Kate Winslet breaks down in tears as she recalls confronting ‘absolutely appalling’ critic who fat-shamed her

Warning: This article contains discussion of body image which some readers may find distressing.

The Holiday star Kate Winslet has opened up about the 'appalling' comments made about her appearance throughout her career and how they've impacted her mental health.

Best known for her roles in iconic films from Titanic to The Holiday and latest movie Lee, Winslet was thrust into stardom at the age of 22 when she starred alongside Leonardo DiCaprio.

And it's a miracle she's still in the industry given in her 20-plus years as an actor she's been subjected to such 'horrific' comments about her appearance, the 49-year-old revealing they started as early as school and opening up about comments made by a critic too.

In an interview with 60 Minutes, Winslet reveals she had a drama teacher tell her that her appearance would mean she'd have to 'settle' for a certain type-casting.

The actor says her teacher told her: "Oh yeah, no listen Kate, I'm telling you darling, if you're going to look like this, you'll have to settle for the fat girl parts."

Winslet responds: "And I wasn't, I was never even fat. [...] It made me think, 'I'll just show you'. Just quietly. It was sort of a quiet determination really."

And devastatingly the comments about her weight continued into her career too.

Kate Winslet was harassed by reporters over her appearance (HAL GARB/AFP via Getty Images)

During a red carpet appearance for Titanic, a recording reveals a reporter saying Winslet was looking 'a little melted and poured into that dress'.

"And you know, she just needed two sizes larger and it would probably have been okay," the reporter adds.

Winslet reflects: "It's absolutely appalling. What kind of a person must they be to do something like that to a young actress who’s just trying to figure it out?"

And when Winslet was confronted with some of the people who commented on her appearance face-to-face, the actor reveals she 'let them have it'.

"I said, 'I hope this haunts you'."

The actor then breaks down into tears in the interview, noting it 'was a great moment' to be able to tell a critic how she felt about their comments.

She resolves: "Because it wasn't just for me, it was for all those people who were subjected to that level of harassment. It was horrific. It was really bad."

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 to reach a 24-hour crisis center or you can webchat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.