Kate Winslet's inspiring speech about fighting off 'body bullies'

She's previously spoken about people telling her to "settle" for fat girl parts while starting out in the business.

And Kate Winslet expanded on overcoming her battle with her body during an inspirational speech at WE Day UK celebrations at London's Wembley Arena, the Daily Mail reports.

The hugely successful actress, 41, revealed that despite being "bullied at school" for her appearance, where she was regularly called "Blubber", she never gave up on her dreams - ultimately allowing her to be cast in the iconic role of Rose in Titanic. 

Kate looked in high spirits as she got the crowd going with her impassioned speech while donning a WE day UK shirt and spectacles

"You see, I had been bullied at school. They called me Blubber. Teased me for wanting to act. Locked me in the cupboard. Laughed at me. I wasn't the prettiest, I had big feet. 

"And I was even told that I, 'might be lucky with my acting, if I was happy to settle for the fat girl parts'. You’re just not really what we're looking for Kate."

She admitted that she wallowed in self-pity, thinking she "wasn't good enough" and "didn't have the perfect body" because she didn't "fit into someone else's idea of perfect". 

Photo / Getty Images

But ultimately she prevailed: "I didn't lock myself away and give up on my dream. I fought back. I had to ignore the negative comments. I HAD to believe in myself, I had to choose to rise above it all and I had to work hard. 

"You have to be indestructible to do what you love, and BELIEVE that you are worth it. And sometimes that's the hardest part."

After starting in the acting business in 1991, Kate went on to land the highly coveted role of Rose in the 1997 classic Titanic, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio. 

Speaking of the moment, she revealed: "And then one day, I was cast as Rose in Titanic. The most unlikely candidate, Kate from the sandwich shop in Reading. Suddenly acting in one of the biggest movies ever made?."

Culminating her inspiring message, Kate relayed: "You can be from anywhere, and you CAN do anything. Believe it. I learned to embrace my flaws, to make no apology for who I am." 

This article was first published on Daily Mail and is republished here with permission.