By DOUG STRASSLER
I’ve seen a lot of celebrities in my life. Some have been for work, and some have just been casual sightings. Few, if any, so far, have been among my all-time favorites, however.
That all changed last week.
Many readers might be able to guess from columns like this and this that I am a big fan of Michelle Pfeiffer, but it goes deeper than that. She was not only the first actress on whom I ever had a crush, she’s the first girl anywhere that I ever fell in love with.
It started at age six, when I saw her in a cute but forgettable comedy called Sweet Liberty. It was an industry comedy about the making of a Revolutionary War movie co-starring Alan Alda and Michael Caine. (Think of it as a parent to State and Main). I remember thinking, “Who is this woman?†followed by “Why isn’t she famous yet?†It didn’t take long for the world at large to catch up, thanks largely to Married to the Mob, Dangerous Liaisons and The Fabulous Baker Boys. But by then I’d already been smitten for years.
And I always wondered what I would do if I were to ever see her – not in passing on the street, but if we were in the same room for any lengthy period of time. And then it happened last week – I was at the same Broadway show as Michelle, and her family. She was just four rows away from me! This was an adventure 25 years in the making! What was I to do?
As it turns out, I acted like an adult. I never want to be just a tacky fan approaching a celebrity, invading their privacy. And even though to me, Michelle is more than just a mere celebrity, I couldn’t have possibly turned this real moment into the dream moment, so I left her alone.
This is no woe-is-me martyr act. And yeah, maybe I’m bragging a little about my act of mature self-restraint. But there’s something to be said when something you have pondered for a quarter century actually happens. I take pride in having behaved myself in the same room with Michelle Pfeiffer. (And we’re proud of you, too! — Mark)
Of course, now I also know what happens when Michelle Pfeiffer happens to be in the same room as me: nothing. She never cosmically sensed that I was sitting near her and asked me to run away with her. She didn’t run up to my seat and ask me to star in her next movie. We were just two normal people watching a show. The only difference being I was aware of her presence, and she – sigh – was not aware of mine.
So I’ve gone ahead and created a new fantasy. I’ll just have to write something for her that forces her to talk to and respect me. Maybe the best interview anyone’s ever conducted with her! Maybe a script that will turn into her first blockbuster in years! Maybe it will win her an Academy Award! You see, just because I’m a big boy doesn’t mean those childhood dreams have to die. They just get bigger.
Have any of you ever encountered your number one favorite star? If not, what would you do if you did?
9 responses so far ↓
1 Diana // Apr 9, 2010 at 10:57 am
Harry Connick, Jr. when I was 14.
AUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Apolo Anton Ohno last month.
2 Mark Blankenship // Apr 9, 2010 at 11:06 am
Doug… which show were you seeing?
(Is it weird that that’s the first question I thought of?)
3 Diane P // Apr 9, 2010 at 11:25 am
I met Steven Tyler at a book signing. This was not a casual run-in, like yours, but a fan event for which I had a few days to prepare, so I had several things I planned to say. When I got to the table and he was signing my book, I froze, lost all power of speech, and had to be walked out in a daze by my former husband. I thought I’d be all cool, and I ended up just thankful I did not wet my pants. I was 31.
Which is why when I saw Ringo Starr on Kings Road a few years later, I was satisfied to share a second of eye contact and half a smile. No disappointment and no embarrassment.
4 Rachel // Apr 9, 2010 at 11:38 am
Patrick Swayze, I was 6 years old, and I fell in love. Never got a chance to meet him or see him in person, and now I never will. Good for you Doug!
5 Tonya // Apr 9, 2010 at 11:51 am
My hubby took me to see Colin Hay (formerly of Men at Work) do an acoustic performance. Afterward he was doing autographs in the lobby. Now I’ve been around tons of musical celebrities / stars, etc due to my years working in radio (really – they’d visit the studio to plug whatever crap they were trying to sell), but meeting Colin? It was all I could do to keep composed. I’m pretty sure I actually purred / growled in his ear when we were getting our picture taken. No, I’m sure I did. I think I scared him a little.
Oh well. He was yummy. I just wanted to eat him up. Is that so bad?
6 Destiny // Apr 9, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Adrien Brody about a month before he won the Oscar in 2003. I was already a big fan. I’d seen The Pianist three times. We were both at the same industry party in London after the BAFTA awards (he had been invited, I sweet talked my way in by flirting with the security guard) I went up to him and said that I thought his performance was amazing and I wished him luck at the Oscars, then I said “You have the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen” It just came out! I didn’t mean to say it. He said “thank you”, and I went on my way and proceeded to call all of my friends.
Doug, I totally understand your restraint and professional behavior, but I’m a little surprised that you didn’t say anything to Ms. Pfeiffer.
7 Stacy // Apr 9, 2010 at 4:14 pm
Like most New Yorkers, I too casually sight celebrities on a semi-regular basis and it doesn’t thrill me too much (although SJP and Matt Damon in the same night is a story my Ohio friends seem to enjoy). I literally even walked right into Barbara Walters at the Barneys glove counter one time and asked her to “please move aside” without giving it too much thought.
HOWEVER, when I was in New Orleans for the college football national championship game in 2008, I positively geeked out over standing 25 feet beneath the platform where Kirk Herbstreit was filming ESPN’s College Gameday. That probably doesn’t mean much to anyone reading this column, but suffice it to say I’m not as cool as I think I am.
8 Liz // Apr 9, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Ah, young love! I have to admit that you have good taste, Doug. I mean, even though she sprayed on latex black pants and sang about “a cool rider” in Grease 2, how can you not love her?
I have run into many celebrities but no one has really sparked any excitement.
Of course, if I ever ran into my star-love, Johnny Depp, I’d like to think that I ‘d act maturely, and I pray that I would never embarrass myself, but somehow I don’t think I’d be able to resist Captain Jack Sparrow…but when that day comes, it will live in my memory & I will definitely share it with the world.
9 Laura Mc. // Apr 13, 2010 at 5:40 pm
I am big into Rufus Wainwright and I dove right into the tackiness.
Stood outside the stage door and he took a picture with me.
I don’t think of myself as a tacky idiot 100% of the time.. but I will “go there” if the opportunity presents itself.. besides, I think he really gets celebrity as an activity, y’know? He plays the game of it..
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