
On this week’s episode of The Golden Bachelorette, the men impressed Joan Vassos during a competitive game of kickball and she was serenaded by Wayne Newton during a one-on-one date with one of her suitors.
But amid the amazing moments she had, Vassos was faced with some difficult news back home and had her late husband, John, on her mind. She also got a surprise visit from someone from her past.
This week’s episode consisted of two romantic one-on-one dates and one competitive group date. The catch was, if the men didn’t get a rose at the end of the one-on-one dates, they would be going home.
The first one-on-one date went to Pascal, 69, the posh French salon owner from Chicago, Illinois. For their date, they jetted off to Las Vegas and enjoyed a performance by Wayne Newton. The duo ended their date with a ride on the high roller ferris wheel where they kissed and Vassos gave Pascal a rose, which he accepted with a resounding, “Oui oui!”
For the group date, Chock, Gil, Dan, Charles L., CK, Greg, Gary, Guy, Kim, Jordan, Mark A., and Keith battled for Vassos’ heart on the football field. Former professional football players Eric Dickerson and Andre Reed helped the men brush up on their kicking skills for a game of kickball.
At the end of the date, the group date rose went to Gil, whose story about his adopted daughter touched Vassos.
The second one-on-one date was with Jonathan. While the two were horseback riding, Vassos spotted a hawk in the sky, which she said was a sign that she connected to her late husband, John. She suddenly became overwhelmed with emotion by the thought of John and her sick mother at home.
Vassos later got a surprise visit from Gerry Turner. The two previously met on Turner’s season of The Golden Bachelor, but Vassos’ time with Turner was cut short when she left the mansion early to be there for her daughter at home.
She opened up to Turner on how her late husband had been on her mind a lot lately and how hard it was being away from family, but Turner told her to “take a breath” and to not put so much pressure on herself.
At the rose ceremony, Vassos said a heartbreaking goodbye to three men.
Here are the men that remain:
Jonathan, 61, a shipping consultant from Oakland, Iowa Pascal, 69, a salon owner from Chicago, Illinois Gil, 60, an educator from Mission Viejo, California Guy, 66, an ER doctor from Reno, Nevada Dan, 64, a private investor from Naples, Florida Gary, 65, a retired finance executive from Palm Desert, California Jordan, 61, a sales manager from Chicago, Illinois Chock, 60, an insurance executive from Wichita, Kansas Charles L., 66, a retired financial analyst from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Keith, 62, a girl dad from San Jose, California Mark, 67, an army veteran from Leesville, Louisiana
The show returned after a multiyear hiatus following several controversies, with some of the modeling industry’s brightest stars, including supermodel Tyra Banks, ready to hit the runway.
The iconic model made an epic comeback on the runway Tuesday night after 20 years, closing the show following a performance by Cher.
Other familiar faces walked the runway, including Victoria’s Secret mainstays Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel and model Gigi Hadid. Kate Moss, Behati Prinsloo, Bella Hadid and Ashley Graham also walked.
Ahead of the show, Banks shared a post, saying, “You are…Never too young to SMiZE. Never too old to DREAM. And I hope you’ll be doing both with me tomorrow when I rock that @victoriassecret runway again after almost 20 years!”
She continued, “As I walk, think about YOUR dreams, what YOU want to accomplish. That thing you’ve been doubting about yourself. That thing you’re not sure you are confident enough to accomplish.”
“Don’t ever stop DREAMING. But now, it’s time to get to DOING!” she added. “YOU GOT THIS!”
It’s been several years since the last Victoria’s Secret Runway Show. In 2019, the annual event was canceled following a turbulent period for the brand internally and externally.
One year prior, Jan Singer had stepped down as CEO of Victoria’s Secret’s lingerie division. That move came one week after Ed Razek, the chief marketing officer of Victoria’s Secret’s then-parent company, L Brands, came under fire for making controversial comments to Vogue about transgender models. Razek later apologized.
The show also previously faced criticism for a lack of inclusivity on the runway.
The magazine made the announcement for its annual Sexiest Man Alive issue, which includes an interview with the actor exclusive to People.
Upon hearing the news that he was named Sexiest Man Alive, the actor told People that he thought he was “being punked.”
“Just immediate blackout,” he said. “Zero thoughts. Other than maybe I’m being punked. That’s not how I wake up usually, thinking, ‘Is this the day that I’ll be asked to be Sexiest Man Alive?’ And yet it was the day you guys did it. You really raised the bar for me.”
In his interview with the magazine, he talked about his life as an actor, including his roles as Jim Halpert from The Office, and his work in A Quiet Place, which he co-wrote, directed and starred in with his wife, actress Emily Blunt.
Krasinski said working with Blunt was “one of the most thrilling processes I’ve ever had, because I’d never worked with Emily.”
The actor said that he met Blunt in 2008 in a restaurant and as soon as he shook her hand, he said he “just knew” that she was the one.
When he told Blunt that he was named Sexiest Man Alive, he said she was “very excited.”
“There was a lot of joy involved in me telling her,” he said.
They’ve been married for 14 years and share two daughters: Hazel, 10, and Violet, 8.
“It’s a phenomenal thing to get to be in this family and be a dad,” he added. “It’s changed my life completely.”
To see more of the men featured in People‘s Sexiest Man Alive Issue pick up the new issue on newsstands nationwide Friday.
