Kate Winslet believed that the small set they used helped them to develop their character's strained relationship. Hailing Winslet as "the best English-speaking film actress of her generation", David Edelstein of "New York" magazine wrote that "there isn't a banal moment in Winslet's performance—not a gesture, not a word". To avoid a scheduling conflict with "Revolutionary Road", Winslet turned down an offer to star in "The Reader". After her replacement Nicole Kidman left the project due to her pregnancy, Winslet was signed to it. Directed by Stephen Daldry, "The Reader" is based on Bernhard Schlink's novel "Der Vorleser" and is about Hanna
Empire Award for Best British Actress Empire Award for Best British Actress The Empire Award for Best British Actress was an Empire Award presented annually by the British film magazine "Empire" to honor a British actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role while working within the film industry. The Empire Award for Best British Actress was first introduced at the 1st Empire Awards ceremony in 1996 with Kate Winslet receiving the award for her role in "Heavenly Creatures" and last presented at the 10th Empire Awards ceremony in 2005. It was one of three Best British awards retired that year (the others