Kate Winslet 'is NOT pregnant but was simply letting Cate Blanchett and Brie Larson feel the material of her dress when they touched her tummy at the Oscars'

The rumour mill went into overdrive on Sunday night when Cate Blanchett and Brie Larson were pictured excitedly touching Kate Winslet's tummy at the Oscars.

After social media users speculated that she could be expecting her fourth child, a slightly more simple explanation for the exchange has since emerged.

A source close to the actress told TMZ that 'the star is NOT pregnant but was actually letting her friends feel the beautiful fabric of the dress.'

The set of the candid snaps, taken at the major movie event, featured Kate, 40, Cate, 46, and Brie , 26, excitedly chatting to one another. In the pictures, the trio of Oscar nominees are seen standing in a circle, smiling and talking.

In the first of the series of shots, Kate has her hand on the waist of a rapt-looking Brie, her mouth open as she tells the Room actress something.

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In the next shot, Carol star Cate's eyes get wide with surprise, as she seems to be full of excitement over whatever it was that Kate had just said.

She then leans in to place a hand on Kate's stomach, resting it at the top of her abdomen. Finally, Brie gives Kate an enthusiastic hug.

The sweet set of images were immediately seized upon by beady-eyed social media users, with some internet sleuths speculating that Kate may have told the other stars that she is pregnant and expecting a fourth child.

'Did Kate Winslet just tell Cate Blanchett and Brie Larson that she's pregnant or am I just looking into it too much?' tweeted @SouDamnTrue after the show last night, while sharing the set of images from the awards ceremony.

Titanic star Kate already has a 15-year-old daughter with ex-husband Jim Threapleton, whom she divorced in 2001, Mia Honey Threapleton, a 12-year-old son with her second ex-husband, director Sam Mendes, Joe Alfie Winslet Mendes, and a two-year-old son, Bear Blaze Winslet with her current husband Ned Rocknroll.

Kate and Ned, who are extremely private, are reported to have tied the knot in New York in December 2012, in an intimate ceremony among their nearest and dearest.

Kate's super-shiny Ralph Lauren gown threatened to reveal every last bump — but Kate also looked quite svelte on the red carpet.

Fans also speculated that she may have been remarking on how slim Kate looked, comforting her stomach ache, or feeling the high-shine fabric - which TMZ's source claims was in fact the case.

But while the reason for the sudden outburst of excitement between the star, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Steve Jobs but lost out to Alicia Vikander, and her friends is not known, there is no doubt that it was an emotional and unbelievably happy night for Kate on every level.

The actress watched on with a joyous expression as her former co-star and long-time friend Leonardo DiCaprio won his first Oscar, scooping the Best Actor award for his role in The Revenant.

As Leo gave his acceptance speech, during which he took the opportunity to share a warning about global warming, the cameras panned to the audience to show a visibly-emotional, and very teary-eyed, Kate, who appears to have attended the ceremony without her husband, sitting with her hands clasped together in front of her face.

Daily Mail Online has reached out to Kate Winslet's team for comment.

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