Kate Winslet claims being an English actor is like having a 'magical qualification' as she celebrates her award-winning career at special BAFTA event

Published: 04:02 EST, 7 December 2015 | Updated: 04:12 EST, 7 December 2015

View
comments

She's starred in an array of hit movies during her glittering film career.

But Kate Winslet believes it's her English accent which has helped her to become one of the world's greatest actresses.

On Friday night the Oscar-winning star, 40, attended a special BAFTA event in London to discuss her career to date, looking incredible in a black lace dress which showed off her toned legs.

Scroll down for video

Success story: Kate Winslet, 40, attended a special BAFTA event in London to discuss her career to date on Friday. She also received the Variety Award the Moet British Independent Film Awards (pictured) on Sunday

She told the audience: 'It's a funny thing, when you're an English actor and you go into another country they automatically assume that you are fully trained.

'You've got some magical qualification that means that you definitely know better than everybody else, which I've played on believe me.'

As an aspiring actress in her teens, Kate had only played small roles in television programmes such as Casualty and sitcom Get Back, before scoring her big screen break in Heavenly Creatures, aged 17.

Recognition: During her acceptance speech Kate said independent film had been her best friend for 23 years

From one great to another: Stanley Tucci presented Kate with her award at the star-studded bash in the Old Billingsgate Market

She revealed she had only actually watched a handful of movies at the time, which she believed may come as a surprise to some.

'There's an interesting thing that happens when you're an actor - people automatically assume that you're a movie buff and you must have seen everything.

'And really at that point in my life I'd seen Annie and Bugsy Malone and Grease, lots of times. Oh, and Santa Claus: The Movie. But I hadn't seen, I hadn't really seen that many films.'

Since securing that opening film role, Kate's career has gone from strength to strength. She holds the record for the youngest actress to receive six Oscar nominations, which she achieved aged 33 when she received the nod for her performance in The Reader.

Her filmography includes the 1997 global smash Titanic, Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind, Finding Neverland and the Divergent series.

Known for performing in critically-acclaimed movies, it's no surprise that Kate attended the Moet British Independent Film Awards in London on Sunday night.

She received the Variety Award, which honours British film-makers or stars who have made a global impact, at the star-studded bash at Old Billingsgate Market.

Accepting her award, she said: 'I absolutely love acting. I love it more and more.

'Independent film has been my best friend for 23 years, and continues to enrich my life beyond measure. Independent film is where I have learned the most and laughed the most.'