Kate Winslet always had maturity beyond her years, says Sir Kenneth Branagh

Kate Winslet has always shown "maturity beyond her years", according to Sir Kenneth Branagh.

The 50-year-old actress starred in the 1996 film adaptation of Hamlet, and Branagh, who directed her in the movie, still has fond memories of working with the movie star.

Speaking at the Variety Lounge at Edinburgh International Film Festival, Branagh shared: "She, perhaps uniquely, is the person who walked into the room and brought with them a sense of self possession, not arrogance, but just sort of being fully present. She seemed to have a maturity beyond her years."

Kate was working on Hamlet on the day she was cast in Titanic, the James Cameron-directed historical romance film.

Branagh, 65, knew Titanic would be a "very special" project and he knew the role would change Kate's life, too.

He said: "There was a lot of talk about this enormous film that was going to happen, and we were all big fans of Cameron’s. And you felt, we’re at a little pivotal moment.

"There was a smell about Titanic that — aside from its name, its director and the subject — it would be very special. The casting search had already been something that had become a sort of legend in its own terms."

Branagh also recalled taking Kate aside at one point to offer her some advice.

He told her: "Enjoy every moment up until the premiere of that movie, because your life will change after it."

The actor-turned-director added: "I hope it wasn’t a depressing thing to hear!"

Meanwhile, Kate previously revealed that she finds the continued fascination with Titanic to be "curious".

The actress starred alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in the 1997 romantic-disaster film, and Kate finds it odd that her comments about Titanic remain the "take-home" from some of her interviews.

Asked if she gets annoyed by questions about the record-breaking movie, Kate told 60 Minutes: "No. I tell you what I do sometimes find just curious, I suppose, is whatever I say about Titanic will often be the take-home."

Kate finds that her comments about Titanic continue to overshadow what she has to say about her newer projects.