How do you react if you see a celebrity?

[ohyesido]

I walked past a very prominent and famous TV presenter in my local high street today. I smiled and said Happy New Year, he smiled and said it back, and carried on walking.

i kind of wish I had said something more but I wouldn’t have the nerve to ask for a selfie or anything like that.

have you ever encountered a famous person in the street and what did you do or say?

I once saw Johnny Depp waking along in Paris, years ago.
He was unmistakable, I just thought “oh, it’s Johnny Depp”

I used to travel first class on the train from Waterloo to the south coast years ago (in my 'rich' days!). Sat with several well-known people during that time.

Most memorable was Alan Ball, the footballer who sat opposite me on one occasion. I didn't realise who he was, but we got chatting when the ticket man came along and said no, there was no buffet service on that occasion. I said that was a shame as I fancied a G&T.

AB had a brown bag by his side which he had bought at the station and happened to have two miniatures of gin and associated tins of tonic in it. He shared them with me...

I only realised who it was when I got home. I felt that was so down-to-earth and generous and 'ordinary' of him... I like to think that, maybe, he was appreciative in that I just talked 'normal' stuff rather than quizzed him about football etc...

I’ve sat on the table next to the actor who played Dave Glover in Emmerdale in a cafe. I’ve stepped out of the way of a very fast moving Jenny Eclair. I’ve walked past Dirtbox from G&S on the street and Paul Merton and Nigel Havers at a train station (One of them was much taller than I expected and the other was much shorter), Dom Littlewood and Mary Portas. Those two were stopping for nobody (although not together) and Warwick Davis. I’ve also shared train carriages with Steve Pemberton and Tom Baker, who was wearing a very long scarf just like Dr Who and boomed down the carriage. I successfully ignored them all but the only one I’ve really struggled to ignore was an actor from Eastenders, which I watched at the time. It was the first time I’d ever seen anyone famous (other than Nick Cotton, who opened a fete I went to), I was quite young and not very good at playing it cool, but I just about managed it. And then squeaked to ex DP most of the way home because I was so excited about it. I wasn’t even a fan of theirs.

DH is adamant that we have also walked past Nasty Nick from BB as well as several athletes and a couple of Welsh rugby champions. But I think he is just making it up out of jealousy that I saw Jenny Eclair and he didn’t.

I live in the isle of man, the manx population tend to leave celebs in peace. It's part of the reason a fair few come here.

I usually just carry on . See Michael Sheen regularly and just pass by or smile. I never engage as he is usually with his family.

Sometimes I say hi by mistake because I think it’s an acquaintance, especially if it’s a quick walk past in the street before I’ve had time to think.

I’ve been on flights with a few very famous people, including the heir to the throne, when travelling with work. Then I say nothing at all because I have time to think, realise and go back to my phone/laptop.

We were in JFK airport earlier this year and Cillian Murphy was rushed through the security line, which was huge. He was really apologetic and was lovely chatting to people in the queue. Helped that he was gorgeous!

I wouldn't recognise them. I wish I was saying that to sound cool and nonplussed but I don't recognise faces, can watch entire films and wouldn't remember the names of the main actors. I wouldn't recognise my kid's teachers outside of school.
Saying that I did see Sinead O'Connor once. She was walking along and was recogniseable because of her short hair. I literally stared at her for ages wondering if it was her before I saw a few others stopping when they spotted her so realised it definitely was her.
Many years ago, I saw someone from a tv drama I loved, in a tiny record shop. I fancied him so much at the time. I was quite starstruck.

Id most likely think they look just like so and so

I was in London for a meeting and my daughter was appearing on Pointless that day so I went in a back street cafe to watch her appearance. i was v excited, the cafe had sort of bench seating that you shared, a man came and sat opposite and i showed him my phone saying “that’s my daughter!!” He was so nice and watched and cheered her on with me, took me a while before I realised it was Russel Tovey😆

He lives in Epping, I understand. I snogged his non famous BIL several times in the 80s 😂

I would look away, and pretend not to see them. For their privacy, and my dignity.

I don't. They're just people. I hate celebrity worship, it is a lot of what is wrong with our society.

I am shit at recognising people and often assume celebs must be somebody I vaguely know and have forgotten where from. So I am often effusively friendly. And then I suddenly realise who they are and try to “act normal”, which obviously doesn’t look remotely normal 🤣

I think dealing with other people’s ridiculous over-reactions must be the worst part of being famous.

It depends.
I’ve served two at work, Roy Walker seemed genuinely happy I’d recognised him and happily had a selfie with me.
I served Richard Blackwood last week, I could tell he just wanted to pay and go so I just wished him a Happy Christmas.
Years ago, just after the split I saw Mark Owen in Trafalgar Square and all sense went out the window, literally lost my little 14 year old mind, he was probably used to that though in the 90s.

I've sat next to Esme Young on a bus
Walked my dog beside Barry McGuigan and his dog
Stood behind Gregg Wallace in a queue
Sat inches away from Suggs in a pub garden

Didn't say a word, didn't ask for a selfie, just let them get on with what they were doing

Yuk Wallace!

I just keep my head down and keep walking.

Living in Manchester its quite common to see TV personalities from Coronation Street around the city center and in pubs near to where I live. I have never stared or approached one as I believe in respecting their privacy.

If I just pass someone on the streets of London, I don't say anything. I might smile if I'm caught mid who's-that-famous-face. I've met a few Royals when they come to look at our archives where I work. They are usually there as part of a tour and have done their homework and ask good questions. I was once walking up a steep street in Cornwall with a heavy shopping bag and cute little dog on a long lead cane and sniffed my jute shopper. Next thing I know Emilia Fox is apologising to me. She was as lovely as her little dog 😀

I think "where do I know them from?" and assume it was a regular customer where I used to work (I accidentally greeted one like a friend once before I realised I didn't actually know them). Then about 2 hours later I'll realise.

But to be honest, I don't understand the desire to speak to celebrities/get photos etc... I don't know them, the photo wouldn't make us friends, nobody else is going to care to see it. But then, I'm not really a big fan of anyone in particular to get excited about.

We were travelling to Cornwall early hours of the morning with my son who was then about 5 months old and a little fed up of sitting in the car. ( hes now 20 years old )
We stopped at a service station to try and settle him and Caroline quentin came out the service station, pulled the awww face we do at unsettled babies and jumped back in the car.
I was too preoccupied with my son to recognise her at the time. My mother in law pointed it out. I thought she looked familiar 🤣🤣

How do you all know who these people are? I only recognise a few of the names - Mark Owen, Wallace, Roy Walker (can't remember where he is from though other than a tv presenter?), Cillian Murphy as he's quite distinctive looking.

Who even are Emilia Fox, Richard Blackwood, Russel Tovey and most of the others - I'm in awe of all your photographic memories remembering who they are, their names and what they look like. Are they all on tv, do you all watch lots of tv?

Only seen one. Walking over Richmond bridge and saw Bradley from eastenders. I proclaimed loudly ‘fucking hell, it’s Bradley from Eastenders.

So, to answer your question- I react with class and discretion.

I let them get on with their life. Who needs gawkers and fangirls when you pop to Aldi on the weekend?

Except when it was David Cameron watching Hamilton the same night as us. I spent more of the evening staring across at him and hoping looks really could kill. 😬