Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet is set to make her directorial debut with Goodbye June, a family drama for Netflix. The film, which is described as a “touching, yet humorous” story about a fractured group of siblings coming together in trying circumstances, will also feature Winslet in an acting role and as a producer.
The star-studded cast includes Toni Collette, Johnny Flynn, Andrea Riseborough, Timothy Spall, and Helen Mirren. The screenplay was written by Winslet’s son, Joe Anders, with Kate Solomon also producing alongside Winslet. Solomon previously produced Lee, Winslet’s recent biopic about photographer Lee Miller.
The film, set in modern-day England, is expected to begin production soon in the U.K.
In a recent interview on the How to Fail podcast, Winslet shared her journey to directing, revealing that while she had once resisted calls to take on such a role, she now feels a strong sense of responsibility to women in Hollywood. She said that she had been encouraged by colleagues and crew members over the years to consider directing, and now believes it is important to do so for the sake of inspiring other women.
“I’m really starting to feel that in quite a loud way,” Winslet said. “The more of us that are doing it, the more will be inspiring others to do it.”
In addition to her upcoming directorial work, Winslet recently starred in Lee and the HBO limited series The Regime, for which she earned a Golden Globe nomination. Her 2009 Oscar win for The Reader remains one of her most celebrated achievements.
Winslet is represented by CAA and United Agents.