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Oh, to be famous...
Lately my friend Therese (okay...she was first my brother's friend but now I've poached her to become my friend, too) has had lots of celebrity sightings. Apparently Hugh Grant lives in her neighborhood in London and she has crossed paths with him. And (who knew?) Jimmy Osmond the other day. And Kate Middleton, Prince William's girlfriend. And (correct me if I'm wrong here Therese) French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Which has made me wonder...what do you say to a celebrity?
Quote a line from his movie (don't you think she should say to Hugh "I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love me")? Pretend like you don't know who he is? Give a compliment? Bravely ask for a photo (or cunningly snap one with your phone on the sly)?
Famously (in our family anyway) my sister said to Alec Baldwin when she met him years ago, "Oh, to be famous!" That's it, just the wistful statement, which I think is classic. It's an all-purpose celebrity greeting! I don't think she'd mind if you used it, too. And I wonder if he remembers it?
Me, I do the ignoring thing. I don't know why. I guess I don't want to turn into a puddle of Beatles-come-to-America swooning & crying. Last year when I went through the Boston Museum of Fine Arts with Victor Garber I smiled coolly and then giggled and twittered behind his back. Repeated for each room of the exhibit. And in the cafe afterwards. That was pretty subtle, right?
So here are my celebrity sightings, what I did and what I maybe should have done:
That's it I think. I know they're just people (the magazines tell me they do their shopping! they take their kids to school! they floss their teeth!). But it's still fun to spot someone you only know through the screen, like a big world-scale Where's Waldo.
- Princess Diana (3x): waved once, acted cool the other two times. Now I wish I had reached out to her. It turns out it was a tough time for her around then. I should have helped her see how unhealthy life was for her at the palace. I could make her feel great about her body and talk her out of colonics and other crazy schemes. Sorry, Diana.
- Prince Charles: looked sideways at him and then kept walking (plus there were bodyguards). I should have asked him for an internship, since I was an undergrad at the time desperate for a reason to stay in London. Darn. There's one window that's now permanently closed.
- Merrill Osmond: Okay, to my 6th grade self it was a celebrity sighting. He kissed my cheek. Or was it Wayne? I should have asked about the big adam's apple. I've always wondered if he felt bad that it stuck out so much.
- Robert Redford: My grandparents have a cabin near Sundance so I've seen him from afar a few times. Rumor has it that he used to stop by the side of the highway and take a ride on our rope swing out over the river. He's shorter than you imagine.
- Victor Garber: see above. I should have impressed him with my spy skills and asked for a part in the next incarnation of Alias. I loved that show but I always thought Sidney was a bit too flamboyant and noticable for a spy. You know who wouldn't be looked at twice and could pass through security without being glanced at? Me, a thirtysomething mom, that's who.
- Stephen Sondheim: (I know! Cool, huh?) Just watched him and soaked up his brilliance. I sat behind him in a play so I got to know the back of his head really well. That was enough, honestly. I wouldn't want to risk doing anything stupid. Although maybe if I hummed a little ditty he would be inspired to write another brilliant musical. You never know.
- Senator Ted Kennedy: I watched him watch a basketball game. He was much more bent over in person. I'm pretty sure he didn't want to be bothered so I was right to keep away.
- Karl Malone: I worked in PR in the hospital where his wife had a baby so I got to take a special gift and welcome them. I'm sure that's exactly what they wanted coming through that door in the middle of labor. (But there's one I actually spoke to!)
Now that I think about it, I could have been instrumental in getting together a Sondheim/Osmond/Redford/Garber project launched since obviously I'm a link in their six degrees of separation! Ah, opportunities missed. Please tell me your celebrity stories. Make me feel better. Or school me in the ways of celebrity chat. Clearly I need it.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Reader Comments (15)
i hate to break it to you, but there is actually already a musical called "annie".
shoot.
and, um... RE: ted kennedy: the bent over thing? it's called "alcohol induced regurgitation". very common among kennedys and sorority girls.
i saw MC hammer at the mall in north attleboro when i worked there in 1991.
and of course, there's the rumor about me and johnny depp... ask lauren for details.
I once met Princess Anne when she visited the charity I was working for. She is my favorite royal.
Lindsay
I love that you "poached" Therese as your friend. Can I poach you as my friend? I was a friend of Matt's (and Therese's) in high school, and I grew up around the corner from your husband (was friends with his two youngest sisters), so I feel like I should already know you. And I love your blog.
Anyway, I loved this post! I have lots of celebrity chat stories because I have performed as a caroler at Sun Valley, Idaho during many Christmas seasons. I won't share my most embarrassing (Candice Bergen), instead I'll share my favorite and most treasured: John F. Kennedy, Jr. Oh, yes. Here's the rundown:
I'm standing with the rest of the carolers at an outdoor ice rink, waiting to sing at the shmancy private party being held there. Five or six attractive, J. Crew-ish looking guys are approaching us on the path.
Me (under my breath, realizing that one of them is JFK Jr.): Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh...
Caroling Partner: Are you okay?
Me to JFK Jr. (making EYE CONTACT and realizing I will never forgive myself if I don't speak to him): Hi....
JFK Jr. (smiling and looking RIGHT at me): Hi.
Me (inside my head, thankfully): AAAHHHHHH!!!!
