Academy Award-winning actress Kate Winslet recently shared her quirky superstitious practice of putting salt in her shoes and pockets to shield herself from “tricky individuals.”
In a conversation on The Capital Evening Show with Jimmy Hill, Winslet discussed her co-star Toni Collette’s character, Helen, in the film Goodbye June. Helen is described as “journeying and very holistic” during a poignant time when her on-screen mother, June (played by Helen Mirren), is dying over the Christmas period.
When asked if she has tried crystal healing or sound baths—something that seems quintessentially Hollywood—Winslet responded: “I haven’t actually done a sound bath, no. I do have a slight allergic reaction to anything that is described as Hollywoody. I know what you mean. I’m not opposed to a little bit of a talisman-y something or other-y. I don’t mind that.”
The host inquired about “a bit of saging,” to which she replied: “Not necessarily sage. A bit of salt in your shoes, though. A bit of salt in your pockets.”
When prompted about whether that superstition is an “energy thing,” the star confirmed: “Yes. If you are encountering tricky individuals in life, shall we say, a little bit of protection by salt in the pocket… Soaks up the toxicity and doesn’t go into you. I have done that.”
The host humorously remarked, “That’s where I’m going wrong. I need to fill my pockets with salt,” to which Winslet added, “Shove salt in your shoes. Totally nuts!”
In 2024, Winslet expressed her appreciation for Emma Thompson, commending her for being “protective” and always offering wise advice. Speaking at the 92NY Center for Culture and Arts, she stated, “(Emma) has a groundedness and a clarity of perception about the industry as a whole. She was quite sort of protective of me.”
Thompson showed concern for Winslet after her career-defining role as Rose DeWitt Bukater in Titanic. Winslet recalled, “I think she was actually just a bit worried—not, ‘is Kate gonna go off the rails?’ because clearly that wasn’t in my personality—but just that it can be very overwhelming, and what was I gonna do?”
She also shared Thompson’s advice: “She did say to me… just remember, it’s equally as important not to work as it is to work. And I have never forgotten that. I knew that I didn’t want this to run out. I wanted to always be doing this job. And I thought, God, if I do it, then maybe people would get sick of me and argue, ‘Well, not her anymore, and let’s move on to somebody else.’”