Henry Cavill strides into auditions with the poise of a seasoned warrior, his chiseled jaw and commanding presence making him a natural fit for larger-than-life roles like Superman, Geralt of Rivia, and Sherlock Holmes. But beneath the polished exterior of this British superstar lies an unexpected secret: a pair of unassuming silver cufflinks, worn like a talisman before every career-defining moment. “I still wear my lucky cufflinks,” Cavill revealed in a rare, candid interview with Empire magazine, sparking curiosity among fans and industry insiders alike. These small tokens, he says, ground him, tethering him to his roots and fueling his focus through the high-stakes chaos of Hollywood auditions. From Man of Steel to The Witcher, those cufflinks have been a quiet constant in Cavill’s meteoric rise. But what’s the story behind this unusual superstition? And why does a man who’s conquered some of the biggest roles in film and television rely on such a modest ritual?

The revelation came during a press junket for Cavill’s latest project, a gritty World War II drama The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, where he plays a real-life British operative leading a rogue squad against the Nazis. Dressed in a tailored navy suit, Cavill was his usual charismatic self, fielding questions about his action-hero physique and preparation for the role. But when asked about handling the pressure of auditions, his answer took an unexpected turn. “It’s not just about prep,” he said, a wry smile breaking through. “I have these cufflinks—nothing fancy, just silver with a simple engraving. They’ve been with me since the start. They’re like a reminder of where I came from and what I’m chasing. I wear them, and I feel… centered.” The comment, delivered with his trademark humility, ignited a firestorm of intrigue on platforms like X, where fans began dissecting the origins of this quirky ritual. “Henry Cavill’s lucky cufflinks are my new obsession,” tweeted @SuperFan88. “What’s the story behind them? I need to know!”

To understand the significance of Cavill’s cufflinks, we must rewind to his early days. Born in 1983 on the island of Jersey in the Channel Islands, Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill was the fourth of five boys in a close-knit family. His father, Colin, was a stockbroker, and his mother, Marianne, a bank secretary, instilled a sense of discipline and ambition in their sons. Young Henry was a dreamer, drawn to acting after starring in school plays at St. Michael’s Preparatory School. But his path to stardom was far from smooth. At 17, he landed a small role in The Count of Monte Cristo (2002), playing Albert Mondego, but the years that followed were a grind of auditions, rejections, and near-misses. “I was a kid from Jersey trying to break into an industry that didn’t know I existed,” Cavill told GQ in 2020. “Every ‘no’ felt like a gut punch.”

It was during this period of struggle that the cufflinks entered the picture. In a 2013 interview with The Guardian, Cavill shared that the cufflinks were a gift from his father, given to him at 18 as he prepared to audition for The Tudors, the Showtime series that would become his breakout role. “My dad gave me these cufflinks before I left for London,” he recounted. “He said, ‘They’re not magic, but they’ll remind you who you are.’ I was nervous, broke, and barely scraping by. I wore them to the audition, and I got the part.” The cufflinks—sterling silver, engraved with the initials “HWD” (Henry William Dalgliesh)—became a touchstone, a physical link to his family and a symbol of perseverance. “They’re not flashy,” Cavill noted. “But they feel like home.”

The Tudors audition, where Cavill landed the role of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, marked a turning point. The series, which ran from 2007 to 2010, showcased his charisma and physicality, earning him a cult following. But it was the 2011 audition for Man of Steel that truly tested his mettle—and the cufflinks’ luck. Director Zack Snyder, seeking a new Superman, put Cavill through a grueling process, including a screen test in the iconic blue-and-red suit. “I was shaking,” Cavill admitted on The Graham Norton Show. “Wearing the Superman suit is one thing, but convincing a room you’re the Superman? That’s another.” He slipped on the cufflinks, tucked under his costume, and channeled his nerves into a performance that won over Snyder and producer Christopher Nolan. “Henry had this quiet strength,” Snyder later told Variety. “He wasn’t just Clark Kent—he was the guy who could carry the weight of the role.” Man of Steel (2013) grossed $668 million worldwide, cementing Cavill as a global star.

The cufflinks’ presence continued through Cavill’s career-defining moments. In 2014, he wore them to auditions for The Man from U.N.C.L.E., where he played the suave spy Napoleon Solo opposite Armie Hammer. In 2017, they accompanied him to the set of Justice League, despite the film’s rocky production. And in 2018, when Cavill landed the role of Geralt of Rivia in Netflix’s The Witcher, the cufflinks were there, clipped to his shirt during his final callback. “I don’t believe in luck, per se,” Cavill told Men’s Health in 2019. “But I believe in rituals. Those cufflinks are my anchor. They remind me to stay focused, to trust the work I’ve put in.” Fans on X have latched onto this, with @WitcherStan posting, “Henry’s cufflinks are like Geralt’s medallion—low-key magical. Tell me they don’t have powers!”

The story behind the cufflinks is as much about psychology as superstition. Dr. Emma Thornton, a London-based psychologist specializing in performance anxiety, explains why such rituals resonate. “High-pressure situations like auditions trigger the fight-or-flight response,” she says. “Objects like Cavill’s cufflinks serve as ‘transitional objects,’ grounding the individual by connecting them to a sense of safety or identity. For someone like Henry, who’s faced countless rejections, they’re a reminder of resilience.” Cavill himself has spoken about the mental toll of auditions, describing them as “a battlefield in your head.” In a 2022 Esquire interview, he admitted to battling self-doubt: “You’re standing there, knowing a room full of executives is judging your every move. The cufflinks are like a shield—they bring me back to myself.”

