I wanted to share mine and kpnuts meeting with Johnny yesterday.
We had tried 6 times before to meet with him at Pinewood Studios and again at the Finding Neverland premiere. Yesterday was 7th time lucky!
We arrived at Pinewood at 5pm and went to the Timekeepers Office where we were told that Vanessa had been seen that morning but they weren’t sure if Johnny was still there. We decided to wait anyway and at about 6.30 one of the chaps I had spoken to on the Tuesday evening came over to tell us that he had found out that Johnny WAS still at the Studios and was having a drink in his trailer. He said if you wait you will see him – wave your arms about when you see his car.
It was a very cold evening and the security guys were kind and let us warm ourselves up in their office – we took it in turns – and they also made us cups of tea.
Anyway, around 8.45 we saw what we thought was Johnny’s car and I fumbled to get the poster I had with me to ask him to stop. However, he must have seen us because suddenly the car came to a halt next to us – a guy in the passenger seat got out and then there was Johnny emerging from the back seat. He looked straight at me and I couldn’t believe that at last Karen and I were about to meet with him.
He shook our hands and I said thank you for stopping and he replied thats OK. I said its so nice to meet you and he said I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. I asked if he would sign something for me and I gave him a copy of the Charlie poster. My hands were so cold that I couldn’t get the top off the pen. He took it from me and said “here let me” and rubbed the top of my arm. He said shall I just sign my name and I said would you put it to Beryl please and he wrote “Beryl with all good wishes always”. While he was writing I told him that we had worked as extras on Charlie and he stopped writing, looked right at me and said with interest “Oh! really”. I then asked if he would sign another pic for me – the one from Vanity Fair with him lounging in the chair. I said I really like this picture of you and he said he was falling asleep then as it was taken at 2 in the morning. He wrote on this one “Beryl great meeting you. With my best”. I asked if he would mind if I took a photo and he said of course and put his arm around my waist. Karen tried to take the photo but was having trouble with my camera. Johnny said its a digital you don’t need to look through the viewfinder. I thanked him and then Karen presented her picture for him to sign. I was about to return the favour and take a photo when one of the men in Johnny’s car – I think it might be an assistant – took the camera. I asked if he would take one of both of us with Johnny which he did. Karen asked about The Diving Bell and he said it would be a couple of years yet. She also asked about Shantaram and he said he thought it would be great.
We asked if Charlie had nearly finished shooting and he said yes. He had couple of months off and then he started Pirates 2. I asked him if he knew when The Libertine was going to be released and he asked his ‘assistant’. However, they couldn’t give a date but Johnny said he thought it was going to be very good.
THEN the best bit. He gave Karen and myself a kiss on both cheeks – SWOON – and headed back to his car. As it drove off he wound down the window and waved saying goodbye. Karen had brought a gift of a book for him and had forgotten to give it to him. She called him and the car stopped. He wound the window down and she handed him the book. He looked very humble as he took it and said “this is so kind you shouldn’t have. Thank you so much”. And with that our dream encounter was over.
A few other observations apart from the fact that he is absolutely gorgeous in the flesh. His skin is beautiful as are his hands which looked smaller to me than I imagined. He did not smell of cigarettes or aftershave but very slightly of alcohol. He has the softest voice and when he looks at you, he only looks at YOU. I am 5′ 6″ tall and I would say he is around 5’10”- he was quite a bit taller than me.
I’m afraid I’m not very computer literate but I will ask my husband to help and will put the signed pictures and the photos up when I can.
I’m sorry this is such a long narrative but I know that when I have read of other encounters I want to read all the details.
Floss
