Kate Winslet tracked down one of the world's last Rolleiflex technicians for her Lee Miller biopic – and made a replica camera for her co-star in the movie
The pre-war twin-lens camera Miller carried reveals as much about the model-turned-photographer as any of her images.
Actress Kate Winslet brought a unique approach to her portrayal of Lee Miller in the biopic of the same name. Winslet, who served as executive producer on the film, didn't just research Miller's life - she took extraordinary steps to fully immerse herself in the role.
One of Winslet's key methods was tracking down Claude Samaran, one of the last remaining technicians skilled in servicing Rolleiflex cameras. Samaran painstakingly built an exact replica of Miller's original Rolleiflex, which Winslet then used while filming the biopic.
During filming, Winslet took real photographs with this replica Rolleiflex, using the camera as part of her technical apprenticeship. This hands-on approach allowed her to intimately understand Miller's connection to her camera, which was much more than just a beautiful object.
Miller's Rolleiflex was her tool for capturing the truth, especially evident in her powerful Holocaust photographs. Though the camera held sentimental value, it was truly a means to an end - revealing the realities Miller witnessed during her time as a war correspondent.
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