OVER THE RAINBOW

Kate Winslet is poised to be the darling of the upcoming award season. She stars with Ralph Fiennes in “The Reader,” based on Bernard Schlink’s bestselling novel about a young man’s passionate affair during WWII with an older woman whom he meets again when she is tried for war crimes.

Winslet also reunites this season with “Titanic” costar Leonardo DiCaprio in “Revolutionary Road,” directed by her husband, Sam Mendes (“American Beauty”). This film is based on a novel by Richard Yates about a conventional 1950s suburban married couple who break from their restraints and move to France, only to find their relationship unraveling.

Kate, 33, the youngest actress to receive five Oscar nominations, will campaign in the supporting actress race for “The Reader,” leaving room to snag a lead actress statue for “Road.”

Double campaigns mean twice the award season wardrobe. Just ask Cate Blanchett, who had to endure the same fashion drill earlier this year and relied on Giorgio Armani to create several traffic-stopping red carpet gowns.

Kate hasn’t let us down yet. Although she stays true to form with elegant, classic silhouettes, we always count on her to brighten up the awards season with colorful choices.

Her first Golden Globe outfit in 1996 was a royal blue satin pantsuit by Pamela Dennis. And her first Oscar outfit was another bold color statement: a pale pink satin gown, topped with a hot pink pashmina shawl.

Winslet’s “Titanic” green velvet Givenchy gown, designed by Alexander McQueen, made big color waves in 1998. And she was dazzling in a bright red Ben de Lisi one-strapped dress at the 2002 Oscars.

Another colorful Academy Awards highlight: her 2005 periwinkle blue Badgley Mischka creation, a color that played up her blue eyes.

What’s Kate’s all-time favorite gown? A sea foam green Valentino couture creation.

“To be perfectly honest, this really, truly is my favorite,” the actress told Joan Rivers on the 2007 Oscar red carpet. “For a very simple reason: My daughter picked the color and I just think that’s great. She’s 6 years old and one day maybe she’ll borrow this and play dress up in it.”

Aww. Sweet!