Little Children

One has to truly wonder how it is possible for a loving mom and housewife to play a mother like Sarah Pierce, the lead character in Todd Field's new movie, Little Children.

Kate Winslet insists that the fact the she is happy in her role as a parent and content with her life was critical for her to be able to play the movie mom and lead character that is trapped by the suburban life of motherhood. The four time Academy Award nominated British actress puts forth one of her strongest film performances in her role as the wife of a man who is addicted to online pornography and as the mom of a four year old that seemingly does nothing more than get in the way of her mother living out her life.

The 31-year-old actress, best known for her critically acclaimed roles in Titanic, Iris, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, demonstrates why she is one of Hollywood's leading stars. Her ability to play a character that is the antithesis of what she is in real life demonstrates why Winslet is an actress that can sell a film all by herself.

However, recent interviews have the beautiful actress acknowledging that she could not have played the part of Sarah Pierce had she not experienced that emotional rollercoaster of parenthood first hand. Having lived that role, Winslet states that it allowed her to fully understand her screen character, something she would not have been able to do had she not had the chance to live the role in real life.

Winslet's performance in Little Children should help put a couple of failed efforts behind her. Winslet was panned for her roles in both The Life of David Gale and the recent All the King's Men. Those movies pale next to her efforts and Oscar nominations for Iris and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Patrick Wilson and Jennifer Connelly also star in the film, playing Brad and Kathy Adamson while Gregg Edelman plays Winslet's porn addicted husband Richard Pierce. Sadie Goldstein handles the role of four-year-old Lucy Pierce like another star in the making.

Little Children has explicit sex scenes and has received an R-rating.