Incredible shrinking Winslet

Her husband was meant to be the star of the show.

But Kate Winslet had no chance of fading into the background. Not in a dress like that.

Wearing skintight black lace, the 30-year-actress turned all the heads at the New York premiere of the film Jarhead, directed by her husband Sam Mendes.

The voluptuous curves she was once so proud of seemed remarkably contained. In fact, they seemed to have disappeared.

Onlookers said there seemed to be a lot less of the actress who was teased as a child for being overweight. Her childhood experience saw her growing up scornful of the rigid diets and exercise followed by so many celebrities in pursuit of perfection.

But after months living in New York with Mendes and her two children, perhaps she has given in and joined a gym.

'What has happened to the "take me as I come" girl whose sexy curves were as much her signature as her peaches and cream complexion?' said an onlooker at the premiere.

'It's a shame she has felt compelled to conform to the mould of all Hollywood's leading ladies and lose those curves.'

Miss Winslet has admitted dieting only once, after she put on four stone while pregnant with her first child, Mia, five years ago.

After having her second child, Joe, two years ago, she declared: 'My stomach is all crinkly and my boobs, they're like the ears off a dog.'