Winslett bares all on reasons for nude shoot

KATE Winslett has defended her controversial Vanity Fair photoshoot, saying it was her last chance to show off her body.

The Titanic star, 33, was pictured naked except for black stockings and stilettos lying on a fur rug.

Her flawless complexion and new slim-line figure led to suggestions, denied by the actress, that the pictures had been heavily photo-shopped.

Yesterday, Winslett said she was happy to strip off for US photographer Steven Meisel.

She told Spain’s El Pais newspaper: “I don’t take these sort of offers lightly. It’s Steven Meisel, not any old photographer. It’s like working with (Stanley) Kubrick.

“It was like filming a short film, the preparation, wardrobe. So when Steven said ‘now without the dress’, it wasn’t uncomfortable.

“Quite the opposite. I thought, at 33 I’m not going to have another chance.”

Asked if she was embarrassed to pose nude she said: “That’s something you lose in the delivery room, all that foolishness ends there.

“As I get older I’m happier with my body, with my skin. I’m happy to be imperfect.”

The British mother of Mia, eight, and Joe, five, was bullied at school and nicknamed Blubber.

And she said she has struggled to cope with criticism over her figure during her career.

“It was tough to hear some of the things. I feel sorry for Keira (Knightly) if she’s going through this now. My recommendation is to remain faithful to yourself.”

Vanity Fair said there had been a “minimal amount of retouching”.

Winslett’s publicist said there had been some skin tone correction, but her body had “not been airbrushed at all.”

In 2003 the Oscar-nominated actress complained when GQ magazine airbrushed a cover shot by elongating her legs.

She said at the time: “I don’t look like that and I don’t desire to look like that.”