Kate Winslet Talks ‘Carnage’, Polanski and Rehearsing

Kate Winslet is no stranger to playing difficult roles or dealing with demanding directors.  In Carnage, the film adaptation of the Tony-award winning play God of Carnage, Winslet came across both. 

Director Roman Polanski is sometimes better known for his personal dramas (fleeing the country in the 70s after facing statutory rape charges), but his acute skills resulted in many challenges for Winslet. 

In an interview with Wall Street Journal, Winslet recalls, “I think at various different points we all had said to Roman, ‘Look, would you like us to learn [the script]?’  Because it is based on a play and when it’s Roman Polanski, one wants to be as prepared as possible.  And he categorically said, ‘Oh no, no no’—very blasé—‘no need to learn it….’ And by Friday afternoon of week one, Roman said, ‘Ok, I think it would be really handy not to have our scripts in our hands on Monday, don’t you?’  And there was deathly silence, and I could see everyone sort of looking at each other like, ‘Well, what did you have planned for the weekend?’”  Read more