Kate Winslet Talks AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER and Clashing with Zoe Saldana's Character Neytiri

Avatar: The Way of Water recently screened for critics and they all seem to be gushing over how incredible of a film it is. I can’t wait to see it for myself and experience James Cameron’s next chapter of this epic journey.

Kate Winslet reunited with Cameron to work with him on this movie for the first time since they worked together on Titanic. It’s a movie that she was actually excited about jumping into and explained why:

“I absolutely loved the first Avatar movie. The deeper themes it conveys about our declining planet, were extremely poignant, and that mattered to me. So, I had no reservations at all. Plus, I was jumping into a well-oiled machine, so I was excited to think that everything they had learned as filmmakers from the first movie, would have only been ironed out and amplified in its second go around. And that's fun!”

Winslet takes on the role of a character named Ronal in this next chapter of the Avatar story. Ronal is the tsahìk of the Metkayina clan and mate of Tonowari. With her husband, she is the mother of the free-diver Tsireya, Aonung, and an unborn child. She is a strong warrior who will do anything to protect her family and her home. When talking about this character with Empire, Winslet said:

“Ronal is a formidable female character. Like Neytiri, she holds her family's needs close to her heart and will stop at nothing to protect her children and her people. A true mother, in every sense.”

Ronal finds herself clashing with Zoe Saldana's character, Neytiri, in the movie, and when talking about their conflict and sharing those scenes with Saldana, Winslet said:

“These two females are so aligned in their deep desire to keep their individual families safe. They are both powerful, willful creatures who respect their husbands but will not be led by them. They carve their own paths, and they expect to be listened to. They are both physically as capable as one another, and in the world of Pandora, the need for physical ability amongst all tribespeople is not only important — it is crucial. They also need to possess equal strength to their male counterparts, which both these females do. In staggering ways. Working with Zoe was just wonderful. Her commitment to the world of Pandora and being Na’vi is so embedded within her now that it is truly inspiring to be around. It's as if it's in her blood now.”

Winslet went on to say that the technology they worked with to make the movie was “mind-blowing” and also talked about what it was like to act underwater while holding her breath. She explained that it was a highlight of her life:

“I absolutely loved, loved, loved learning how to breath hold. Maybe that's why I got so good at it, just because I wanted to do it all the time. We think we are only capable of trying new things when we are young, in our twenties, when we feel a heck of a lot more invincible than we do as we get older. So, I was so proud of myself! I did something challenging and new. But putting the skills together and performing with Sig at the bottom of a 15 ft tank for four minutes at a stretch was a highlight of my career. That woman is such an inspiration! Not only is she effortlessly and naturally beautiful, but her work is always so compelling. And she is such a kind special and lady. So, being able to hold hands together, acting whilst holding our breath, and doing something that very few people in the world get to do, and on a film that is so heavily anticipated — was absolutely a highlight of my life.”

The actress also talked about James Cameron and how working with him and spending time with on this movie was a “privilege” and explained:

“It was such a privilege to spend time with him again, and to contribute something to his passionate remarkable storytelling. I feel so grateful. It's no secret that Jim is a perfectionist as a filmmaker, so that part hasn't changed at all. And that is what makes his movies precise in every tiny detail. All those tiny components are huge when assembled, and it’s Jim’s vision and his determination that produces extraordinary filmmaking that will stand the test of time.”

It sounds like working on Avatar: The Way of Water was an awesome experience for her. I’m sure that shine through in her performance.

The film is set more than a decade after the events of the first film, “Avatar: The Way of Water begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure.”

The movie is set to be released on December 16th and I can’t wait to watch it!