A quickie divorce for Kate Winslet

The marriage of Kate Winslet and Jim Threapleton ended today in a "quickie divorce" at the High Court.

The decree nisi, granted three months after the Titanic star and her 27-year-old husband split up, was granted on the grounds of his unreasonable behaviour.

Her case was one in a list of 30 cases being approved by District Judge Waller. In court documents made public after the hearing, Kate stated that her former husband's unreasonable behaviour ended in September and that she has had no contact with him since that date.

The couple, married for three years and who have a year-old daughter, Mia, met during the filming of Hideous Kinky, in which she starred, and he worked on the crew.

Miss Winslet, 26, has been linked with American Beauty director Sam Mendes, 35. The couple were pictured together for the first time last week at the premiere of her film Iris, about Iris Murdoch.

They have known each other since he invited her to work on productions of Twelfth Night and Uncle Vanya at the Donmar. Mr Mendes has denied playing a part in the breakdown of the marriage. He said she had already split from her husband when they met.