Then and Now: Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet

I barely recognized Kate when I first saw this picture!

   I've decided to start a monthly "Then and Now" article that will basically compare two celebrities who've starred in two plus movies and how they looked in their first film together and then their most recent one. (Wow, that was a mouthful.) So, for August I chose Leo and Kate 'cause they're my favorite actors in the whole wide world of the U.S. and Britain (I really wish I could watch more foreign films). But honestly, I love French actress Audrey Tautou in Hors de Prix! In short, I'm a female of varietal taste. 

   Anyway, back to who we're going to focus on: Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Some background information first -- Leo was born in 1974 and Kate was born in 1975. Obviously, he's American, she's British, et cetera. On to the facts.

Mhmm. Yum.

Girls, make sure you don't date a
psychopath unless you want to be one.

   In 1996, both Leo and Kate starred in a Shakespearean drama. He was the dashing Romeo Montague and she was the maniacal Ophelia, boyfriend to Kenneth Branagh -- ahem, I mean Hamlet. Seems like destiny, right? I would say so, because they would be launched into stardom as they started filming their next movie, Titanic. Fast forward a year, and on December 19, 1997, Kate and Leo's first ever movie together premiered  in the United States of America. (Condolences to Kate, who couldn't make the premiere due to the death of a dear friend.) Little did they know after all the crazy rumors of Titanic being a flop that they would go on to make movie history.

   After that, they remained good friends. Gossipers like me would say they had a fling but, being the smart people (I think) they were, they kept it a very well-kept secret. And to this day, they are still "platonic friends." They won't see much of each other until after Kate's first marriage fails and she strikes up a new one with director Sam Mendes -- and the stars are reunited once again.

    Let's give a warm welcome to the rated-R marriage disaster film of awesomeness only because Leo and Kate are in it. (Honestly, I've never seen this movie, but apparently it's good. Like, The Reader good.) It's called...hold the silence...Revolutionary Road! And yes, it came out in 2008, ten whole years of dealing with the bumpy road of Leo aging and Kate looking even better!

    Now, let's compare. If you would please take a look at the picture above. As you can see, it's pretty obvious to tell which one is older and which one is younger. Leo has that rounder face and older appearance while rocking out some facial hair. Kate's heart-shaped face has turned around for the better, and her looks have skyrocketed. (In fact, some critics say she's aged a million times better than Leo.) But I'm not here to judge. I love them both!

Frank and April. How could this marriage fail?!

   You don't need me to tell you that the Kate and Leo we love and remember as star-crossed Jack and Rose in Titanic have changed. It's there in the pictures. After doing Revolutionary Road together, Leo gave Kate a ring; but what about the engraving? She keeps that a secret -- for there are many questions about the adorable couple that we will never have answers to. Unless one of them states it in their will, that is. I'll be elderly by then, and my kids will be saying "Ew, you liked that guy?! He's so old!"

Adorable! I fell in love
with this pic when I first saw it.

    Last, but not least, Leo's character (SPOILER ALERTS UP AHEAD!) died in Titanic. I say it's only fair that Kate die in Revolutionary Road. (Which, unsurprisingly, did happen!) But I don't think it serves justice that Jack perished from hypothermia and April died from an abortion gone wrong. I mean, that's grisly, right? Right?? (Though the drama and guilt are fantastic!)

   Leo and Kate. You gotta love them! Do you have a certain celebrity couple you want deciphered? Like Johnny Depp and Helena Bonhman Carter, perhaps? That will be coming up soon! 

Watch the Trailers!