The FastDay Forum

@Chook, I mentioned David Hobson in the Eye Candy stream - but it seems I am not the only one who likes him!! I briefly met him and Yvonne Kenny when they signed CDs after a show they did together (btw I couldn't believe that the show wasn't sold out). Ms Kenny was particularly charming.

I was in the same year and same college as Kevin Rudd when at ANU, tho we didn't quite mix in the same circles and were really just vague acquaintances. However, when I "bumped" into him at Sydney airport just prior to him becoming leader of the Labor Party (more than 25 years since we had been at uni), he was very polite and mentioned enough to show that he did remember me. (I was a supporter of his for a while, but now will never forgive him for what he did to Julia.)

I met our current Governor-General, Quentin Bryce and her husband Michael through work. They were of course very charming.

And my mum has met Queen Elizabeth twice - and she almost dines out on the stories!!

I’m pretty rubbish when it comes to this, I’ve met a guy from Hearsay (can’t even remember his name) when he was singing at a pub I worked at because his band from Pop Idol were a flop. Funnily enough he was totally up himself and nobody really knew who he was. That’s the only “famous” person I can thing of!

My boyfriend on the other hand has had a joke with Prince Charles at an army function and said he was friendly, and his Dad was in the army with Prince Harry – by all accounts he was a great laugh! At an officer’s dinner that I attended (but unfortunately Harry was in Afghanistan so I didn’t see him there, boooo!) there were stories of him participating in champagne jager bombs and all sorts – he’s meant to be really down to Earth.

Richard E. Grant, Orlando Bloom and Viggo Mortenson; all were total sweethearts and very friendly and chatty. I was very disappointed when I met Eric Bana because I expected him to be laid back and funny but he didn't say a word even though it was at an event where it was 'part of his job' to interact with fans.

I took a creative writing course given by the author Kate Grenville. She is probably better known in Australia than internationally, but "The Secret River" was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
(Like all her books, it is well worth reading). I am a huge fan of her writing so I was totally star-struck - I fear I blushed every time I spoke to her. She was really nice, very patient and read and commented very encouragingly on all the efforts of her students, no matter how hopeless (speaking of my own efforts here!).

I also met Bryce Courtenay, another Australian-based author. It was about the time that "The Power of One" was a huge best seller. I was on a behind-the-scenes tour at the main library in Sydney, it was open to anyone and he was just another person in the small group. The librarian was showing us around and said something like "Let's suppose I'm looking for a book by - let's say Bryce Courtenay for example" and they exchanged a sort of grin and I suddenly twigged who he was. As with Kate G, I was struck by how unassuming and pleasant he was - though I don't rate his books as highly, he was a much bigger celebrity at the time, but you'd never have guessed by his manner.

I was a crazy autograph hunter as a teenager - various footballers, tennis players etc. Jimmy Connors was nice, said I shouldn't chew my pens (but I still do). Ilie Nastase signed my arm. I once got into John Curry's dressing room when he was doing an ice show in London. I don't remember anyone not being nice.

When I worked for Nike I met a lot of sports people, including Kevin Keegan who often came into the office & my boss brought him over to my desk to introduce me because he knew I had a MASSIVE crush on him as a teenager. When I was based in the States we had basketball and football players coming into the office fairly often but I had no idea really who they were. Then the icing on the cake was when I played ball girl at an exhibition match between Ilie Nastase & Stefan Edberg - twenty years after he'd signed my arm, I was throwing him balls. He was lovely and called everyone 'darlink'.

Ohh - just remembered, I met James Brown at Salt Lake City airport! He was just sitting there in the regular seats, not the VIP lounge, and people were queuing up to shake his hand He came across as very modest and down to earth.

John Craven.

It was in connection with my folks' work with the inland waterways association. Mr Craven turned up to open a lock, can't recall the details now.

I felt quite sorry for him as he spent his Saturday smiling pleasantly at people and shaking hands......he must have been sick of it...

I said "sorry you must be sick of this" and shook his hand (I couldn't resist the claim to fame!!). He smiled pleasantly back and said good morning back for the 150th time.

I recall he made a slightly catty comment about gardeners spoiling insects' habitats once but over all he seems a top guy.

My Mum has met Dan Cruckshank.

My brother's ex was a distant cousin of Wayne Sleap. Is that any good.

My Mum had friends of fiends who knew Tom Jones's parents. (We were in South Wales during '80's ). Word was he would always ring back, where ever he was; USA etc etc he would ring. I dare say in those days a transatlantic call wasn't a cheap business.

When I was a teen (back in the 90's) my friends and I knocked on Mark Owens front door. He's mum and dad came out and spoke to us for ages. They said he'd be back within the hour and told us to wait. He came back within the hour and stayed out to speak with us, we took loads of pics and I even got a kiss. He was so nice, it made my year. I wonder if he's still the same these days.
Dee

I've met quite a few. Probably one of the most famous was Uma Thurman, who I met in a toilet at a show. She was waving her hand at a tap and couldn't get it to work, so I showed her how to turn it on (lift the lever up)! She was polite and smiled. I just couldn't take my eyes off her big feet!

I also worked at Wimbledon one summer and met a few tennis stars and celebs....Margaret Thatcher, Pierce Brosnan, Dawn French, John McInroe....and I had conversations with Nadal (sooooooo lovely), Federer (not so nice), Venus Williams (so so lovely) and Serena Williams (camera chaser and not nice)...

@kentishlass

I love Kate Grenville! Have only heard her interviewed but she does seem lovely. Would love to take a writing class with her!

I am reminded reading this thread that I sat next to a HUGE tall man on a flight from Toulouse some time ago. He had to seriously sit with folded up legs into the gangway He was pointed out as we left the plane by my OH as Gareth Thomas, Welsh Rugby star. What a gentleman, he stood up on arrival, blocked the gangway - no problem - and helped us out of our seats, holding back the crush leaving the plane! Different kind of scrum!

@airir

@kentishlass

I love Kate Grenville! Have only heard her interviewed but she does seem lovely. Would love to take a writing class with her!

It's nice to hear from a fellow fan. I think she earns enough from her writing that she doesn't take classes any more - pity for would-be students but good for her. She does have a book about creative writing.

@airir

@kentishlass

I love Kate Grenville! Have only heard her interviewed but she does seem lovely. Would love to take a writing class with her!

It's nice to hear from a fellow fan. I think she earns enough from her writing that she doesn't take classes any more - pity for would-be students but good for her. She does have a book about creative writing.

Indeed! And I do have that book of hers too.

I'm enjoying this thread! Very funny reading how people have brushed with the famous - and who the bitchy ones are!!