People only just realising two stars from The Holiday dated in real life over a DECADE before hit movie
LONG before they starred opposite each other in this festive flick, two actors from The Holiday had a real-life romance.
However, unlike the tumultuous relationship between their characters in the film, these two A-listers parted ways amicably a decade before shooting the Christmas classic.
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Kate Winslet briefly dated one of her co-stars from The Holiday in the mid ’90sCredit: Alamy
Kate Winslet and Rufus Sewell dated for three months in 1995 after meeting on the set of Sense and SensibilityCredit: Alamy
Just a year before her breakout role in 1997’s Titanic, Kate Winslet appeared in Kenneth Branaugh’s Sense and Sensibility.
It was on this set that she met Rufus Sewell, who would later play her on-again off-again boyfriend in The Holiday.
On set spark
The actors dated briefly in 1995, parting ways after just a few months together.
And just over a decade later, Winslet and Sewell were reunited in the hit 2006 rom-com The Holiday.
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Speaking about the experience working together once again, Winslet told the Irish Examiner: “It was completely fine.”
“I hadn’t seen him for a very long time but we’d remained friends. It was really not a big deal. I was thrilled he got the part,” she said.
In the film, Winslet played one of the main character’s Iris, while Sewell was cast as her not-so-lovable ex, Jasper.
Winslet, who was 21 at the time, has since gushed about Sewell, who was in his late 20s when they dated.
After his role in The Crown was confirmed, Winslet described her former flame as “terrific” and “fantastic”, sharing her excitement to see him on her screen.
“To see him front and centre in a way that I think we haven’t done on British television for a long, long time, very long time, I’m really, really excited to see what he does,” she said.
Family lives
“We’re very good friends but it was never a serious relationship,” saod Winslet, who went on to marry Edward Abel Smith, who she shares her son Bear with.
The 50-year-old also has a son and daughter from her two previous marriages.
Meanwhile, Sewell has also been married three times, tying the knot with actress Vivian Benitez just last year.
He shares his son with scriptwriter and producer Amy Gardner, whom he was married to from 2004 to 2006.
The 58-year-old also has a daughter with Ami Komai.
Cast of Sense and Sensibility (1995)
The 1995 film adaptation of Sense and Sensibility was a huge success, garnering three awards and eleven nominations at the 1995 British Academy Film Awards.
It also earned seven Academy Awards nominations, including for Best Picture and Best Actress.
The star and writer, Emma Thompson, took home the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.
More on Christmas movies
And the top five Christmas movies for 2025 have officailly been named.
If you’re looking for a festive film binge, ITV has announced its bumper Christmas line-up.
Plus, a treasure trove of classic Christmas movies are now available for free on a “100% Christmas channel”.
Sewell and Winslet parted ways amicably after dating for a brief period in 1995Credit: Alan Davidson
The pair went on to star opposite each other in The Holiday, over a decade after their ‘fling’Credit: Getty
