Oscar-Winning Actress Kate Winslet Surprises Young Film Fan
Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet has delighted a young film fan with a surprise call after learning about her journey of traveling 140 miles to attend an accessible cinema screening.
Fourteen-year-old Eryn, who has been blind since birth, made the three-hour round trip to watch The Magic Faraway Tree, a film adaptation of Enid Blyton's beloved book series.
Eryn explained that the journey was necessary because the cinema was the only one her family could find that offered audio description (AD) headsets, which are essential for visually impaired viewers.
Winslet, who provided the voice for the audiobooks of The Magic Faraway Tree series, expressed to the teenager that she was "absolutely staggered" by the distance Eryn had to travel.
Eryn, from Brookeborough in County Fermanagh, previously told NI that she rarely visits the cinema as the nearby IMC in Enniskillen does not provide AD headsets.
She has been a longtime fan of the Magical Faraway Tree book series and was excited to experience the film adaptation despite the long journey.
The nearest cinema equipped with the necessary audio description services required a 140-mile round trip.
NI made several attempts to contact IMC Cinemas for comment, but no response was received.
After reading Eryn's story, Winslet shared it with the film's producer Dame Pippa Harris and screenwriter Simon Farnaby.
Together, they arranged a video call with Eryn, during which Dame Pippa expressed hopes to "create a bit of momentum and make sure that cinemas everywhere have got AD versions of all the movies so that everyone can see them and enjoy them."
'I Recognised Kate's Voice'
During the video call, Eryn was introduced to a surprise guest—Kate Winslet herself—and was nearly speechless.
"I recognised her voice from the outset but it was just such a shock," Eryn said.
Winslet had voiced the audiobooks, which Eryn mentioned she had listened to many times.
The actress expressed that she was "thrilled" to speak with Eryn and "absolutely staggered" by the fact that the young fan had to travel such a distance to see the film.
"We want to be able to support you as much as we can in doing that. So hopefully we can be a part of that and helping you make that change," Winslet told her.
"I think anything that makes these experiences inclusive as possible, that's why we all make films."
Calls for Expanded Audio Description Services
Winslet also shared humorous stories about her home life, which surprised Eryn with how down to earth the Oscar winner is.
"I thought she would be in a mansion or something," Eryn said, laughing.
Following the call, Eryn was moved to tears of joy and hopes that Winslet's support will help raise awareness about the need for audio description availability in cinemas.
"Obviously, Kate Winslet is very famous so for her to back my campaign I'd like to hope that more people will take it seriously," Eryn said.
"She can spread this further than we can if she gets it out to the right people and to the right circles, then I'd like to just hope that this message will spread and that the cinemas will take notice."
Eryn expressed her enjoyment of the film despite the travel and was delighted to speak with the team behind it.
"They let me ask the questions and to learn more about the movie," she said afterwards.
Ben Luxford, Director of UK Audiences at the British Film Institute, commented on the situation.
"We are passionate advocates of the need for cinemas to offer regular accessible screenings and we work with the film industry to create, promote and enhance the provision offered to audiences.
Eryn's story is a powerful reminder of the reality many audiences face in finding suitable screenings that meet their need, and we hope that the cinema industry will respond appropriately."
'I'm Writing a Part for You'
Bafta award-winning producer Dame Pippa Harris told Eryn she was "so pleased that we were able to track you down and sort of apologise on behalf of the cinema industry."
"This might put more pressure on the cinemas to make sure that no other kid has to travel quite as far as you did to see a film because it's really terrible," she said.
Screenwriter Simon Farnaby, who also appeared in the film, echoed this sentiment.
"Thank you for taking an interest in it and for trying to help provide audio descriptions in the cinemas."
Farnaby also revealed that Eryn might have a role in the sequel to The Magic Faraway Tree movie, which he is currently working on.
"I was just working on it today, actually. I'm writing a part for you already!" he joked.
