Kate Winslet has shared her experience working closely with her son, Joe, on her long-awaited directorial debut. For the project, the highly anticipated Netflix holiday movie Goodbye June, the Oscar-winning actress teamed up with Joe, who penned the script at just 21. Their collaboration on Goodbye June marks a significant milestone: it serves both as a new acting role for Winslet and her first outing behind the camera, highlighting Winslet’s desire to keep her family involved in her creative journey. The film, which revolves around adult siblings navigating their mother’s declining health during the Christmas season, brings the Winslet family’s artistic talents together for a meaningful and emotional production, making Kate Winslet directorial debut a notable event in the entertainment world.
Making The Transition From Actor To Director With Family
In the months leading up to the film’s release, Winslet reflected on how her decision to direct Goodbye June evolved. She initially considered producing and starring in the movie, with plans to let another filmmaker take the director’s chair. However, faced with the thought of handing her son’s script to another creative, Winslet felt compelled to step in.
“When it came to the point of the screenplay being ready, I was going to produce it. I was going to play the character of Julia, and I knew that we were in a position to find a director. And I suddenly couldn’t let it go,”
explained Kate Winslet during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. She went on to add,
“And I said to him, look, I would love to direct it because when you give it to a director, it becomes theirs, which is exactly the right thing that should happen. But I didn’t want that for him.”
— Kate Winslet, Actress & Director
Winslet took the dual challenge of starring as Julia while navigating her first directing role, all while supporting her son’s original vision for the film. The family’s collaboration added another layer of emotional intensity to the holiday drama, which boasts a star-studded cast portraying a group of siblings.
Working With Joe: A Seamless Creative Partnership
The mother-son duo found that working together brought out the best in both, with Joe remaining integral to the process on set. Winslet shared the pride she felt in keeping Joe close to the film’s development, ensuring he could witness his script come to life.
“I wanted [Joe] to remain a part of it. I wanted him to experience seeing this beautiful thing that he had created come to life,”
said Winslet regarding their partnership. She added,
“And he happens to be very, very smart about film, and having him there with me every day was just fantastic.”
— Kate Winslet, Actress & Director
According to Winslet, they collaborated effortlessly on decisions regarding the movie’s dialogue and key scenes. Their mutual respect helped ensure the final product remained true to Joe’s original concept.
“We would read it through together and figure out what should stay and what should go and what was funny and what wasn’t funny enough or etcetera,”
Winslet explained.
“And that process was glorious. And we learned different things about one another in this working capacity.”
— Kate Winslet, Actress & Director
She also pointed out the challenges of balancing work and family, saying,
“I had to learn how to say things to him in a sensitive way if I thought maybe something could work differently or whatever.”
— Kate Winslet, Actress & Director
The Winslet Family’s Broader Creative Success
Winslet’s pride in her children’s creative accomplishments is clear, not just in her partnership with Joe. Her daughter, Mia Honey Threapleton, has also made waves in Hollywood, landing a breakout role in Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme as Liesl, a nun. The BBC highlighted Mia as the standout performer following the film’s 2025 premiere.
“The whole thing was a pinch-me moment,”
Mia shared in an interview with People.
“I just felt so unbelievably lucky and couldn’t believe that I was standing where I was dressed as a nun.”
— Mia Honey Threapleton, Actress
What Lies Ahead For Winslet’s Directorial Journey
With Goodbye June poised to become a new holiday favorite on Netflix, the significance of Winslet’s directorial debut is felt by fans and the film industry alike. As a celebrated actress stepping into directing, and working closely with family, Winslet’s emotional and passionate approach may pave the way for more family-driven creative projects in Hollywood. Her choice to bring her son’s vision to life while guiding her own career’s next chapter stands as an inspiring example for both audiences and fellow creators. The next steps for the Winslet family—and especially for Kate Winslet’s directorial aspirations—are expected to draw significant attention as they continue their adventures in film.
