Kate Winslet Met Brave Man When He Saved Her from House Fire — Later He Became Her Husband & a Stay-At-Home Dad
|After going through two divorces, Kate Winslet never expected to meet her third husband during a fire incident. But in the months following the dramatic encounter, the pair fell in love and eventually tied the knot. Now, they live a private life in their beachside home in West Sussex. Here are the details.
British Actress Kate Winslet has been a popular figure in Hollywood since her record-breaking performance in “Titanic.” She has dazzled fans with her talent and has a movie catalog that many veteran actors can only fantasize about. But away from her career, Winslet has been through a lot, especially in her love life.
The starlet has experienced two failed marriages, but now, everything seems to be going well with her third husband, Ned Rocknroll. The pair first crossed paths in August 2011 under dramatic circumstances.
During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Winslet made it known that she and her children were vacationing on Necker Island, a 74-acre private island owned by billionaire Richard Branson when their house was struck by lightning, and a fire broke out.
Rocknroll, Branson’s nephew, stayed at an adjacent building on the Island and was the only guy with a head torch and a pair of shoes while they all tried to escape the fire.
Winslet said she ran out with only a bra, her passport, and kids, and Rocknroll helped them to safety. After the incident, the actress and Rocknroll became very close, and not long after, Winslet fell head over heels in love with him.
By 2012, the lovebirds were engaged, and in December of the same year, they walked down the aisle at a private ceremony in New York City. According to reports, only a few family and friends attended the occasion, including Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio.
Eleven years later, Winslet bagged an Emmy Award for lead actress in a limited series for her role in “Mare of Easttown.”
Kate Winslet and Ned Rocknroll walk together after the presentation ceremony for the 2,000-metre Longines Hong Kong Cup race at the Hong Kong International Races at the Shatin racecourse in Hong Kong. | Source: Getty Images
While giving a speech in the Emmys press room, the starlet noted that winning the award was great but what was more special was having her husband with her. Winslet recalled attending the 2011 Emmys with Rocknroll, whom she had just met. In her words:
“We’re getting to the Emmys, and I was just so in a whirlwind of having just met him that I couldn’t even concentrate, and I vividly remember making an absolutely appalling speech because I was not on planet earth because I had fallen head over heels in love with this person who I just met.”
Kate Winslet and Ned Rocknroll attend the presentation ceremony for the 2,000-metre Longines Hong Kong Cup race at the Hong Kong International Races at the Shatin racecourse in Hong Kong. | Source: Getty Images
But a decade later, she had Rocknroll with her at the Emmys, not as an acquaintance but as a husband, which meant the world to her. Later during the award acceptance speech, Winslet described her children and husband, whose hands she will hold forever, as the greatest people in the world.
Kate Winslet’s Husband Became “Stay-at-home” Dad
In 2021, Winslet sat down with The New York Times and opened up about her marriage. The “Titanic” star praised her husband for being very supportive and fun despite all his millions, declaring that he was everything to her. According to her:
“He’s the superhot, superhuman, stay-at-home. He looks after us, especially me.”
Kate Winslet and Ned Rocknroll are seen at Los Angeles International Airport on January 16, 2012, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Furthermore, Winslet labeled Rocknroll an extraordinary life partner, explaining that he was not actively looking to marry a celebrity who was always judged by the public before they met.
Winslet and her husband’s home not only hold fond memories for the family, but it has also served as a location for a movie shoot.
Kate Winslet was pictured taking a walk with her daughter, Mia. | Source: Getty Images
However, since they tied the knot, he has done everything to prove his love for his wife. For example, Rocknroll often helped his wife with her lines, even though he had dyslexia and had difficulties reading aloud.
Also, the showbiz star’s husband changed his name back to his birth name, Edward Abel Smith, after going by his pseudonym “Ned Rocknroll” for a while because the actress asked him to. Then, after changing his name, Rocknroll added Winslet as his middle name because their kids also used it. Winslet told New York Times:
“When we travel together, having that name on the passport makes life easier.”
Kate Winslet walks with her daughter Mia on March 11, 2009, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
Overall, the Emmy award winner admitted to being lucky to have Rocknroll in her life. She also said she found it funny that her husband was an ordinary guy in contrast to having a rock ‘n’ roll character like his pseudonym suggested. According to Winslet, he was very “zen.” The “Avatar: The Way of Water” star added:
“He’s vegan, does yoga, breath work, and cold water swims.”
Inside Their Life In a Quiet Village
Winslet is one of the most notable stars in Hollywood, but despite all the fame and fortune she has garnered over the years, the actress has always wanted to live a private life away from the spotlight with her family.
Cobbled Street, Mermaid Street, Rye, East Sussex, England. | Source: Getty Images
Over a decade after her marriage to Rocknroll, Winslet seems to be living the life she has always dreamed of. She lives with her husband and three children, Mia, Joe, and Bear, in a beachside mansion in West Wittering, Sussex.
The actress and her family have been living in the property since 2015 and seemingly have no plans to be leaving anytime soon.
As of February 2022, the mansion was worth over $4.5 million following Winslet’s addition of a basement swimming pool, a garage, and a pool house to the property. Winslet and her husband’s home not only hold fond memories for the family, but it has also served as a location for a movie shoot.
Medieval Elizabethan country house, Warwickshire, the UK. | Source: Getty Images
In 2018, the actress allowed the beachside mansion to be used for filming “Blackbird,” making it easier for Winslet to go on set and back home.
Overall, it is great to see the Hollywood star living a happy life with her family after going through two failed marriages — her first marriage was to Jim Threapleton in 1998.
It ended three years later, while the second was to Sam Mendes in 2003, and ended eight years later. Hopefully, Winslet and Rocknroll will continue to wax stronger by the day, and their love will last a lifetime.