Kate Winslet reveals the surprise Titanic reunion she had during filming Lee. After initially premiering at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, Lee had its theatrical release in the UK and US in September 2024. Winslet played the titular role of journalist Elizabeth “Lee” Miller, with the biopic telling the story of the former model who worked as a war correspondent during World War II. In addition to Winslet’s leading performance in Leeshe was also one of the film’s producers.
While on The Graham Norton ShowWinslet shared how she unexpectedly reunited with Jonathan Evans-Jones, who played violinist Wallace Hartley in Titanic. Hartley plays the violin memorably as the Titanic sinks and, when the performance ends, tells his fellow violinists, “Gentlemen, it was a privilege to play with you tonight.” While Titanic is one of his few acting roles, Evans-Jones has played violin in films for nearly thirty years, with other credits including Shrek, How to train your dragonand Batman. Check out Winslet’s comments below:
I was looking through the glass at the stage where all the musicians are – a huge orchestra of 120 musicians. And I was looking at this violinist and I thought, “I know that face.” And then the day goes by, and some musicians start saying, “Yeah [him]!” and they’re pointing at him. I’m thinking, “Am I related to this person? Who is this person?” And at the end of the day I thought, “Okay, I need to go in.” So I went in and he said, “Kate, it’s me!” You know when the Titanic is falling, and the violinist gets up and says, ” Come on, boys,” and he starts playing? It was that guy!
It was him. It was just wonderful, and there he was. We had so many moments like that in the film, where people I’ve worked with before or have known for a long time [and] I kind of grew up in the industry, they just showed up for me and it was amazing.
What does this mean for the Titanic
It shaped the careers of Kate Winslet and Jonathan Evan-Jones
Both Winslet and Evans-Jones have had impressive careers in the 27 years since Titanic was released, but James Cameron’s film remains an iconic chapter in their careers. For Evans-Jones, it’s not just because it’s one of the few films in which he played the violin and acted. The musical and acting performance is one of Titanic’s most moving and enduring moments, made more powerful by the fact that Hartley was a real individual and actually performed alongside his fellow musicians as the ship sank.
TitanicThe violinists’ scene is a testament to the human spirit and the power of arteven during the darkest and most desperate times. Meanwhile, as one of Kate Winslet’s best films, she Titanic performance remains his most iconic performance and paved the way for other opportunities to follow. Lee presents one of the many riveting performances she has given in the years since Titanicmaking it all the more meaningful to see her reuniting with Evans-Jones all these years later.
Our Take on the Titanic Reunion
Lee was a fitting way for the reunion to happen
Unexpected reunions of beloved movies and television shows are always special, but this Titanic the reunion is further reinforced by Winslet’s comments about Evans-Jones and many others of your life support Lee. It’s the culmination of decades of success that Winslet and Evans-Jones have had. Although this meeting is not visibly part Leeadds another layer to the film by learning how it brought two of the most talented and important individuals in the Titanic together again.
Source: The Graham Norton Show/YouTube
Titanic is the 1997 blockbuster romantic/disaster epic based on the events surrounding the sinking of the legendary “unsinkable” ship. Returning to the past and moving forward to the present, the film mainly follows the stories of the wealthy and somewhat shy Rose and the poor but lively Jack, star-crossed lovers who find themselves aboard the doomed ship. Additionally, the film tells true and fictional accounts of the passengers of the RMS Titanic, with an older Rose telling her story to the crew of a research ship.
- Release date
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December 19, 1997
- Execution time
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3h 14m