Kate Winslet shares truth about iconic ‘Titanic’ scene that everybody has been getting wrong for 27 years

Kate Winslet has opened up about one of Titanic’s most iconic scenes. Credit: River Callaway/Getty

Released in 1997, James Cameron’s Titanic was immediately a blockbuster success. For 12 years, it was the highest-grossing movie of all time, and currently sits at the number four spot with a whopping $2.264 billion.

As a result, the movie became ingrained in popular culture – with many of the movie’s scenes being referenced in other movies, television shows, and even music videos.

But perhaps no scene is more debated than the heartbreaking “floating door” scene, which sees Jack remain in the freezing waters so that Rose can safely float on the waves and be rescued.

The scene has been referenced in movies like Bruce Almighty, became the subject of a Mythbusters episode, and the prop even sold for more than $700,000 at auction.

Titanic was the highest-grossing movie ever for 12 years. Credit: Bob Riha Jr /Getty

Yes, for nearly three decades, fans have passionately discussed whether Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, Jack Dawson, could have survived the Titanic’s sinking by sharing the floating debris with Winslet’s Rose Dewitt Bukater.

But, it turns out that we’ve all been getting one key fact about that scene wrong ever since the movie’s release.

Winslet has now set the record straight about the scene. Speaking on the Australian talk show, The Project, while promoting her latest film Lee, Winslet shared insights that might change how fans view the iconic cinematic moment.

When asked if there was “room on the door” for Jack, not only did Winsley reveal that she knew she would be asked the question, but she shared a crucial detail: “It actually wasn’t even a door.”

“What I will say that’s really interesting is people keep referring to it as a door. It actually wasn’t even a door,” she said. “It’s a piece of bannister, like stairway or something, that had broken off.

“Who knows if [DiCaprio] could’ve [fit] on there or not. Honestly, I don’t have any insights here that anyone else hasn’t already tried to figure out.”

(Of course, eagle-eyed fans of the movie will remember that – in their panic – the movie clearly establishes that both of them couldn’t fit on the door.)

Titanic director James Cameron has even delved into the physics of the scene with a scientific study, employing stunt doubles to reenact various survival scenarios.

Cameron concluded that while it was possible for Jack to survive, his priority was Rose’s safety. “Jack might’ve lived, but there’s a lot of variables,” Cameron noted, acknowledging the complexity of the situation.

“I think his thought process was, ‘I’m not gonna do one thing that jeopardizes her,’” the famed directed noted.

During a recent Q&A session at the 92nd Street Y for her film Lee, Winslet shared amusing and candid behind-the-scenes details about filming the iconic scene. Contrary to the perilous depths implied on screen, the water was only waist-high.

“Leo, I’m afraid to say, was kneeling down,” she revealed, adding a humorous note about how routine breaks from the freezing water were handled—she would simply walk over to the edge of the tank.

Really does take the sense of dread away from the scene, huh?

Winslet also joked that DiCaprio, now 49, probably suffers from “PTSD” due to the frequency with which he’s questioned about that specific scene.

Anyway, as we move forward, now we all know we have to be asking the question: Could Jack have survived if Rose let him share the piece of floating banister? Not door.