Kate Winslet thinks single parents have an undeserved bad reputation.

The 'Revolutionary Road' actress - who is expecting her first child with third husband Ned Rocknroll and is already mother to Mia, 12, and Joe, nine, from her marriages to Jim Threapleton and Sam Mendes - is surprised by the way her life has panned out, but says her experiences have taught her the most important thing is to focus on keeping it together for your children.

She told Time Out magazine: ''Single mums do come in for a hard time. Society is incredibly judgmental. I know this. My life has taken me down several different paths I never expected it to take me down. Not in a million years. And I know the true meaning of getting by, by the skin of my teeth. I do.

''It doesn't matter whether you've got money, whether you're famous or not. You have to carry on. And you can, because you have to.''

The 37-year-old actress is enjoying pregnancy more this time around because she knows how to treat her body.

She said: ''I've been more active and healthier. I know more about how to take care of myself now. I think that between 27 and 37 was a big learning decade. I've been lucky - a bit tired and a bit sick at the beginning, but nothing major.''

Asked whether she worries her waters may break on the red carpet at the London Film Festival later this month, Kate laughed: ''It wont be that close! I'll be fine. That would be funny actually. ''