David Challinor

Now in my 40th year I prefer to think that I’m not the type to be star-struck - but I think I was when I ‘met’ one of my favourite actresses 17 years ago (…was it really That long ago?…).
It was 11 Nov 1987, and I was traveling back from dull conference in Birmingham in my first job as a journalist. I was sat in a train drawing into Euston when I spied what seemed to be a girl in her 20s, wearing a distinctive green Pixie hat, walking towards me down the aisle.
I’m more naturally shy than someone who stares, however I stole another glance at her because not only did I expect her to be attractive, but as she came closer I thought I recognised her. As she came nearer, I suddenly realised just who she was – Julie Christie. To say I’d always been a fan was an understatement – she’d appeared in some of my favourite films, especially Billy Liar, Dr Zhivago, Far from the Madding Crowd, and Don’t Look Now – and now she was standing in a queue by my seat.
With the train slowing, a lot of passengers had stood up and were queuing for the train to stop. When it did I summoned up the courage to speak to her and hurried along the platform to catch her up (although being shy I thought I’d never forgive myself for having the chance to speak to her, and not doing so)…when I caught up with her, she was charming, and took my opening comment - about it being a great irony that a Billy Liar-type northern like me had met ‘Liz’ at a train station, aka the final scenes of that film - with a smile. So I got talking to her and found out she was off to appear at a Greenpeace concert in London. I told her I was a vegetarian, and I think that helped because she is very much anti-factory farming and helped a hard-hitting doc’ on the subject in the 1980s with a narration.
I stole a few more seconds of her time – she’d experienced the 1987 Great Storm in her home in North Wales - before I ran out of courage, offered her my business card for an autograph and outpaced her (she’s actually quite tiny). I still treasure that card, somewhere in my old things….A true story ....I wonder, does anyone else have memories of meeting a UK film star??????

Gibbie

Thanks for the story, David!

That is real life and not the movies!

My dad took my brother and I to see Dr. Zhivago when I was two and Julie Christie made a deep impression on me then. Quite an actress. I think she would be an interesting person to talk to.

Welcome to 40. It does seem strange being very youthful and then all of a sudden...that was 20 years ago!

22 years ago, I worked for a nationally known US program that visited Chicago and met Peter Noone, of the group, Herman's Hermits, who were better known in the US than UK actually - he was playing Pirates of Penzance. Spent more time talking with his nephew about visiting to America, etc.

If there were any meeting of actors, it was unrealized. We pass all kinds of people all the time in life now. I've met a number of US actors and actresses.

I've mentioned this before, but when I was in high school, a friend of mine on the school paper and I sent two 45s to New York to get signed by a family friend of friends of his in NY. It was John Lennon and it was one of his last autographs.
More of a musician, but he was in the movies.

I think you have the keener story, because you had a real conversation with her and it's your history. Real life is better than the movies, when it's good and real.

When I was in my 20s, I would have liked to have met Rachel Ward, but Bryan Brown was luckier than I.

I would love to meet people who have great stories and probably have great insights like Julie Christie, Patrick McGoohan, Sir David Puttnam, Emma Thompson, John Mills and a variety of others. My advice to anyone who meets a celebrity...treat them normal.

I'm very happy for you - what a vignette (better than Billy Liar)!

By the way, I'm glad I never met Guy Fawkes!

Gibbie

[ 05. November 2004, 23:29: Message edited by: Gibbie ]

42ndStreetFreak

I've met Caroline Munro at a Westminster Film Mart in London. VERY nice lady and she sat for hours signing this n that, having photos taken and all for no charge. Top lady!

The late and very nice David Warbeck who signed my "Twins of Evil" VHS. Again another great fan of the fans.

And non-brits are Chow Yun Fat, Lucio Fulci, Jorg Buttgreit.

Wilfried Mueller

I've met Sir Peter Ustinov when he was signing his books, stills etc in a bookshop in Cologne. The people where queing for app. 2 hours. He walked in, sat at his desk and started signing. From time to time he barked like a dog or made other sounds to entertain the waiting fans. I had seven different books and two stills and everything he signed. The we spoke two or three sentences when the man from the bookstore said "Next please....."

Wilfried Mueller, Germany

Steve Crook

A few of the old 'uns from the films I like so much, like Dickie Attenborough, Sheila Sim (Lady Attenborough), John Sweet (in A Canterbury Tale with Sheila), Kathleen Byron, Anna Massey and many others who had smaller roles in P&P films.

Oh, and Bob Hoskins on the way back from a Powell film festival in San Sebastian, we chatted while we waited for our luggage. And Virginia McKenna at a couple of events to do with Violette Szabo (Carve Her Name With Pride), another interest of mine.

I've met a few other actors after seeing them in the theatre and have gone backstage with friends. People like Patricia Routledge & Maureen Lipman.

