Andre Lamar|Delaware News Journal
UPDATE: Kate Winslet won her fifth Golden Globe at the 79th annual event.
The Wawa-loving English actress Kate Winslet is on a special mission this weekend that would make a James Bond villain jealous.
The Hollywood star has a legit shot at taking over the world Sunday.
The world Winslet seeks to get her hands on is in the form of a Golden Globe Award, as she’s nominated for Best Actressin a Television Motion Picturefor her role in the Delco-based crime thriller “Mare of Easttown.”
The Emmy-winning HBO show is also nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Television Motion Picture.
Delco fans were thrilled about seeing hoagies, cameos from Wawa, and Winslet munching on Cheese Whiz on the binge-worthy drama.
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“Mare” debuted in April, but Twitter is still gushing over Winslet’s performance as detective Marianne "Mare" Sheehan, a woman with a Delco accent trying to solve a cold case involving a slain young motherin thePennsylvania suburb.
“Last night I was totally hooked on Mare of Easttown! I recommend it to all who like suspense. Kate Winslet is amazing!!! No spoilers please I have 3 more to go!” a new fan of the show tweeted.
“I like my nightshifts. I watch over homeless people who sleep and can simultaneously watch series the whole night. Last night I started watching #MareOfEasttown and it's so unbelievably good! Kate Winslet is easily one of the best actors of her generation. And Jean Smart,” sang the lengthy praises of another newcomer to the HBO hit.
“Binge watched #mareofeasttown last night. I truly hope there is a Season 2. What a rollercoaster of emotions & gasps this show had. I am paying for staying up until 2:30AM, but so worth it,” Tweeted an addicted “Mare” fan.
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Is ‘Mare’ gone for good?
Unfortunately for that Twitter fan, season two of “Mare” is unlikely, as it was conceived as a limited series.
HBO has not announced a second chapter, despite how much buzz"Mare'' generated last year.
But Winslet is open to the idea of returning for a second season, she told The Guardian in a new interview.
She also thinks season two could focus more on police brutality, a topic that’s garnered a lot of discussion throughout the pandemic – including from high-profile police killings that included the deaths of George Floyd and Breanna Taylor.
“I don’t know if I’m going to be playing Mare again. But if we were to do a second season, then for sure these atrocities which have existed in the police force here and in America will find their way into the stories we tell.
“One hundred percent. You can’t pretend these things haven’t happened,” she said in the interview. “It’s horrible, isn’t it? This moment in time. It’s horrific.”
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Some folks on Twitter, however, would be happier if HBO pumps the brakes on “Mare” altogether.
“#MareOfEasttown is not good, but I’m very jealous of Angourie Rice’s hair,” said an unimpressed viewer, referencing Rice’s fresh pixie cut in the show.
“Kate Winslet was obviously amazing. Jean Smart delivered everything wonderfully. Evan Peters made such an impact. And the rest of the cast. God damn! HBO don’t make a season 2 of this. You can’t recreate it,” one fan argued on Twitter.
But there appear to be many more Twitter fans who want to see the show live on for at least another year.
“I need more Kate Winslet & Jean Smart in my life. I’m sure there’s plenty of other messed up people in that town to warrant a season 2,” a fan of the show pleaded.
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Critics slam star's appearance
In her interview with The Guardian, the 46-year-old Winslet addressed internet commentsabout her appearance on the show.
The goal for hercharacter was to look middle-aged and unglamorous with wrinkles and a little pudgy belly.
“The discussion about how Mare looked blew my mind,” Winslet said told The Guardian.
“People were asking, ‘Did she gain weight? Didn’t she look frumpy? Wasn’t that brave of her?’ But why should that be brave? I suppose because it’s not how leading actresses are represented,” she added.
“Maybe Mare will be the tipping point, and we’re going to stop scrutinizing women on screen quite so much.”
Only time will tell if “Mare” will change society’s concept of beauty standards.
At the same time, both Winslet and “Mare of Easttown” are up for Golden Globe Awards, and winning one could extend this conversation well into 2022.
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Winslet is wowed by Wawa
The Hollywood actress made headlines last spring after she explained how magical it was for her to finally visit Delco’s most talked-about convenience store: Wawa.
She shared this during an episode on the Los Angeles Times podcast “The Envelope.”
“It almost felt like a mythical place … Wawa,” Winslet said on the podcast. “By the time I got there, I was like ‘Look, it’s real! … It’s Wawa!’”
Fans couldn’t handle this revelation. Then again, some fans were already going crazy when they saw Wawa was in the first episode of “Mare.”
“I’d watch Kate Winslet and Jean Smart eat Hoagies and Frozen Ice from Wawa for 60 minutes,” one hype fan tweeted.
“I’m with Winslet Wawa is my jam!” another Wawa enthusiast wrote.
“So watching #MareOfEasttown on @hbomax and they mentioned @Wawa,” a fan tweeted. “that’s what’s up! PA all day baby. By the way, LOVING this show and Kate winslet is amazing as usual!”
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What’s after the Golden Globes?
On Sunday, if Winslet wins a Golden Globe for Best Actress, it’ll be her fifth Globe.
The "Titanic" actress would only need to win one moreif she wanted to create her own replica Infinity Gauntlet like theMarvel villain Thanos.
Last fall, she took home the Emmy Award for Best Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series for "Mare,'' which garnered 11 nominations and three other wins.
Speaking of whimsical projects, Winslet is going to be in James Cameron’s sci-fi film “Avatar 2” that’s slated for this year, according to IMDB. She’s also slated to do voice work in “Naya Legend of Golden Dolphin,” per IMDB, which is set for 2023.
Winslet and “Mare” also have earned five nominations fromthe Critics Choice Awards.
The award show was set to return for an in-person ceremonyon Sunday, the same day as the 78th annual Golden Globes, but it’s been postponed due to the surge in COVID cases.
The actress is alsopredicted to benominated for a Screen Actors Guild for her performance on “Mare.” The official SAG nominations will be announced Jan. 12, while the awards show is Feb. 27.
One fan thinks "Mare of Easttown" should get renamed to better reflect what they feel itrepresents.
“Should be called Mare of Delco," a fan tweeted,brimming with Delco pride. "We have refineries, wawa breakfast sandwich, ez cheese, PECO, drug use, yuengling, and an asshole dad who hates his job. Spot on portrayal!”
Due to the pandemic, the Golden Globes has changed course and will host only a virtual ceremony with no in-person guests. There will not be a red-carpet event either.
The Golden Globes will be streamed onwww.goldenglobes.comand on the Golden Globes' social media at 9p.m. Eastern on Sunday.
Andre Lamar is the features/lifestyle reporter. If you have an interesting story idea, email Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com.
