Edward Abel Smith: Man who changed his name because of his celebrity spouse
James Olson
Updated on April 07, 2026
Edward Abel Smith is the nephew of the esteemed businessman, Sir Richard Branson. While he is related to the iconic entrepreneur, Smith himself is recognised by many as the third husband of the renowned actress, Kate Winslet.
The tale of their unexpected encounter possesses the potential to captivate audiences as the foundation for a romantic film and Winslet is a guru when it comes to romance on the big screen.
So, who is Edward Abel Smith?
Edward Abel Smith’s biography
Born in 1978, Edward Abel Smith, formerly known as Ned Rocknroll, is a British businessman who has worked in the fields of marketing and aviation.
His parents are Robert Abel Smith and Lindy Branson. Smith’s parents, however, parted ways shortly after his birth. As a result, he was primarily raised by his mother and stepfather, Robin Brockway, in the charming neighbourhood of Parsons Green, located in South-West London. Smith is part of a sizable family, as he has four brothers.
Aside from having a billionaire uncle, Smith is famous for being the husband to actress Kate Winslet.
During her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show, Kate Winslet discussed the origins of Edward Abel Smith’s name change from his birth name.
She said: “As time went by and Ned became Ned — who is quite an original personality — he just decided at one point in his life to just change his name to Rocknroll. Ned Rocknroll. So, when I met him, his name was Ned Rocknroll. This is completely true”.
“When he changed his name to Rocknroll, I don’t think he had anticipated what might happen if he should have a girlfriend whose name was Kate Winslet and who was quite well-known.
“I got to the point where I [was] like, you know, I [was] filling in doctors’ forms and it [said] ‘mother’s name’ and ‘father’s name,’ and I [was] like, ‘Honey … are we going to keep going?’ And he [was] like, ‘Yeah, you’re right. I’ll just change it back.’ So, he changed it back.”
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Considering his wife’s fame and the attention going by the name Ned Rocknroll garners, Smith finally changed his name.
Edward Abel Smith’s Career
Smith’s career began in the marketing industry, where he worked for the Virgin Group, a multinational conglomerate founded by Sir Richard Branson. He held various positions within the company and was involved in marketing and promotion for different Virgin businesses.
In the aviation industry, Smith worked for Virgin Galactic, a spaceflight company within the Virgin Group. He held positions related to the company’s development and operations. He has been involved in promoting the company’s space tourism initiatives and has been an advocate for expanding access to space exploration.
While Smith’s professional endeavours have primarily revolved around marketing and aviation, he gained significant media attention due to his personal life.
In 2012, he married Academy Award-winning actress, Kate Winslet. Since then, he has chosen to keep a relatively low public profile, focusing on his career and personal life away from the spotlight.
Edward Abel Smith’s net worth
According to Popular Net Worth, Smith’s net worth is estimated to be $25 million.
Edward Abel Smith’s family
Smith, as mentioned earlier, is the nephew of Richard Branson, a renowned British billionaire. Branson is the owner and founder of Virgin Group, a multinational conglomerate with businesses in various sectors such as travel, entertainment, telecommunications and more.
Branson’s success in business, along with his charismatic and flamboyant persona, has made him a prominent figure in the business world. He continues to be involved in various ventures and remains an influential entrepreneur and advocate for social change.
Coming to his love life, Smith is married to Hollywood star, Kate Winslet. Winslet is a British actress known for her versatile performances in film, television, and stage.
Winslet gained international recognition for her role as “Rose DeWitt Bukater” in James Cameron’s epic romance film, Titanic (1997). Her portrayal of the character earned her critical acclaim and catapulted her to stardom.
She received her first Academy Award nomination for “Best Actress” for her performance in Titanic and went on to win the award in 2009 for her role in The Reader.
Throughout her career, Winslet has been known for her ability to tackle a wide range of roles across various genres. She has appeared in productions such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), Revolutionary Road (2008) and Steve Jobs (2015).
She has also shown her comic talent in films like Finding Neverland (2004) and The Holiday (2006).
She starred in Mildred Pierce (2011), which is based on the novel by James M. Cain. Following her performance in the production, she won an Emmy Award for “Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie”.
She has also received other numerous accolades throughout her career, including several BAFTA Awards, Golden Globe Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Although Smith and Winslet have only one child, the former is a stepfather to the latter’s two children from her previous marriages, namely: Mia Threapeleton and Joe Mendes.
Edward Abel Smith and Kate Winslet
Winslet is one of the queens of romance Hollywood has produced so far and it comes as no surprise that her romance with Smith is some sort of fairy tale.
In 2011, Winslet and Smith crossed paths while coincidentally staying at Richard Branson’s luxurious $70 million ‘Great House’ estate on Necker Island. What began as a seemingly casual encounter quickly took a dramatic turn within 24 hours.
During their stay, an unfortunate incident unfolded as a result of a lightning strike during Hurricane Irene. The house caught fire, a situation which led to chaos in the estate’s premises. Winslet, Smith, and other guests, including Winslet’s then-boyfriend, Louis Dowler, found themselves amid a disastrous situation.
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Amidst the chaos, Winslet’s true heroism shone through as she selflessly assisted Branson’s 90-year-old mother to safety. Her courageous act not only saved a life but also left a lasting impression on Smith, likely deepening their connection in the process.
While reminiscing about their first meeting with People in 2017, the Titanic actress said, “He was a complete stranger, we met, and then the next day the house burnt down.
“I believe strangers can meet and their lives can change so much that they simply can’t go back to being the person they once were. [Smith and I] very much went through that together. Even now, I often find myself looking for an item of clothing or a book or something and I go, ‘Where have I put that?’ And Ned will look at me and go, ‘Did it get burnt in the fire?”
Smith and Winslet got married in 2012 in a private ceremony in New York. The couple also shares the joy of parenthood with their child, Bear Blaze, who was born on December 7, 2013, in Sussex, the U.K.
As mentioned earlier, Winslet also has two other children from her previous marriages.
Today, Smith and Winslet have been married for over a decade and are still standing strong. Many have praised Smith for being Winslet’s lucky ‘third time charm’ considering how long they have been married. The actress herself has been over the moon since she became Smith’s wife.
Speaking about her joy in marriage, Winslet told People, “My creative life in the last few years has been, really, colourful for me.
“And I’ve really really enjoyed being able to embrace that. I have a wonderful man in my life who is so incredibly supportive that makes it possible for me to have those experiences. It’s been a really fun time.”
Edward Abel Smith’s age
Edward Abel Smith was born on January 1, 1978. He is 45 years old as of 2023.
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