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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2017 15:06:05 GMT
That's sort of a weird thing to say, considering how far you got into the thread to find the quoted post and that most of the posts up until that point referred simply to "meeting" actors.  |
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Apr 19, 2017 15:08:43 GMT
Fair enough, I apologise.
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Post by rockinrobin on Apr 19, 2017 15:25:15 GMT
I don't go to stage door too often but have been lucky to meet truly lovely thespians so far. I'm terribly shy so it's never easy for me to start a conversation with a stranger, let alone a famous stranger, therefore I always hugely appreciate their kindness and patience - it is quite embarrassing when you're standing in front of Andrew Scott and desperately try to recall what you wanted to say! That said, he was extremely nice when I went to say "hello" at the Almeida (he must have been knackered but he happily chatted to people at the stage door, made sure everyone got a nice selfie and seemed genuinely humbled by viewers praising his performance). David Oakes is adorable as well. He actually found me on Twitter after our conversation and DM'ed me to thank me for coming to say hello - it made me drop my bedtime glass of wine.
As for Bertie Carvel - when I met him a few years back, he was absolutely charming (again, maybe it was because I seemed completely petrified) and quite friendly actually. I flew to London just for one night, to see the play his was in and he seemed quite impressed (not sure whether he really was - he's an actor after all - but I don't care, that was so sweet!). I was a little surprised to read he was unpleasant - I can imagine it might happen sometimes though. I assume he is a human being so he probably has his better and worse days like everyone else...
And oh - Ian McKellen's smiling eyes. What a joy.
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Post by Jon on Apr 19, 2017 15:36:45 GMT
Sheridan Smith is really lovely as is Russell Tovey.
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Post by rumbledoll on Apr 19, 2017 16:17:18 GMT
I can confirm thousand times over that Jamie Parker is a lovely human being. Even when he's late for his bloody train! (Actually admiring him travelling almost every day from afar by the most unreliable means of transportation in UK).
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Post by kathryn on Apr 19, 2017 16:38:06 GMT
I'm so glad I don't do the kind of job that requires me to make nice with the public after a hard day's work!
The other day I saw someone on Twitter call an actor 'two-faced' and a 'snake' because, in between signing things and smiling for selfies with fans on the red carpet, he didn't smile at her. Apparently her friend took a picture of them where he is 'glaring at her' - though she didn't include the photo with the tweet.
See, it's not enough take photos and sign at the stage door or on red carpets, you must also keep a smile plastered on your face the whole time you're doing it, in case someone snaps a photo during the few seconds between photos that you're not smiling.
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Post by Mark on Apr 19, 2017 16:47:59 GMT
Sheridan Smith was so lovely when I met her, she was chatting for ages with me and my family.
Cherry Jones was so sweet, she seemed almost surprised to see people waiting after the matinee of glass menagerie,
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Post by anthony40 on Apr 19, 2017 17:05:14 GMT
Daniel Boys- Always very pleasant and has time to talk and pose for a pic.
Helena Bonham-Carter was also extremely pleasant, as was Bill Nighy
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Post by longinthetooth on Apr 19, 2017 18:26:01 GMT
Beverley Knight was an absolute dream, lovely lady. Ramin Karimloo delightful to chat to too.
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Post by foxa on Apr 19, 2017 18:46:09 GMT
I think most actors are pleasant - no one wants a reputation for being a jerk. I have a special place in my heart for some of the actors who were very kind to my students when we'd come to see a play at the Donmar. There would be a Q&A session after the performance and actors like Simon Russell Beale and Eddie Redmayne were so generous with their time. Both tried to break down what they did in a way that was interesting and helpful to the students (and Beale charmingly demonstrated how a particularly bloody effect was achieved on stage.) My son and I met Christopher Ecclestone after a show and he also was so friendly and interesting and genuine (or so it seemed to me.)
