Kate Winslet says being catapulted to fame was a "rude awakening".

The star became a worldwide star after appearing in the 1997 movie Titanic, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio.

Kate was 21 at the time, and although she felt mature enough to take on the film project, the attention that ensued was overwhelming.

"I remember thinking, I am much more grown up than other people my age, I am much more headstrong and I know exactly who I am.' Of course I look back and I didn't have a clue. It is only in the last couple of years of my life that I have figured it all out, or more out than I had done then. Now I do have feeling of, OK I get it now. Now I understand myself,'" she explained in an interview with a UK TV show.

"It was hard, being that famous that quickly. One day I could go and buy a pint of milk and the next day I couldn't do that anymore or I could but they would write about how terrible I looked because I hadn't put my make-up on.

"It is a rather rude awakening when that happens to you."

Kate is first seen looking up at the Titanic wearing a blue hat in the James Cameron-directed blockbuster. The star says her memories of shooting the scenes are very vivid.

"I remember everything about the day we shot that scene. It was boiling hot and I was sweating like hell in that costume. I remember what all my costumes felt like to run in and to move in," she smiled.