In case you couldn't tell, I kind of had a crush on him. :) And obviously I don't have much advice to offer on how to talk to a celebrity without seeming idiotic. If this wasn't already the longest and most embarrassing comment in the history of blogging, I'd share the story about what my mom said when I called her that night to tell her about it. But I'll save that one for another time. :)
My favorite celebrity stalking was Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser)
I followed him around a magic shoppe until he could no longer avoid me. I said hi and asked if I could have a picture with him. He seemed really uncomfortable but was friendly enough and had a picture taken with me. This was 15 years ago when we were living in Seattle.
I love your stories. I really have nothing to add. Other than I have a kind of famous relative. My dads cousins - who he was really close to growing up- they were farming families in Idaho- anyway, the two brothers became the writers/producers of the TV show Cheers. I've been around them just a few times. At funerals of course. They were raised LDS but are inactive. If you've ever watched the show you'll notice there are a lot of Mormon tabernacle choir jokes and such.
Okay I love this post.
We were in London for the Queen's official birthday a few years back. We saw the whole royal family! Charles and Anne on horseback and all the grandkids waved at me from the balcony. Well me and a few thousand others.
I passed Samuel Jackson on a stairway in a hotel in Monaco. During the same trip We spotted Sly Stallone and entourage entering the casino. He's short.
My favorite story is at the age of 16 I approached Donny Osmond in the Provo temple (waiting room) and got his autograph. I know can you believe the audacity. He met his wife there and he was wearing a warm up suit...at the temple with a gym bag like he was going to play raquetball. Whatev, I was happy.
These are fabulous! Thanks for sharing.
Andrea, I'm going to have to insist on hearing the Johnny Depp story.
Welcome, Michelle! I'm glad to connect with you. I immediately knew who you were. And I'm JEALOUS of your JFK Jr. sighting. He. Looked. You. Right. In. The. Eyes! And long comments are the best.
Diane, I like your chutzpah. I need to take lessons.
I just remembered another one...I saw Lance Armstrong coming down the escalator at a hotel in NYC. Once again, no talking, just pretending I didn't know who he was. I'm hopeless.
Here is a smattering of my celebrity encounters. I was nearly run over by James Carville, he was jogging with his eyes closed! And, Johnny Cochran hit me with his arm whilst giving an interview. Walt Willey (Jack Montgomery from All My Children) kissed me 3 times. I had a picture taken with John Stamos. And Strom Thurmond tried to get a little too friendly once.
Working in Washington and on the Hill I've met lots of famous people and lots of psuedo-famous politicians. You're right about Ted Kennedy, and he has gout, which definitely doesn't help the posture.
Well, of course when we lived in NYC when you were a babe, we saw lots of famosa/o's. My most thrilling was Sidney Poitier, right there on 59th street looking at a shop window. HE SHOPS!, I thought.
Then I was with you for the Victor Garber sighting (he was more slender than I thought - and very appealing) and for Stephen Sondheim. I met President Gerald Ford, and he actually came over to talk to ME! Yeah, I'll admit that I was playing the harp for a reception in his honor, but still, he took the time to come over and meet me and thank me. So, yeah. I am a HUGE people-watcher with a movie star fixation. (NOT celebrity fixation - a la Paris Hilton - it is even against my principles to say or write her name, so I have compromised my integrity already.) I usually hang back, but I have also approached the star/public figure and said, "I appreciate your work." And I know Michael Ballam. A little local celebrity and a little humor there.)
Love your idea of quoting a line from a movie. I guess you could really take off on that. To Robt. De Niro, "..You talkin' ta ME?" Oh, I am having a good time with that idea. It could be a fun project.
All Mo's are less than seven degrees from any Osmond at any time.
I worked for a doctor's wife up at Sundance and Robert Redford called one day and I SPOKE to him on the phone. Also, Brad tiled his pool...so we are pretty much related to ol' Bob.
My dad was on a plane with Bono.
I think that is all. You have some good ones!!
ha! totally love this. it has been fun to follow t with her brush of celebrity status.
i met macho man randy savage at a hip restaurant in l.a. he was the BOMB! he seriously talks like that in real life. he's short but his biceps were as big as both my legs together. i still kick myself for not getting a picture of me kissing his flexed bicep. eat your heart out, hulk hogan!
BTW - i changed my blog address:
http://roomfornello.blogspot.com
Wow! You have seen your share of celebrities. Me? Well, not so much. Big Papi did almost run over me with his red convertible mercedes (yeah - I might've been standing in the middle of the road behind Fenway Park trying to peak into the player's private lot). But last month I did get to meet my most favorite singer in the ENTIRE world... Idina Menzel. (She won the Tony Award for playing the original Elphaba in Broadway's "Wicked".) She was so much prettier in person, she is very cute! She was also in the movie "Enchanted" last year, but did not sing. I got her to sign my cd but she asked that her picture not be taken. She was so nice and very gracious. I am still flying high (no pun intended)from meeting her and its been a month!
I have never had a celebrity sighting. I feel gypped! I want one. Could someone tell me where Daniel Craig is hanging out these days? I've got a cake for him...
I met Hulk Hogan when I was 10, and then this one time Prince Rainier III of Monaco tried to run me over with his car.
Yeah.