Also can vouch for Mark Rylance. My husband had a badly burnt hand but felt he couldn't turn down an invitation to a party for work reasons. He was feeling a bit sorry for himself trying to balance his canape and drink with his big bandaged hand while more famous and powerful people swirled around him, when Rylance (who he didn't know) approached him, asked how he'd hurt himself and was funny, concerned, charming.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2017 19:26:50 GMT
I once 'lost' my Mum on the way out of the theatre at La Cage in the West End and found her in deep conversation with John Barrowman's parents, who Mum reported were lovely...
Another tale of Mum, I approached Shaun Evans at the Hampstead after seeing Hello/Goodbye and mentioned we'd had to reschedule because Mum was ill-he immediatly went over to Mum standing a little way away and wanted to check she was ok now and she'd enjoyed the show. Needless to say 'Baby Morse' is now one of Mum's favourites!
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Post by rumbledoll on Apr 19, 2017 20:01:57 GMT
I once 'lost' my Mum on the way out of the theatre at La Cage in the West End and found her in deep conversation with John Barrowman's parents, who Mum reported were lovely... Another tale of Mum, I approached Shaun Evans at the Hampstead after seeing Hello/Goodbye and mentioned we'd had to reschedule because Mum was ill-he immediatly went over to Mum standing a little way away and wanted to check she was ok now and she'd enjoyed the show. Needless to say 'Baby Morse' is now one of Mum's favourites! Wonderful stories, Emily! Thanks for sharing! I once heard Shaun Evans offered an apple to a fan in the theatre canteen. )) I'm enjoying this thread so much - and no actual "rude" mentions so far )
I've just recalled an extremely lovely chat with Anthony Head at SD a couple of years ago. He was so impressed we'are listening to BBC Radio and watch Doctor Who here, in Russia. And when I said goodbye and was about to leave he did the most handsome bow I've seen in my life. Such a gentleman!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2017 20:09:46 GMT
The stage door is just another gig, if anything the actors who are a bit more distant are probably being the more real. To really get a feel for how actors are is to meet them in a social situation away from the theatre
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Post by indis on Apr 19, 2017 20:32:52 GMT
always thought Harriet Jones, Emmi Christensson and Anton Zetterholm are always very lovely to meet at SD
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Apr 19, 2017 21:44:31 GMT
However, I agree that judging if an actor is "nice" or (especially) "rude" just from meeting them for a few minutes or less at stage door is a tough call. Some performers are good at the whole stage door "business", some aren't. But just because a performer isn't up for small talk / signing programmes / taking photos at stage door doesn't mean he/she is rude. On the other hand a performer can be the fans' darling at stage door but might be a terrible person in real life. The stage door is just another gig, if anything the actors who are a bit more distant are probably being the more real. To really get a feel for how actors are is to meet them in a social situation away from the theatre Exactly right. For example Chris Eccleston has a rep for being "prickly" based as far as I can tell because he's sometimes curt to journalists and isn't a Doctor Who fan like some other actors who have played the role, but he is one of the most decent and kind gentlemen I've ever worked with. |
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Post by loureviews on Apr 20, 2017 6:45:37 GMT
Not stage door but encounters in theatre cafes or foyers. Derek Fowlds of Basil Brush and Heartbeat fame coped brilliantly with a table of people loudly speculating whether he was in Emmerdale (he eventually put them out of their misery). Julia Mckenzie very sweet and friendly at the Menier. Alan Carr at the BFI, lovely and chatty. Chris Eccleston handled my mum commenting loudly on what a big nose he had (he was sitting at the next table) by agreeing!
Miriam Margolyes though; she was at the Rose Kingston and I had one of those moments of 'I know her face but can't place it'. Then got a real death stare from her - and then we were sitting directly behind her, which made me feel uncomfortable for the whole show. I've never enjoyed her work since.
And dear old Brian Blessed, noisy, overbearing and roaring. But happy to engage in expletive laden conversation (on his side). And the late Nicol Williamson was a lovely if unpredictable man.
