Kate Winslet was frustrated by male film bosses misunderstanding Lee

Kate Winslet says it was hard to convince male film bosses to make 'Lee'.

The 49-year-old actress plays model-turned-war photographer Lee Miller in the biopic but admits that she was left frustrated in her attempts to get men to "understand" the project as she sought financial backing.

Speaking at the Zurich Film Festival, Kate – who is a producer on the picture – said: "We didn't have anything handed to us on a plate. I did come up against people, forgive me – men – who just didn't understand what this film was.

"It's about a woman who was challenged, who doesn't look like a pretty picture for most of the film, who was getting down and dirty with life. I did have a potential financier say to me: 'So, why should I like this woman?' Okay, so not you then."

She continued: "One director wanted to make a film I really wasn't sure about. He said: 'If you make it, I'll help you get your 'little Lee Miller film ' funded.' Again – NO! You won't help me, go away. I wasn't going to work with people Lee wouldn't have approved of."

Kate was honoured with the Golden Icon Award at the festival in Switzerland but explained that she hasn't given much thought to her "legacy" as an actress.

The Oscar-winning star said: "I am not going anywhere, but I don't really think about legacy as much as I think about how important it is to tell stories and make films.

"To be someone who always wants to do this job doesn't just mean playing interesting parts. It's more than that – it's about the entire experience."