Kate Winslet has spoken about her role in Divergent.

The actress revealed that she agreed to star in the film because she wanted her kids to think she was "cool".

According to Digital Spy, she will play Jeanine Matthews, the intelligent head of the 'Erudite' faction, in the Neil Burger-directed film. The three-part series is based on Veronica Roth's best-selling novel.

Asked about her decision star in a 'franchise', Winslet told MTV News: "It's funny. I think I'm developing a kind of subconscious loathing of the word 'franchise'.

"I just think of something that's packaged, something you can buy on a shelf and is immediately disposable. I don't know. It's a really weird word for me."

Winslet - who appeared at the Toronto International Film Festival last weekend to promote her new film Labor Day - revealed that she had no doubts about accepting a role in Divergent.

She explained: "I didn't have any hesitation at all. It was such a great script. It's a fantastic book.

"My daughter is going to be 13, and my son is almost 10, and they're getting to that age where this is the type of literature they're going to be reading very soon.

"In fact, my daughter, two days ago, came home from school and went, 'Mum! You're never going to believe it. Rufus came up to me at school and said, 'Is your mum really in Divergent? Is there going to be a premiere? Can you get me a ticket?'

"My daughter suddenly [had a] new-found respect. 'My mum is actually really cool.' I'm just going to go with that. I did it because I wanted my kids to think I was cool."

"It was a great experience shooting," Winslet added. "It was a really fun set to be on. I can't wait to see it. I think it's going to be a great film."

Divergent is set in a future where people are divided into factions on account of their personality types.

Tris Prior (Woodley) is labelled 'divergent' and dangerous, and stumbles across plans to eliminate everyone of her personality type who doesn't fit into a particular tribe.

Winslet will star alongside Shailene Woodley and Theo James in the film, which will be released on March 21, 2014.