Kate Winslet, the renowned actress, has been married to Edward Abel Smith, also known as Ned Rocknroll, since 2012. While they keep their personal life private, Smith has been a significant support to Winslet’s successful career over the past 13 years.
Here, we’ll delve into the life of Edward Abel Smith, Winslet’s dream man.
Who is Edward Abel Smith?
Edward Abel Smith, also known as Ned Rocknroll, is the nephew of the well-known billionaire and amateur space traveler, Richard Branson, who is the owner and founder of the Virgin Group.
Before marrying Winslet, Smith worked for Virgin Galactic, the space arm of the company, as the head of marketing promotion and astronaut experience. In 2011, the couple was seen holding hands during the launch of Spaceport America in New Mexico.
Smith was born as Abel Smith, but he legally changed his name to Ned Rocknroll. In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel Live, Winslet explained the situation, saying, “So his birth name is Abel Smith.
And as time went by, and Ned became Ned—who is quite an original personality—he just decided at one point in his life to just change his name to Rocknroll. Ned Rocknroll. So when I met him, his name was Ned Rocknroll. This is completely true.”
Winslet went on to explain that Smith decided to change his name back to Abel Smith as explaining it to other people got more complicated for them both. She said, “I got to the point where I’m like, you know, I’m filling in doctors’ forms and it says ‘mother’s name’ and ‘father’s name,’ and I’m like, ‘Honey… are we going to keep going?’ And he’s like, ‘Yeah, you’re right. I’ll just change it back.’ So, he changed it back.”
Winslet’s Thoughts on Marriage and Names
In an interview with The Telegraph, Winslet admitted she had no intention of becoming Mrs. Rocknroll nor Mrs. Smith. She said, “I was never going to change my name to Rocknroll… I’ve never changed my name to anything, so I didn’t see a reason to start now. I quite like Kate Winslet… In fact, I think it’s very flashy.”
Winslet has been married twice before, to directors Jim Threapleton and Sam Mendes, and stayed Winslet the whole time. In fact, Smith eventually adopted her name as a part of his. She told The New York Times, “He added ‘Winslet’ as one of his middle names, just simply because the children have Winslet. When we’re all traveling together, to all have that name on the passport makes life easier.”
Winslet shared some more details about her husband’s personality, saying, “He didn’t particularly plan on meeting and marrying a woman who is in the public eye and therefore having been so judged… He’s vegan, does yoga, breath work, and cold water swims.”
Supporting Winslet’s Career
Smith has been a huge support to Winslet’s successful career. She told WSJ Magazine in 2015, “Thank God for Ned—really. He’s just so incredibly supportive, and he’s so much fun. He’s absolutely everything to me. And to all of us.”
That same year, she attributed many of her personal successes to her supportive husband. She told People, “My creative life in the last few years has been really, really, colorful for me… And I’ve really, really enjoyed being able to embrace that. I have a wonderful man in my life who is so incredibly supportive that makes it possible for me to have those experiences. It’s been a really fun time.”
Smith now takes care of their son, Bear Blaze, setting aside space travel administration. Winslet told The New York Times, “He looks after us, especially me… I said to him earlier, like, ‘Neddy, could you do something for me?’ He just went, ‘Anything.’ He is an absolutely extraordinary life partner.”
Meeting and Falling in Love
The couple had a very dramatic first meet in August 2011 while vacationing on Branson’s Necker Island in the Caribbean. A huge fire broke out in the “Great House,” supposedly from a strike of lightning during Hurricane Irene. Winslet reportedly helped Branson’s 90-year-old mother out of the main house, and Smith headed to a neighboring home.
While promoting her film with Idris Elba, The Mountain Between Us, Winslet compared the story of people lost in the wilderness to the extreme circumstances that brought her and Smith together. She told People, “Exactly the same thing happened to me when I met my husband… He was a complete stranger, we met, and then the next day the house burnt down.”
Their Marriage and Family
Soon after that hot connection, the pair got engaged, though they made no announcement. They were married in December 2012 in upstate New York. Her Titanic costar Leonardo DiCaprio was there to walk her down the aisle.
A rep for Winslet told People at the time, “I can confirm that Kate Winslet married Ned Rock’nRoll in NY earlier this month in a private ceremony attended by her two children and a very few friends and family. The couple had been engaged since the summer.”
They share one son, Bear Blaze Winslet, whose middle name is supposedly a nod to the Necker Island incident. Winslet has two other children, one with each of her ex-husbands, Mia Threapleton and Joe Mendes.
FAQs
Who is Edward Abel Smith?
Edward Abel Smith, also known as Ned Rocknroll, is the nephew of Richard Branson and the husband of Kate Winslet.
Why did Edward Abel Smith change his name?
Before marrying Winslet, Smith worked for Virgin Galactic as the head of marketing promotion and astronaut experience.
How long have Kate Winslet and Edward Abel Smith been together?
The couple got married in December 2012 and has been together for over 14 years.
Do Kate Winslet and Edward Abel Smith have any children?
They share one son, Bear Blaze Winslet, born in 2013. Winslet also has two children from previous marriages.