I've also met quite a few from the other side of the camera like Jack Cardiff, Freddie Francis, Leo Marks, Francis Ford Coppola (also at San Sebastian), Thelma Schoonmaker (Powell's widow & Scorsese's editor), Kevin Macdonald (Emeric Pressburger's grandson and an Oscar winner in his own right) and quite a few others who had smaller, but equally vital jobs to do.

Also quite a few members of the families of those who worked on P&P films but are no longer with us.

The interest in P&P films is just a hobby but it does lead to some interesting things :)

I agree with Gibbie's advice - treat them normal. Then you're much more likely to have a normal, interesting conversation with them. With some, I've had such a nice chat that I felt it would spoil the mood to switch back to fan mode and ask for an autograph.

Steve

Steve Crook

PaPAS

Paul E

Arthur Mullard - he was sat on his own in a pub in Putney - I was egged on by some mates to approach and check if it was really him (although it obviously was)When I asked, very meekly, if he really was Arthur Mullard, he replied 'course I am, now f##k off!'

Marky B

I was once member of the Billingham Forum Theatre Club,which meant we met some of the artists after the production.
I met Jimmy Edwards and Eric Sykes after their performance in Big Bad Mouse hysteric ;Leslie Philips,Reginald Rossiter,Irene Handl (can't remember the respective shows they were in!),Anita Carey (I Didn't Know You Cared),Joan Sanderson,Richard Todd (he played the father in This Happy Breed - he signed his autograph and I asked him to write 617 squadron beneath his name and he duly did). The most memorable was before I came a member of the Club,my dad and me went to see Dad's Army. I remember Ian Lavender coming out of the stage door,sucking a plum (typical Pikey). He gave me his autograph. Then a backstage lady came out and asked if I wanted anyone else's? For me John Le Mesurier was the biggest star of the show bow and I requested his autograph. I only waited for a couple of minutes when I heard this voice shouting "Mark,Mark - where's Mark". It was the man himself. He shook my hand and asked if I enjoyed the show,which I did,and then asked if I wanted anybody else's autograph. He went back and got me the signatures of CLive Dunn and Arthur Lowe. Arnold Ridley had gone to the hotel as he was tired.
I also met Matt Monro,who was performing at a club in Billingham. An all time great singer and a gentleman who had time for his fans.
I know I have relayed these stories before oops ,but I still pride myself on meeting John Le Mesurier and vouch what a true gentleman he was;also I will forever boast of meeting the man who sang one of my favourite Bond songs "From Russia With Love" and also one of my favourite love songs "Walk Away".
Ta Ta
Marky B thumbs_u

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

Steve Crook

Oh yes, that's another one. I once met Henry Cooper at a reception and asked him if he was himself or his twin brother :)
He assured me that he was himeslf.

Steve

Steve Crook

PaPAS

Gibbie

Some great stories!

You crack me up Steve! They ought to make a movie about you meeting actors and making great one liners with return-set-match.

Paul E, may you meet a fantastic actor/actress next time!

Gibbie

42ndStreetFreak

It dosen't get much better than that! scarf

David Brent

The Mayfair club,Birmingham in the early seventies.
I was standing in the crowded bar area awaiting the concert by the Faces when i noticed this geezer in front of me with a Rod Stewart haircut,rough features and big hooter.He was standing there having a beer with a couple of mates.
I thought this guy must be a big fan to get an authentic Rod Stewart haircut.It might fool the ladies i thought but it didn't fool me.
Suddenly an announcement was made over the speakers.
"Could Rod Stewart please go backstage.He is wanted backstage."
Suddenly the look-alike in front of me turned around,put his hands on my shoulders and said
"Excuse me mate!" and made his way backstage.
It was the lad himself.
A great concert it was too.
At the height of Stewart's fame and being short of funds i tried to sell my jacket by telling people that Rod had actually touched it but no one believed me.
I wished i'd had a chat with him seeing that i was standing next to him but at the time he just looked like a poor look alike of himself - not the real thing.

Dave.

David Brent

Marky,
I've always wondered if John Le Mesurier was the same in real life as his character Sgt.Wilson in DADS ARMY?

Dave.

sanndevil

I went on a golfing holiday weekend to the east coast maybe 8-10 years ago, and on the same vacation was a lead actor out of GREGORY'S GIRL - whose name I won't mention. Up until that point I had always thought of this chap as "funny bones funny" - he has the sort of face which just cracks me up.

Over the course of the weekend I was in close proximity with him as we all ate communially. I saw all my hero-worship eroded - I have to be careful here cos I don't want to commit libel. Let's just say I don't actively seek out his movies / sitcoms anymore but I do still shop at Tesco!

cheers
Nigel

Hackett

Stood next to James Brolin, now Mr. Barbara Streisand, and past pleasantrys and water in the gents during a break in his screentest for James Bond at Pinewood 1983. We both never got the part.

Freddy

Hope it wasn't a case of 'The Stars Look Down' wink

I was once in the same situation with Everton Goalkeeper Gordon 'honey' West.

What were you doing at Pinewood 'H'

regards
Freddy

The world wags on.