Baby No.2 for Kate
Kate Winslet and Sam Mendes - who secretly married in May - revealed yesterday that they are expecting their first baby together early in the New Year.
It will be a second child for the 27-year-old Titanic star, who has a two-and a-half-year-old daughter, Mia, from her first marriage to Jim Threapleton, which ended in divorce.
The couple were said to be euphoric at the news. In fact, Miss Winslet was newly pregnant when she wed stage and screen director Mendes on the Caribbean island of Anguilla, but did not discover her condition until later.
Last night, they were holidaying in Tuscany with close family members. Their spokesman said: 'They are absolutely delighted. Kate and Sam have been desperate to have a child together.'
Miss Winslet told friends she feels fantastic after a brief spell of morning sickness. Both
families are thrilled, particularly Mendes's mother, Valerie - he is her only child. 'I can't wait to be a grandmother!' she exclaimed when the couple started going out 22 months ago.
Their wedding was a low-key affair, with just three close friends as witnesses and had the appearance of being arranged at the last minute. But the couple had, in fact, been secretly engaged for a year after 37-year-old Mendes proposed to Miss Winslet.
They said they had thought about where to marry for some time. The surprise was how they sprung it on their friends, who thought they were joining the couple for a holiday, not a wedding.
The actress started turning down firm job offers several weeks ago - including some major film parts - but few had any clue as to the reason why, although many were guessing.
Just two weeks ago, the movie Neverland, in which Miss Winslet appears as a widow who becomes friendly with Peter Pan author J M Barrie - played by Johnny Depp - had its opening date moved from the end of this year to the spring.
The star cried when she saw the touching film about children and parenting. But only she, at that time, knew why.
When she was pregnant with Mia, she starred in the movie Enigma, but this time is keen to keep a low work profile. Earlier this year, she and Mendes were working on separate projects in New York.
Miss Winslet was filming the comedy Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind with Jim Carrey, while Mendes was transferring his final productions from the Donmar Theatre in London - Twelfth Night and Uncle Vanya - to a theatre in Brooklyn. Then he staged the musical Gypsy.
He may direct another play in London at the end of 2003, but next year will direct a new movie. The couple have been taking it easy in Italy - going for long walks together, or with Mia and her cousins.
'They're over the Moon,' said a friend. 'They had a very busy first six months of the year and now they feel they've earned the right to relax with their families.'
