Kate Winslet recalled a bizarre story from a taping of Saturday Night Live in 2004 during an appearance of The Graham Norton Show over the weekend. The actress hosted the sketch comedy show that year to promote her film Finding Neverland and appeared alongside musical guest Eminem, who, apparently, had a very intimate request.
“When I was on, it was the week after Ashlee Simpson was done for lip-syncing,” Winslet told her fellow interviewees, who included former SNL writer Seth Meyers. “I’m then on with Eminem. I was doing publicity for a film called Finding Neverland at the time and Johnny Depp and I had to miss the Wednesday rehearsal because we had to go to Chicago and talk to Oprah. And I’m thinking, ‘Oh my God, what’s the opening monologue going to be?’”
Winslet ended up being asked to do a song and dance number that mocked Simpson’s highly-publicized performance the week prior. She noted she only had “24 hours to learn” the monologue. “I’m tap dancing and singing fully live the week after the whole Ashlee Simpson thing,” she recalled.
However, the monologue was the least of Winslet’s worries. “I have to say something else,” she added. “And this is a story I’ve never, never told. Eminem asked me to shave his bottom.”
She continued, “He said, ‘Would you shave my butt?’ And I said, ‘I’m sorry. I don’t do personal grooming.’ Like, what? I’m not going to go with a Bic [razor] and get your crack, love! Never told that story before ever in my life in public.”
Winslet hosted SNL on Oct. 30, 2004. It marked the actress’ first and only time as host of the show. In 2020, she noted that while she “loved doing SNL” and “would love to go back on,” it was “a hotbed of anxiety” due to the situation with Simpson.
The actress’ directorial debut, Goodbye June, is set to be released in theaters on Dec. 12 and on Netflix on Dec. 24. The Christmas-themed film was written by her son Joe Anders, and stars Toni Collette, Johnny Flynn, Andrea Riseborough, Timothy Spall, Helen Mirren, and Winslet herself.