The cufflinks’ mystique deepened with each role. In Enola Holmes (2020), where Cavill played a reimagined Sherlock Holmes, director Harry Bradbeer recalled spotting them during pre-production. “Henry was adjusting his shirt, and I saw these cufflinks with tiny engravings,” Bradbeer told Collider. “He laughed and said, ‘Oh, these old things? They’ve been with me forever.’ It was like he carried a piece of his past into every character.” For The Witcher, showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich noted Cavill’s ritualistic approach. “He’d touch his cufflinks before big scenes,” she said in a Netflix featurette. “It was subtle, but you could see him centering himself, like Geralt preparing for a fight.”

Fans have turned the cufflinks into a cultural phenomenon. On Reddit’s r/HenryCavill, users speculate about their design, with some theorizing the “HWD” engraving includes a hidden family crest. Others have launched Etsy shops selling replica cufflinks, while fan art on Instagram depicts Cavill as Superman, Geralt, or Sherlock, always with a nod to the silver tokens. “I bought a pair inspired by Henry’s,” posted @CavillFanatic on X. “Now I wear them to job interviews. It’s like channeling his confidence!” The hashtag #CavillsCufflinks has garnered over 500,000 mentions, with fans sharing stories of their own lucky charms—a locket, a ring, a worn-out keychain—sparking a broader conversation about rituals in high-stakes moments.

But the cufflinks’ significance goes beyond superstition. They’re a testament to Cavill’s grounded nature in an industry known for excess. Despite his A-list status, he remains refreshingly relatable, often speaking about his love for gaming (he’s a devout Warhammer 40,000 player), his dog Kal, and his close-knit family. “I’m still the kid from Jersey,” he told The Times in 2023. “The cufflinks remind me of that. No matter how big the role, I’m still Henry.” This humility resonates with fans, who see him as a star who’s earned his place through grit, not entitlement. “He’s not just Superman—he’s human,” tweeted @MovieBuff22. “Those cufflinks prove it.”

The cufflinks have also weathered Cavill’s career challenges. In 2022, his exit from The Witcher after three seasons sparked controversy, with fans petitioning Netflix to reinstate him as Geralt. Reports cited creative differences, with Cavill wanting to stay true to Andrzej Sapkowski’s books. Amid the backlash, he wore the cufflinks to his final press event, a subtle nod to his resilience. Similarly, his brief return as Superman in Black Adam (2022), followed by DC’s decision to recast the role, tested his resolve. “I put them on for that meeting with Warner Bros.,” he told Empire. “Didn’t get the outcome I wanted, but they reminded me to keep going.” Fans rallied on X, with #HenryIsSuperman trending globally. “Those cufflinks are his kryptonite-proof armor,” posted @DCFanGirl.

Cavill’s latest role in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024) showcases his versatility, blending action-hero bravado with historical gravitas. Directed by Guy Ritchie, the film follows a ragtag WWII unit, with Cavill as real-life operative Gus March-Phillipps. Critics have praised his “swashbuckling charm,” and early screenings suggest it’s a return to form after the Argylle (2024) misfire. The cufflinks, naturally, were present at the audition. “Guy noticed them,” Cavill laughed on Jimmy Kimmel Live. “He said, ‘What’s with the cufflinks, mate?’ I told him, and he just grinned. Said they suited the character.”

The cufflinks’ enduring presence raises questions about superstition in Hollywood. Stars like Jennifer Lawrence (who carries a lucky pebble) and Leonardo DiCaprio (a worn-out baseball cap) have their own rituals, but Cavill’s are uniquely personal. “They’re not about luck in the mystical sense,” he clarified in a 2025 Variety profile. “They’re about focus. When you’re facing a room of strangers judging your worth, you need something to hold onto.” Dr. Thornton adds, “Rituals like this are common among performers. They create a sense of control in an unpredictable industry.”

As Cavill’s star continues to rise, the cufflinks remain a constant. Rumors swirl about his next projects—a potential James Bond role, a Highlander reboot, or a return to the Warhammer universe he’s championed. Whatever the future holds, one thing is certain: those silver cufflinks will be there, clipped to his shirt, grounding him as he faces the next challenge. “They’re a bit worn now,” he admitted to Empire. “But they’ve got character. Like me, they’ve been through a lot.”

Why does this matter to fans? Because Cavill’s cufflinks aren’t just a quirk—they’re a window into the man behind the myth. They tell a story of perseverance, family, and the quiet rituals that keep us human in the face of pressure. On X, fans share their own stories of lucky charms, inspired by Cavill’s openness. “Bought cufflinks for my first big pitch,” posted @AspiringActor. “Channeling Henry’s vibe!” The phenomenon has even sparked a trend, with #LuckyCufflinks inspiring thousands to share their own tokens of strength.

In a world obsessed with glamour, Cavill’s superstition is a reminder that even superheroes need an anchor. From the Jersey boy who dreamed of the stage to the global icon who commands the screen, those cufflinks have been there, a silent partner in his journey. As @CavillForever tweeted, “Henry’s cufflinks aren’t just lucky—they’re legendary.” So, the next time you see him as Superman, Geralt, or a wartime hero, picture those small silver tokens tucked beneath his sleeve. They’re not just accessories—they’re the heartbeat of a star who’s never forgotten where he came from.