Winslet Watches Weight

January 9, 2001 -- British actress Kate Winslet, a former yo-yo dieter and a champion of the healthy female form, has announced that she needs to drop some postpartum weight in order to compete in an industry populated with emaciated forms.

The 25-year-old Titanic star gave birth to a baby girl, Mia, in October. In an interview with Radio Times magazine, the curvy Winslet noted that she was worried she would not get major parts without dropping the weight she put on during her pregnancy.

"It's so insane and bloody boring, and I despise myself for it, but I am trying to diet," she admitted to the mag. "I constantly wave the flag of 'Don't go on diets because they're rubbish,' but I'd like to get a bit of the baby weight off or I won't work."

Winslet, whose figure has been constantly scrutinized by the British press, allegedly gained 13 pounds after filming Titanic but claimed to have obsessively dieted for nude scenes in Holy Smoke and Jude. After her star turn opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in the sinking ship epic, Winslet became increasingly vocal about the lack of realistic shapes in the movie biz.

"I feel my responsibility as a successful English actress is to say to all those young women who are out there in turmoil about their weight, 'Life is short, and it's here to be lived,'" she declared back in 1998. The acclaimed actress was also once quoted as saying she was comfortable with her body. "I'm happy the way I am," she said. "I know I'm not the physical norm of these American film stars."

Her recent pregnancy seems to have changed that comfort factor, but she's not alone: Many stars, including Catherine Zeta-Jones and Madonna, admit they worked out fervently to get back into shape after giving birth. No doubt many of Winslet's adoring fans — and her adoring hubby, Jim Threapleton — hope she doesn't change too much.

Her most recent film, the Marquis de Sade drama Quills, has received much praise — including a nod from the National Board of Review as the best film of 2000.