Kate's startling performance in her first screen appearance did not come by accident. Born on October 5, 1975, in Reading, the striking English blue-eyed, blonde grew up in a family rich in theatrical talent and background. Kate says that at five years old she knew she wanted to be an actress. "Being cast as the Virgin Mary was my first acting buzz... I took it very, very seriously. I remember really, really being Mary. Really, really feeling it." With grandparents who had a 60-seat repertory theater in their back "garden", a father and two sisters who act, and an uncle, Robert Bridges, who played Mr. Bumble in the West End production of Oliver, Kate might have been considered a natural for an acting future.

At age 11, Kate began taking acting lessons in Maidenhead and secured her first acting role in a Sugar Puffs commercial dancing with the Honey Monster. She attended a performing arts school and followed her graduation with roles in the British television drama Shrinks. This was followed by appearances in television series; Casualty, Dark Season, Get Back, and Anglo-Saxon Attitudes. Kate's theatrical roles including Pandora in the musical Adrian Mole, Wendy in Peter Pan, Sarah in A Game of Soldier, and Geraldine in What the Butler Saw.

One day while working at the deli, Kate received a phone call. The message? Kate had been selected out of a group of 175 aspiring actresses for a co-starring role as Juliet Hulme, one of a pair of obsessive, matricidal schoolgirls in the 1950s in director Peter Jackson's movie, Heavenly Creatures along with Melanie Lynskey. Screenwriter and producer Emma Thompson, cast her at first sight for the role in which Kate earned herself an even greater accolade of a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination from the Academy. Kate has continued to distinguish herself in other productions including "Jude" and Kenneth Branagh's "Hamlet".

Kate's most successful movie to date is "Titanic", playing the role of Rose Dewitt Bukater, an upper-class Philadelphian aboard the ill fated ocean liner. Following the success of "Titanic", Kate starred in some smaller films, such as, "Hideous Kinky" set in Morocco and then in "Holy Smoke" opposite Harvey Keitel.Another memorable work for Kate was seen in the film "Quills", The film is based on the life of the Marquis de Sade and Kate plays the role of Madeleine Leclerc, de Sade's maid.

Awards :
* Grammy award for best spoken word album for CHILDREN (2000).
* Won the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a supporting role in 2nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Award 1996.
* Voted the Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role at the British Academy Award 1996 through her appearance in SENSE AND SENSIBILITY.
* She won BAFTA Film Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in 1996 for SENSE AND SENSIBILITY.