Kate Winslet is opening up about one of the most unexpected behind-the-scenes moments of her career. During a new appearance on âThe Graham Norton Showâ on Dec. 5, the actress shared a story she says she has never told publicly â a surprising request from Eminem during their time together on âSaturday Night Live” more than 20 years ago.
According to Winslet, who hosted the Oct. 30, 2004, episode, the rapper approached her backstage with a personal question that immediately caught her off guard. Per People, Winslet said Eminem asked if she would shave his âbottom,â a request she declined right away. She recalled telling him she doesnât âdo personal grooming,â and the audience erupted in laughter as she relived the moment.
The actress said she had kept the exchange private for two decades and only now felt ready to share it. âNever told that story before ever in my life in public,â she told Norton, noting that the moment added to an already chaotic hosting week.
A High-Pressure Week on âSNLâ
Winslet explained that the episode came with its own set of pressures. She was promoting her film âFinding Neverland” at the time and had to fly to Chicago with Johnny Depp for an appearance on Oprah, causing her to miss parts of rehearsal. When she returned to New York, she learned she had only 24 hours to prepare an opening monologue that required singing and tap dancing live on air.
The timing didnât help either. The taping aired one week after Ashlee Simpsonâs much-discussed lip-sync mishap, and âSNLâ planned a sketch that playfully referenced it. Winslet admitted the atmosphere felt tense and she described the week as âa hotbed of anxiety,â especially with little time to rehearse a demanding musical routine.
Amid all of that, Eminemâs unexpected request became one more surreal memory from the episode. She emphasized on Nortonâs show that even with the stressful environment, the rapperâs question still managed to be the most surprising moment of the week.
Winslet Reflects on Her Career and Why the Story Stayed Secret
Winslet has been revisiting memorable stories during her recent press appearances. She also told âJimmy Kimmel Live!â about meeting King Charles decades ago while wearing a lace outfit she later realized was sheer, another moment she now laughs about.
The actress has been equally candid about beauty standards, telling The Sunday Times she prefers natural aging and has avoided cosmetic injectables, adding that many of the most beautiful women she knows are over 70.
Her resurfaced âSNL” story, however, is the one turning heads. Winslet said she kept the moment private because of how unusual it was and because she never expected to share it publicly. As she told Norton while laughing at the memory, âIâm not going to go with a Bic and get your crack, love.â
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