Kate Winslet, Cate Blanchett & Dua Lipa Discuss Their Weird Rituals | The Graham Norton Show

Summary

In this engaging transcript, the discussion delves into the quirky world of personal superstitions and rituals, particularly among actors. The conversation highlights a germaphobic individual's eccentric behaviors, script organization techniques, and unique pre-flight rituals involving breath-holding and thoughts of loved ones. Australian superstitions surrounding magpies and their associated rhyme are explored, along with family-specific beliefs like nose itching and underwear rituals for protection. The lighthearted exchange offers a fascinating glimpse into the humorous and sometimes irrational side of human behavior in the face of uncertainty.

Takeaways

• 😷 The speaker discusses being a germaphobe and having various rituals, suggesting that actors might have eccentric behaviors.
• 📚 They mention having a unique way of handling scripts, such as using stickers for organization, and a 'scratch and sniff' feature.
• 🎭 The conversation touches on the idea that actors may have superstitions, and the speaker admits to having some related to flying.
• 🌪 The speaker shares a personal ritual of holding their breath while an airplane taxis, which is a superstition to avoid bad luck during flights.
• 🍫 There's a humorous mention of the difficulty of maintaining this ritual due to airline staff offering food and engaging in conversation.
• 🦜 The speaker and the interviewee both acknowledge saluting magpies as a superstition for safe travel in Australia.
• 👙 A superstition about wearing underwear inside out for protection during significant life events is mentioned.
• 👃 The script includes a quirky family superstition about itching one's nose and then touching one's bottom to prevent anger.
• 🎉 The number of magpies seen is associated with different outcomes, from sorrow to joy, and even secrets.
• 🎶 The interview concludes with a reference to a children's TV program and a song about magpies, indicating a cultural familiarity with the superstition.
• 🧐 The conversation reveals a mix of genuine belief and humor regarding superstitions, showing a lighthearted approach to these beliefs.

Q & A

What are some of the eccentricities mentioned in the script?

The script mentions being a germaphobe and having various rituals, such as using stickers for organization and having a 'script thing'.

What does the actor do with their scripts?

The actor mentions having a 'script thing' but does not have many rituals with their scripts, unlike the stereotype of actors.

What is the actor's superstition related to flying?

The actor has a superstition where they hold their breath as soon as the airplane starts to taxi off, especially when flying alone.

Why does the actor hold their breath while flying?

The actor holds their breath to think of their loved ones and to cope with their fear of flying until the airplane levels out.

What challenges does the actor face while holding their breath on flights?

The actor faces challenges such as being offered chocolates and engaging in conversations by the flight crew, which makes it difficult to hold their breath.

What is the superstition involving magpies mentioned in the script?

The superstition involves greeting magpies and saying 'hello Mr. Magpie, how's your wife and family' to ensure safe travel.

How does the actor react to seeing multiple magpies?

The actor greets each magpie individually, saying 'hello Mr. Magpie' and hoping for a safe journey.

What is the superstition about noses itching?

If your nose itches, it supposedly means you're going to get angry, and to counteract this, you should itch your nose and then touch your bum.

What is the superstition involving underwear for protection?

To protect oneself from evil, one should wear their underwear inside out during a big event or when something significant is happening.

What is the significance of the number of magpies seen?

In Australia, the number of magpies seen has a specific meaning: one for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy, five for silver, and six for gold.

What is the actor's perspective on flying?

The actor admits to having a fear of flying and believes that the more you fly, the more you wish you didn't have to.