Who is Kate Winslet’s son and Goodbye June screenwriter Joe Anders? | Celebrity News | Showbiz & TV

Goodbye June has just landed in cinemas and marks Oscar winner Kate Winslet’s directorial debut. The film tells a poignant tale of a family of four adult children brought back together during the festive period after their mother’s health declines and they have to manage their father.

The movie, which is on limited cinema release, will be hitting screens globally on Netflix on Christmas Eve and boasts an all-star cast, including Winslet, Helen Mirren, Timothy Spall, Andrea Riseborough, Toni Collette, and Johnny Flynn. 

With the film’s release, many are curious about whether Goodbye June is based on a true story, thefilm’s writer and son of director Winslet, Joe Anders, as well as Winslet’s other children. Here’s the lowdown.

Is Goodbye June based on a true story? 

Yes, Goodbye June is based on a true story. The screenplay was written by Winslet’s son Anders after he was tasked with writing a screenplay for his course while at the studying at the National Film and Television School. 

The students were asked to write “something from the heart” and Anders decided to focus on a poignant moment from his own life. 

He explained: “I lost my grandmother when I was 13 and I could never forget how wonderful and also odd it was that all the family were around her and together in sending her off in a peaceful way, at the end of her life. 

“The family was able to give her a passing that she deserved, and it was sort of amazing. It really struck me how fortunate we were to have that with her, and how that’s almost never the case for so many people who have deeply complicated family ties where there is often arguing, conflict and grudges. 

“I tried to write a story about how a family are pulled closer together through the loss and not pulled apart and destroyed by it. I wanted to tell the story of something that happens to us all. But I didn’t want it to be depressing, I wanted it to feel uplifting and cathartic in some way.”

Who is Kate Winslet’s son? 

Joe Anders is Winslet’s son from her second marriage to Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes, who was behind American Beauty, Skyfall, and Empire of Light.

Anders was born Joe Alfie Winslet Mendes but is known professionally as Joe Anders after making the decision in 2022. 

The British-American actor and writer is 21 and was born in New York City. He grew up between America and the UK, but moved with his mother and older half-sister Mia Threapleton to England in 2010 following his parents’ separation that same year.

Anders has three half-siblings, including Threapleton, Bear Blaze from Winslet’s third marriage to businessman Edward Abel Smith, and a younger sister from his father’s second marriage to trumpet player Alison Balsom.

Prior to writing, Anders made his acting debut in his father’s WWI epic 1917 and had a small role as Private Willock.

He featured in Channel 4’s BAFTA-winning drama I Am Ruth opposite his mother and half-sister, playing their son and brother respectively. 

Anders also starred in Winslet’s movie Lee, teen comedy Bonus Track and will next be appearing in TV series Cape Fear and East of Eden.

Winslet has previously defended her son and daughter after accusations of nepotism for featuring in her projects. 

The Titanic and Mare of Easttown recently told BBC News: “I don’t like the nepo baby term because these kids are not getting a leg up.

“You know, [Anders] would say to me, ‘I don’t want people to think that this film is just being made because you’re my mum.’ The film would have been made with or without me, the script is so, so good.

“And with Mia… I just try and say to my children, just follow your heart.”

She added: “There are lots and lots of people in the world whose children go into a similar family business, whether it’s being a judge or a lawyer or a doctor.” 

How many children does Kate Winslet have? 

The Oscar winner has three children. Her eldest is daughter Mia Honey Threapleton from her first marriage to filmmaker Jim Threapleton.

The 25-year-old has followed in her mother’s footsteps and starred in I Am Ruth opposite Winslet, with the drama winning critical acclaim. She made her film debut in a non-speaking part in Winslet’s movie A Little Chaos back in 2014.

The rising star has gone on to appear in TV series Dangerous Liaisons and hit Apple TV+ period drama The Buccaneers, as well as appearing in the movie The Phoenician Scheme.

As mentioned above, screenwriter and actor Joe Anders is 21 and is Winslet’s second child. Anders’ father is director Sam Mendes.

Winslet’s third and youngest child is son Bear Blaze Winslet with her third husband and former businessman Edward Abel Smith.

Smith, who is the nephew of business magnate Richard Branson, was previously known as Ned RocknRoll between 2008 to 2019.

Her youngest child was born in December 2013 and is not in the spotlight.

The Regime star previously explained on The Ellen DeGeneres Show her son’s unique moniker.

She said: “We were thinking about names during the pregnancy and actually I had never – when I was pregnant with Mia, when I was pregnant with Joe – I didn’t name them before they came out because I always felt like I had to see them and see who they’re going to be.

“Of course this time around, there’s Mia and Joe and the whole pregnancy is about what are we going to call the baby.”

She went on to say that they all settled “quite early on” to call the baby Bear after being inspired by a childhood friend, who had the nickname ‘Bear’.

While the middle name ‘Blaze’ came from Winslet and her husband meeting after a house fire.

Goodbye June is screening in cinemas now and is released on Netflix on Christmas Eve