Renowned actress Kate Winslet produced and stars in a new biographical film focused on American photographer Lee Miller and her pioneering career as a wartime photojournalist. The film, titled “Lee,” reexamines Miller’s life through her experiences documenting World War II from the frontlines at a time when very few women worked in that field. While best known for portraits during the war, Winslet notes the film also grapples with how those experiences impacted Miller personally in later life.

Miller broke barriers as one of the first female photographers granted access to conflict zones. Through her iconic images from places like London under German bombing raids and Paris after its liberation, she captured the human toll of war.

Winslet was drawn to the project because, despite Miller’s accomplishments, her background as a former model was often emphasized over her talent. The film portrays Miller’s frustration with that unequal...