Will Kate Winslet’s third marriage be a charm?
And will she change her name to Kate Rocknroll? Because that’s her new husband’s last name. The British Titanic beauty secretly married Ned Rocknroll – and yes, that is his real name – a couple of weeks ago in New York City. But this isn’t just some guy with a weird last name. He’s the nephew of super-rich Sir Richard Branson, which means he’s probably got a ton of money of his own, and with a last name like Rocknroll, he’s gotta be a fun guy, right?
Maybe this time, Kate just wants to have a spot of fun. Here’s a look at the Oscar winner’s latest trip down the aisle:
1. Leonardo DiCaprio Gave Her Away
Yep, the two stars have remained super-close friends ever since they got aboard that doomed Titanic ship and were known as star-crossed lovers ever since. True, his character drowned after she promised to never let go — and she did — but that’s beside the point. They’ve gone on to make a lot of movies since then, at least one together, and they’ve come a long way since flying on the front of the Titanic.
2. Kate and Ned Kept it a Secret
The only ones attending were her two kids and some friends. Even her parents didn’t know she was getting married again, and the couple has been secretly engaged for months.
3. This Isn’t the First Time She’s Kept it a Secret
In 2003, Winslet married Skyfall director Sam Mendes, her second husband, in a secret ceremony on an island in the Caribbean with just her daughter Mia and three friends there. They split up in 2010 and divorced in 2011.
4. Kate met Ned at Branson’s Home
Winslet and Rocknroll met at Branson’s Necker Island while she was there on vacation with another guy, model Louis Dowler. But she and Ned hit it off (romantic place, Necker Island) and soon they were a couple.
5. Ned Apparently Likes a Hero
Don’t forget, that’s also when Branson’s house on the Caribbean island caught fire during Hurricane Irene, and Winslet got Branson’s mother out and to safety. Beautiful and a hero – what’s not to love?
6. Ned Had His Name Legally Changed
What, you thought there really was a guy whose last name was Rocknroll? He was born Ned Abel Smith, which admittedly is one of the most boring names in the world. According to his first wife:
It was hysterical. We had discussed him doing this many times before, but I wasn’t sure whether he’d do it. The whole thing was about having fun with your name. He thought we all took ourselves too seriously so it was about reacting against it.
7. The Bransons Like Nepotism, Apparently
Ned works for his uncle in Virgin’s space tourism division, and has given himself the impressive-sounding title “Head of Astronaut Relations and Marketing.” So in other words, the guy does public relations.
8. Kate Isn’t His First Wealthy Wife
Rocknroll’s first wife is British socialite Eliza Pearson, the daughter of a terribly wealthy British viscount. They’ve apparently stayed friends, even though she’s the one who broke up with him.
9. Ned Stole Kate From a Burberry Model – and the Model Was Not Happy
After Winslet dumped Louis Dowler to date Rocknroll last year, Dowler had a hard time getting over the very public snub. And can you blame him – getting dumped for a guy whose last name is Rocknroll?
I don’t think Kate behaved well and it is still very raw for me. I was in love with her and you can’t switch that off overnight.
10. She Hopes For the Best With Her Kids
From all accounts, Kate’s son and daughter like having a stepdad whose last name is Rocknroll. They met him not long after their mom did, and they attended the wedding. Kate, though, puts her kids first:
There’s no way that I’m going to allow my children to be f***ed up because my marriages haven’t worked out. I so wish that that wasn’t the case, that that hadn’t happened in my life, but it has. So I will make the best of it.