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Post by bex1210 on Apr 20, 2017 6:46:36 GMT
Alex Brightman was lovely and actually seemed interested in talking to people at the stage door. After he guessed perfectly where in the U.K. I was from it turned out he liked to learn different Yorkshire dialects so we had a random chat about Yorkshire slang words.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 20, 2017 14:52:48 GMT
Margolyes though; she was at the Rose Kingston and I had one of those moments of 'I know her face but can't place it'. Then got a real death stare from her - and then we were sitting directly behind her, which made me feel uncomfortable for the whole show. I've never enjoyed her work since. My best friend's mum and dad bumped into her in Cornwall recently. They didn't actually know who she was, but thought they'd seen her on tv. They said she was absolutely charming. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2017 19:56:38 GMT
Not me meeting an actor, but a hilarious moment at Musical Marathon was this lovely guy next to me and @ryan in the bar before the show started chatting to us, he was honestly a lovely guy, and showed us a picture of him meeting a random actor I can't remember the name of and me and Ryan pretending to be mildly and then scrolling to the next picture... of him meeting Joan Collins. I died. And Ryan wasn't far behind me!  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2017 20:20:07 GMT
Not me meeting an actor, but a hilarious moment at Musical Marathon was this lovely guy next to me and @ryan in the bar before the show started chatting to us, he was honestly a lovely guy, and showed us a picture of him meeting a random actor I can't remember the name of and me and Ryan pretending to be mildly and then scrolling to the next picture... of him meeting Joan Collins. I died. And Ryan wasn't far behind me! Hilarious |
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Apr 21, 2017 1:04:04 GMT
Not stage door but encounters in theatre cafes or foyers. Derek Fowlds of Basil Brush and Heartbeat fame coped brilliantly with a table of people loudly speculating whether he was in Emmerdale (he eventually put them out of their misery). Julia Mckenzie very sweet and friendly at the Menier. Alan Carr at the BFI, lovely and chatty. Chris Eccleston handled my mum commenting loudly on what a big nose he had (he was sitting at the next table) by agreeing! Miriam Margolyes though; she was at the Rose Kingston and I had one of those moments of 'I know her face but can't place it'. Then got a real death stare from her - and then we were sitting directly behind her, which made me feel uncomfortable for the whole show. I've never enjoyed her work since. And dear old Brian Blessed, noisy, overbearing and roaring. But happy to engage in expletive laden conversation (on his side). And the late Nicol Williamson was a lovely if unpredictable man. J'adore La Margolyes, but preferably from a distance. I went to see a friend in a play last year, with an American movie producer who was considering casting her. We were all in the bar after the show MM wafted in, loudly announced that she never told friends she was coming because "it's so unfair on actors if they know I'M in the audience" then gestured to us and bullhorned, "I see some of your devoted fans are hovering for autographs, so I won't stay." Producer rather nonplussed. |
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Post by michalnowicki on Apr 21, 2017 6:46:56 GMT
First stage door experience yesterday and both Darius Campbell and Sheridan Smith were absolutely lovely. Darius was very keen to sign people's ticket, programmes and to chat with everyone. He even recorded a "congratulations" message for someone's wedding!
Sheridan Smith was really nice, she apologised for taking ages to leave the theatre and then she spent time signing stuff and taking pictures with people
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Post by alece10 on Apr 21, 2017 7:14:37 GMT
Daniel Boys- Always very pleasant and has time to talk and pose for a pic. Helena Bonham-Carter was also extremely pleasant, as was Bill Nighy I also have a picture with Daniel Boys but it took longer than expected as the camera was playing up. Got it after 4 attempts and he was very gracious but probably cursing me under his breath. |
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Post by anita on Apr 21, 2017 9:19:50 GMT
Not exactly theatre, but I was told of a famous American singer from the 1960s who died not so long ago. He insisted his band kept playing after he had left the stage for the last time inorder for him to get out of the venue & away so that he didn't have to meet any fans. They would crowd round the stage door not knowing he was long gone.He was a right s**t by all accounts.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2017 9:55:09 GMT
Not exactly theatre, but I was told of a famous American singer from the 1960s who died not so long ago. He insisted his band kept playing after he had left the stage for the last time inorder for him to get out of the venue & away so that he didn't have to meet any fans. They would crowd round the stage door not knowing he was long gone.He was a right s**t by all accounts. The first person who came into my head was Prince, he was known for being a bit of a diva wasn't he? |
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