Kate Winslet: Female directors face budget bias

Kate Winslet shared that her directorial debut, Goodbye June, struggled with securing adequate funding, resulting in some crew members accepting less than their usual rates. Winslet, speaking on a podcast, pointed to industry sexism as a barrier, noting that as a female director, she had to call in many favors to get the film made. She believes women are unfairly underestimated, with assumptions that they lack directorial competence, unlike their male counterparts.

Winslet further elaborated that actresses transitioning into directing are often perceived as vain and less capable. She observed a distinct difference in the language used when addressing female directors versus male directors, particularly those who are former actors. While acknowledging talented male actors directing, she noted they are generally allowed to proceed without the same scrutiny.

The film, which stars Helen Mirren as the titular character June, was written by Winslet's son, Joe Anders. Despite the pressures of directing and managing budget concerns, Winslet ensured her fatigue was not apparent to the actors. She expressed a strong desire to direct again, emphasizing the need for equal opportunities and support for women in the film industry.