Kate Winslet has shared a surprising behind-the-scenes detail about one of the most iconic scenes in Titanic.
We all remember it—the scene that either left viewers in tears or had them rolling their eyes, depending on their perspective.
This is, of course, the door scene at the end of the film, where Rose must say goodbye to Jack, her brief but impactful love interest, in order to move forward with her life.
Meanwhile, the working-class Jack trades his down-to-earth charm for, quite literally, the depths of the sea.
The question of whether both Rose and Jack could have fit on the door has been hotly debated. James Cameron addressed the topic in a 2023 documentary, where he conducted a “thorough forensic analysis with a hypothermia expert who reproduced the raft from the movie” alongside “two stunt people who were the same body mass of Kate and Leo,” concluding that “only one could survive.”
Winslet has now disclosed that the scene where Rose balances on the door while Jack succumbs to the cold was not quite as it seemed.
The shot shows Rose telling Jack she’ll “never let go” as she releases him into the 12,500-foot-deep waters where the Titanic sank.
However, the actual filming location was much shallower.
Winslet revealed that the scene was shot in a tank.
As for the depth of the water, it was far less than 12,500 feet.
Speaking during a Q&A for an advance screening of her upcoming movie Lee in New York, she said, “Well that was quite an awkward tank… because to burst the bubble, it was waist height at that time.”
She continued, “Leo I’m afraid to say was kneeling down. I shouldn’t be saying anyways, Jimmy Cameron’s gonna be ringing me.”
Regarding the ongoing debate about whether Jack could have also fit on the door, there’s another factor to consider—if he had, then what?
The reality is, as heartbreaking as it may be, if they had made it to New York together, their relationship likely wouldn’t have lasted.
After a few months of romance, the excitement would have worn off for Rose, and the harsh realities of living in 1912 New York would have set in.
Eventually, Rose would have likely returned to her family, possibly with an illegitimate child in tow.
In the end, for Rose to lead an independent and adventurous life, Jack’s sacrifice was necessary.