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?

Sussex so often see theatre/film/tv actors or DJs etc in the street/stores. Wouldn't say a word as they are busy doing their normal family stuff just like the rest of us. Sometimes though I do say "wow, that was x" to myself or family.

I was at an event with guy garvey from elbow earlier this year. There was a question section at the end. They gave me the microphone and my mind went totally blank!!! 🤣🤣 Just totally in awe 😁 I just handed the microphone back and mumbled thank you for the music 🎵. He was really lovely about it though

Very rarely see one. I was in the pub once and a comedian appearing at a nearby theatre was at another table, but he was lapping up the attention of several fans so I didn't do anything at all other than note it as an interesting thing to happen.

A friend told me the story of how her gran had a long conversation with a very well known actor in a hotel, about a nearby historical site, but had no idea who she'd been talking to until my friend told her afterwards.

I once walked past Sarah Ferguson in London in the 1990s but didn't realise until she'd swished past and wouldn't have done anything if I had realised in time, I don't think.

I’ve encountered two or three. I tend to vaguely recognise them, say hi or acknowledge with eye contact, then realise half an hour later I don’t know them, they’re x or y of the telly and that’s how I know them.

one of Ds’s old classmates dad is famous. He’s an arse and expects everyone to fawn over him so I ignore him 🤣

Yeah... exactly lol

I was once in close proximity to a famous presenter and his family. I completely ignored them - not unpleasantly, but just to let them have space and a ‘normal’ experience.
He got chatting to me and introduced himself with just his first name. I chatted with his lovely daughter about her school life.

I also met many celebrities through work. I was one of the site contacts they'd end up working alongside. I think the contractual relationship removes some of the starstruck element. It was always easy to chat and not be overawed. Though once we did an impromptu selfie for a publicity thing and a queue quickly built up. They groaned inwardly but graciously got on with it.

I saw Robert Powell in Princes Street, Edinburgh when I was in my twenties.
He very famously acted the role of Jesus.
I was quite spellbound and said to my friend 'Look, it's a Star!'. 😂

I also saw Stanley Baxter in a tearoom. He went behind the counter to speak to the staff, made their day! We could hear their laughter!

I liked seeing them, but it never occurred to me to speak to them.

I walked past Richard Osman the other week. I always feel like I want to glance at the celeb without them catching me at it.

If the person is someone I very much admire I have sometimes got up courage to say a quick hello. Only if their work is meaningful to me and they're not in conversation with someone else I just quickly say something like, "sorry to bother you but thanks so much for your work which has meant a lot to me / given me a lot of joy."

A few times I've said "oh hi!" thinking I know them and afterwards thought oh oops 😆
Generally I leave them in peace and just have a little moment of excitement.
I work in the arts so it can happen regularly but if I'm at work I'd only ever say a friendly hello or "that was brilliant, thanks" if they'd just finished a performance I enjoyed.

Mind you reminds me of my dad chatting to Paul Daniels whilst they were both admiring a car on display (think it was a classic car) ... they got quite animated about the plus and minus. Dad didn't have a clue until mum pointed out. But that's the point isn't it - celebrities are just people doing a job at the end of the day and deserve down time/private life like the rest of us.

😂

I was once introduced to an extremely famous person's child who I recognised but I feigned ignorance and just made chit chat. It can be a rather weird situation so I wouldn't feel bad about any polite or friendly reaction unless you've been intrusive or interrupted them in a social situation or when they clearly were trying to lie low.

I drunkenly wobbled over to Zoe Ball in a nightclub toilet when I was 17, and said “oh my god, you look JUST like Zoe Ball!” And she glared at me and snapped “I AM Zoe Ball”.

I managed to say “oh well that explains it” and scuttle away. In my defence there was no reason whatsoever for Zoe Ball to be in the ladies toilets in a scuzzy drum and bass night in Farringdon (this significantly pre-dated Norman Cook, she was still a kids tv presenter).

Take no notice, because I don't look at people as I go about my day iyswim. If they are in my eyeline or next to me, I smile and will chat if they want. If with kids they chat, if buying fags, not so much:)

A family member was once mistaken for a movie star and chased down the street by fans whom wouldn't go away and refused to belive they were mistaken. Quite scary at the time.

I’ve worked with many famous people (I run events) and it is so very interesting to see which of them have an ‘on’ & ‘off’ personality, which are just like you would expect and which are not at all.
it is strange sometimes seeing them in a real life situation especially when you are telling them ‘this is what the contract says and yes you do have to keep to it’ when just the last week you saw them in a film either without clothes or killing multiple people.
As I’ve discussed with one actor, it’s such an imbalance, as when we first meet, I will know so much about them and they are meeting a complete stranger.

Who were they mistaken for? And where was it - somewhere you might reasonably expect to see a famous film star, or somewhere random like Basingstoke?

@Tigerbalmshark it was Julia Roberts, and in Sorrento.

Oh at least that’s a flattering mistake!

I saw Tom Hardy in London and I did tell my husband but only as I was on the phone to him at the time and he'd seen a film with Tom Hardy in it that same day so it made me laugh more than anything! I would never approach a celebrity though (unless it was Bob Mortimer!)

I went to a party at a friends over Christmas, where a friend of his, who is a Hollywood actress also was in attendance - turns out she has a flat in London and we ended up having a long discussion about bins, comparing council recycling services - bins, like death, a great leveller!

I've seen lots around London - some in the same bars and clubs I used to go to back in the day and some in the street. I think to myself: 'oh, that's such and such', don't stare and keep walking.

I doubt they want to be harassed every time they leave their house by complete strangers.

My friend stood next to Andrew Lloyd Webber in the toilets at Wembley stadium while they were both having a piss, he never said anything to him, it wasn't the right time.

I wouldn’t have a clue what the Duchess of Gloucester looks like !

Coleen and Wayne Rooney in the Emirates lounge at Manchester Airport. No one bothered them there or on the flight.

Richard Osman in a hotel bar in Brighton. Very smiley, seemed like a genuinely nice bloke.

Josh Widdecombe and Maisie Adam in a hotel bar in Edinburgh after a show. There was only them and me and my partner there. Josh looked so relieved to be left alone 😂 Maisie said hi when she walked past. Both polite.

Suzi Ruffell sat next time me at Caberet. Nice and smiley.

Stephen Fry on a train to London. He said hi with a friendly smile.

Jason Donovan in a pub in Belfast. Looked like he was having a good time!

The worst was a couple of weeks ago. Duncan from Blue in a lift in Liverpool. So arrogant and full of himself. He came across really horrible.