Kate Winslet says she 'felt quite good' about filming 'Ammonite' sex scenes

Watch: Trailer for romantic drama Ammonite

Kate Winslet says she “felt quite good” about performing nude scenes at the age of 43 — despite previously swearing off nudity — in new movie Ammonite.

In the historical drama, Winslet plays Dorset fossil expert Mary Anning, who forms a romantic bond with Saoirse Ronan’s married Charlotte Murchison.

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The two share passionate scenes in the movie, which Winslet and Ronan choreographed themselves with only limited input from director Francis Lee.

Winslet told the Daily Mail that there was “something wonderful about having that shared, equal language with another woman” while shooting intimate moments with Ronan.

She said that all involved in making Ammonite were keen to counter the perception of historic same-sex relationships as being chaste and timid.

“It was very clear to me that they were quite capable of passionate moments — and Saoirse and I both wanted to embody that,” she said.

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Winslet added: “I remember saying: 'Here I am, doing nudity at 43. How is this possible?'

“I swear, I thought I was going to hang up my hat when it came to nudity on screen, but I was surprised at how I felt. I felt quite good about it, really.

“I've got all my marks, and scars, and I'm older. It's a different body than the one I had 20 years ago.”

Ammonite premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and subsequently appeared as the closing film at the London Film Festival.

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Critics have been broadly positive, with the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes rating currently sat at a mixed 68% approval score.

The site’s critical consensus summary reads: “The chemistry between Saoirse Ronan and a never-better Kate Winslet helps Ammonite transcend its period romance trappings.”

Ammonite is due to be released in the UK on 26 March.

Watch: Kate Winslet says Ammonite shows her “true self”