Kate Winslet turns 40............

Did you know that Kate Winslet’s middle name is Elizabeth? The Oscar-winning actress, who gained international recognition following her role in the mega-successful Titanic, is 40.

Acting runs in Winslet's blood — both her parents, Roger Winslet (R) and Sally Bridges Winslet (L) — are actors. Again, her maternal grandparents founded the Reading Repertory Theatre.

She made her acting debut at the age of 11 in a commercial for the children’s cereal, Sugar Puff.

She began taking acting lessons at the age of 11 and went to performing arts high school later on. (Pictured) Kate Winslet (2nd row L) in the British sitcom Get Back (1993).

Her first film break came in 1994 when she was only 17. She played an obsessive adolescent in Heavenly Creatures, a role that fetched her British Film Actress of The Year award from the London Film Critics Circle. (Pictured) Winslet with co-star Melanie Lynskey (L) in a still from the film.

Winslet was making a pastrami sandwich at a deli she was working at, when her agent informed her that she had been selected for Heavenly Creatures.

After portraying a string of period roles in films such as Sense and Sensibility (1995), Jude (1996),  Hamlet (1996), and Titanic (1997), she came to be known as a Period Piece Babe. (Pictured) Rose dolls, named after the character played by Kate Winslet in Titanic, that are part of the Titanic memorabilia.

She was the only actor to not wear a wetsuit while filming the water scenes in Titanic.

Deborah Lynn Scott specially designed Winslet’s dress for the climax scenes of Titanic so that it could bear all the pressure of filming in water.

Winslet and her co-star Leonardo DiCaprio’s (L) friendship began on the sets of Titanic. During her wedding to Ned Rocknroll, it was DiCaprio who walked her down the aisle.