Kate Winslet Makes Her Directorial Debut with a Family Drama Written by Her Son

Kate Winslet has made her directorial debut with the film Goodbye June, a project she says she never planned to take on but felt compelled to pursue after reading a screenplay written by her son, Joe Anders. The film, which will be released on Netflix on 24 December, stars an acclaimed cast including Dame Helen Mirren, Timothy Spall, Andrea Riseborough and Johnny Flynn, and centres on a group of adult siblings who reunite at Christmas as their mother is dying.

Anders began writing the screenplay while studying on a screenwriting course at the National Film and Television School, starting the project when he was just 19. The story draws on personal experience, inspired by the death of Winslet’s own mother, Sally Bridgers-Winslet, who died from ovarian cancer in 2017. Winslet says she was deeply moved by the script and felt it deserved to be made into a film, even though directing had never been one of her career ambitions.

Working together required mother and son to develop a new professional relationship. Winslet describes being impressed by Anders’ ability to take feedback and adapt quickly during development, including notes from Netflix once the streaming platform became involved. She says she saw her role partly as protecting both the integrity of the project and her son as a young writer.

Drawing on decades of experience as an actor in major films such as Titanic, Avatar and Sense and Sensibility, Winslet aimed to create a safe, supportive and well-organised environment on set. She emphasised the importance of clear communication and emotional safety, particularly given the film’s themes of grief and family loss, which she believes are not always openly discussed in the UK.

Co-star Timothy Spall praised Winslet’s work behind the camera, calling her one of the world’s great actresses and saying her attentiveness and understanding of filmmaking naturally translated into strong directing. Winslet hopes Goodbye June, which balances humour with emotional depth, will resonate with audiences and help them connect with their own experiences of loss.