There are quite a few perks to being from a city where a lot of movies are filmed. Because seeing a famous person in the wild can transform a boring day into the go-to story you tell at parties.
Like, for example, my hometown of Toronto is one of those cities where everyone has a celebrity run-in story — and they’re always verrrrry interesting. So, I found a Reddit thread where people shared their experiences meeting celebrities unexpectedly:
1. But before we get into the Reddit answers, let’s start with my story: I met Emma Roberts at a steakhouse in downtown Toronto! We chatted, took photos, and of course I told her how much I love Aquamarine — because yes, I’m a very basic Gen Z’er. She was SO sweet and actually chatted with us for a few minutes!
2. “I went to university with Rachel McAdams (York U, she was in the theatre program). She lived in my residence building and we were casual friends in an extended friend group. She was super nice and everyone knew she was going to be a star.”
“We called her ‘hot Rachel’ (not sure if she even knew that) but she definitely was hot and definitely was a genuinely great person to be around. After I graduated I ended up seeing Mean Girls at the theatre and was blown away that I actually knew her.
Now, many years later and many movies later for her, I’m just super happy that she made it. She really deserves the life she has. Hot Rachel. McAdams.”
3. “I talked to Robin Williams on the phone once when I was working at a call center for Apple in 2013. He was having trouble syncing his mail app with his email provider. Very nice man.”
“I ran into Robin Williams when I was 13. Spilt his coffee and my juice all over him. Also cried and blubbered how much I loved him and his movies. He was so genuinely kind and patient and made me love him all the more.”
4. “I served Aretha Franklin when I worked in retail. Very sweet woman. She bought her staff leather jackets.”
5. “Met Kirsten Dunst and Mila Kunis at a party in the early 2000s. I pretended to be part of their group for about 15 minutes until they realized they had no idea who I was. LOL!”
6. “Simu Liu. Years ago he co-hosted a community mental health workshop that our siblings met him there and he’s so cool and kind.”
–[deleted user]
“I lived in the same condo as him so I would run into him frequently in the lobby/elevators. Saw him walking his two dogs all the time. One was a massive husky-ish dog and it was hilarious watching him bend over to pick up that one’s dookie.”
7. “I ran into Mark Wahlberg at a rave/club after-hours in the early 2000s. He was an absolute dick and I regretted my brief encounter with him.”
8. “Saw the actor who plays Mike on Suits at Homesense. I did a double-take trying to remember how I knew this guy. We made eye contact for a moment right as it clicked that I don’t actually know him and he’s just familiar from television. I gave him a half-nod and moved along. He looked relieved to not have been accosted.”
9. “I bummed a cigarette off Jeremy Allen White on Sunday. He was at the hotel bar my girlfriend works at, on the phone most of the time. Seemed sort of introverted but polite. Gave me a dart and a friendly nod, also probably appreciate not having his fame acknowledged.”
10. “Neil Young on the subway, late at night. I said hi, he said hi, I asked for a selfie, and he waved bye. LOL”
11. “Laura Dern in an elevator. She had sunglasses on, but she spoke to my kids who were arguing over who would press the button. If she hadn’t spoken I wouldn’t have recognized her. She was SO nice!”
“My kids and I had just stepped into the elevator. They couldn’t decide who should pick a floor. Then she walked in. She said, ‘How about if I pick this one?’ and all three of us stayed quiet. I knew it was her then. Unmistakable voice.
I took a deep breath and said, ‘Nice to see you here, Ms. Dern.’ She said ‘Thank you.’ She got off at her floor, saying, ‘Have a great day guys,’ with a smile.”
12. “Bryan Adams. Met him randomly while getting on an elevator, he asked me which floor and made small talk. Absolute sweetheart.”
13. “I talked to… Anne Hathaway, mid-2000s. I think Brokeback Mountain was premiering during the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). She was doing early-morning photo shoots at like 6am. I stumbled into the middle of the shoot and a guard stopped me, and as I was looking to turn, the other there Anne was. She asked if I worked down in the area and I mumbled temporarily. She asked for a good place for coffee and pastries the crew could try after, and I held up my lunch bag and said ‘My mom makes my lunch so I’m the last guy to know.’ She actually laughed a little and said I was lucky, then the guard waved me through.”
14. “Karen Robinson and Annie Murphy lived in my neighbourhood during the Schitt’s Creek days. Not sure if they still live here now. I would walk past them and give them just a look, a nod, and a smile.”
15. “I was a cashier helping Gordon Lightfoot years ago. TBH, I didn’t know who he was until someone ran up to me afterwards to tell me. He was very kind and down-to-earth. We had a pleasant conversation and he wished me well.”
16. “I was working as a barista at Starbucks when Renée Zellweger came in. She ordered her drink as I was bussing the condiment stand. I offered to show her around Toronto. She politely declined. Gotta shoot your shot.”
17. “I was working at a theatre and Drake was there to see Justin Bieber’s movie. He came up the escalator with two body guards. I froze like deer in headlights.”
18. “Margaret Atwood, more than once. Rude, unpleasant, miserable creature. Hopefully her fame from The Handmaid’s Tale made her a happier person, but I doubt it.”
19. “I once took a chicken order over the phone from Donald Sutherland himself. He’s a whole chicken dinner guy.”
20. “I was on this catamaran in Miami and saw Jackie Chan eating a banana in his backyard, LOL. I said ‘Damn, that’s Jackie Chan!’ He heard me and hid behind a tree.”
21. “Ran into Anthony and Chad the night before a Red Hot Chili Peppers show. They were super cool and talked to us even though we accosted them on the street.”
22. “Elizabeth Moss. She lived in Toronto when filming The Handmaid’s Tale. I was supposed to just be dropping off camera equipment for her, and when I arrived, she was busy and asked if I could come later. She gave me her personal phone number to arrange a better drop off time.”
“I still have it. When I came back the next day, she invited me inside to help her set the equipment up. I was trying to not fangirl out too much and play it cool. She was super friendly but also very professional and down-to-earth. And she came to the door in her pyjamas!”
23. “I saw K-os walk out of The Beer Store and asked him to buy me and my friend beer when we were underage, almost 15 years ago. He gave us a dirty look and told us to fuck off.”
24. “Spotted Halle Berry on the patio during TIFF. To be clear, I saw someone, thought, ‘That’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,’ and some time later realized it was Halle.”
That’s it for now — but hey, I’m sure you’ve got a great celeb run-in story, so pleeeease drop it in the comments below! Seriously, I’m curious!
