Jim takes blame for divorce

He was the one left holding the baby while she pursued her glamorous movie career.

But yesterday it was Kate Winslet's husband who was cited for unreasonable behaviour as the actress was granted a quickie divorce.

Her marriage to assistant film director Jim Threapleton was ended in a few seconds at the High Court in London.

It is not clear precisely what the behaviour that became grounds for the divorce involved.

It emerged that the couple have already finalised arrangements regarding their 14-month-old daughter Mia.

Details of their financial settlement will be kept private, but Threapleton, 27, is expected to receive a payout of around £500,000.

Neither he nor Titantic star Miss Winslet, 26, were present to hear District Judge Waller announce the end of their marriage.

She has begun a relationship with film director Sam Mendes and has said that they were 'unbelievably happy.' Threapleton refused to comment on the divorce or explain his 'unreasonable behaviour'.

Miss Winslet met him on the set of Hideous Kinky and she spoke often of the strength of her relationship with the 'glorious-looking boy with blue eyes'.

They married at All Saints Church, Reading, in November 1998.

But in September this year she insisted the marriage had broken down irretrievably, claiming no one else was involved. The relationship is thought to have collapsed within months of Mia's birth.

Threapleton was said to have been frustrated and out of work for much of the time and, while he stayed at home to look after the baby, she was besieged by lucrative film offers.

On more than one occasion she paid tribute to his skills at bringing up baby while she worked. She once declared: 'There are times when I look at Jim with Mia and think: "God, I wish I could be as brilliant with her as he is".'

But he was said to have felt emasculated by his wife's success and there were reports of rows about money, childcare and identity.

There was no legal wrangling and no discussion at yesterday's hearing. Instead, a court clerk quietly read out a list of names, and just before reaching the bottom of the page, stated: 'Winslet. Threapleton.'

The decree nisi was given and Miss Winslet will automatically be granted a decree absolute in six weeks.

She had signed her six-page divorce petition from a hotel in Austin, Texas, where she is currently working on Alan Parker's film, The Life Of David Gale, with Kevin Spacey.

Mia is with her at the Barton Creek Resort and Mendes has visited.

Last week, Threapleton flew over to take care of Mia while Miss Winslet went off to New York with Mendes, and he admitted then: 'Life was rough living with a movie star.

'I'm much happier now. I am actually seeing more of my daughter since we split up. My relationship with Kate is perfect now.'

He maintains he is single while she says she has found happiness with the 35-year-old Oscar-winning director of American Beauty.

She announced last week: 'We're very happy, unbelievably happy. He's a good man.'

They met when Mendes invited Miss Winslet to work on productions at the theatre he runs in London.

He has declared himself 'deliriously happy' but insists his lover's marriage was over before their affair.

She has said that her daughter will remain her priority, saying: 'Jim and I have both strived to ensure that Mia's interests come first.

'By the time I finish my role on The Life Of David Gale I will have worked 11 weeks in one year. The rest of the time I've been Mum.

'My priority is that once filming has ended I get back to England with her for a big family Christmas.'