Why Ronal In Avatar: The Way Of Water Looks So Familiar

James Cameron is kind of a big deal. Almost as big as the films he's directed. From futuristic assassins to aliens with HDMI hair braids, Cameron is responsible for some of the biggest breakthroughs in filmmaking history — and the breakthrough stars who helped him along the way. His first trip to Pandora in 2009's "Avatar," for example, made household names of the likes of Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana.

Now, on our visit back to the alien moon in "Avatar: The Way of Water," audiences will be reunited with both familiar CGI faces and a band of new ones. In the time that we've been off-world, Jake Sully (Worthington) and Neytiri (Saldana) have made a family, who find themselves on a new adventure. Their journey introduces them to Ronal, the mate of the leader of the Metkayina tribe, Tonowari (Cliff Curtis).

Of course, only the highest caliber of Hollywood star would be suited to a role of such status. It makes sense, then, that Cameron called in one of his former collaborators, who, since their last joint project, has won an Oscar and two Emmys as well as received a host of nominations for her work over the years (via IMDb). Now she's adding a new movie to her filmography in conditions not dissimilar to those the first time she and Cameron met, when he became king of the world and she bloomed into a Rose that the world fell in love with.

While Kate Winslet might have broken records holding her breath in "Avatar: The Way of Water," it left us thinking it might not be worth holding ours following her time aboard the "Titanic" alongside a pretty in-demand Leonardo DiCaprio. It may have turned Cameron into the king of the world and made Winslet a world-famous star following the release, but there was a time when the actor seemed like she wouldn't be too keen on working in the water again.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times in 1997, Winslet quickly swore off the possibility of ever working on a movie set in the water again. Interestingly, she also shared her perspective on the legendary blockbuster builder. As much respect as she had for Cameron, like a famous hero in the franchise he's going up against so often, you wouldn't like him when he's angry. "He has a temper like you wouldn't believe," she explained. Be that as it may, there was no denying that the work they did together the first time around was one for the ages.

Since its release, Kate Winslet's cozy little rom-com in which she stars opposite Jack Black while Jude Law's character woos Cameron Diaz's has cemented itself into some people's favorite Christmas movie lists. Directed by Nancy Mayers, the film sees Winslet's English countryside-based Iris house swap with Los Angeles homeowner Amanda for Christmas. In their separate ways, they both find that the getaway is precisely what they need, with Jack Black warming Iris' heart by singing in a video rental store (remember those?) and Amanda introduced to Mr. Napkin Head.

The film still has quite the following, so much so that after rumors got out about a sequel, Winslet had to break some hearts all over again. She revealed the truth to People, chiming in with bad news for anyone hoping for another "Holiday" movie. "I promise you not an agent or a representative or anyone from the first one around has had any conversation with me about that. Hand on heart, that's never come up." We might as well just cancel Christmas now, then.

Successful films are a dime a dozen, as every weekend box-office report will tell you. Very few of them, however, manage to strike a chord years after their initial release, a feat pulled off by Steven Soderbergh's 2011 thriller "Contagion," which boasts an all-star cast, including Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kate Winslet. A nerve-shredding watch even upon initial release, the film focuses on the arrival of a virus and the desperate attempt by various parties to contain it — and it gained new attention during the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March 2020, it climbed to iTunes' top 10 most popular movies (via Insider). By this point, though, the film had already come back to Winslet's radar, who revealed on "The Graham Norton Show" in February 2021 that she is still in contact with the film's writer, Scott Z. Burns, who advised her on the correct precautions. "He was messaging me, saying, 'It's coming. Masks everywhere,'" she shared. "Me and my family, we were definitely wearing our masks for quite a long time before I think a lot of other people were."

Not content with delivering sterling performances only on the big screen, Kate Winslet stunned audiences in 2021 when she took the lead in HBO's award-winning drama series "Mare of Easttown." Created by Brad Ingelsby, the limited series follows Winslet's Detective Marianne "Mare" Sheehan, who is tasked with investigating the murder of a teenage mother.

"Mare of Easttown" became one of the most-talked-about shows on HBO, with Winslet winning an Emmy for her performance during awards season. With such success, hopes were high that Mare would be given a new case after Season 1, which Winslet admitted to Entertainment Weekly would be a challenge. "Creatively, Brad has shared some very cool ideas," she began. "But I also have to figure out 'Can I do it? Could I go through it again?' Because it did cost me a lot emotionally to be her, and I just have to figure out if I can summon all that up again and do it all again, but it was a ride, that's for sure."