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Published: July 20th 2005
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It's exactly who you think it is
(and yes, he is standing 5 inches away from me.) I guess the really great thing about London is that you can run into red-carpet movie premieres while you're just wandering around looking for a cafe.
In my case, the European premiere of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. The crazed fans weren't in a line, they were just a huge mass of people waiting to get let in, and so somehow when the police did let everyone in to the red carpet area, I actually ended up in the front row. Which is an awesome place to be for pictures and autographs, but maybe not so awesome health-wise, with everyone shoving all the time.
The girls next to me were really smart and methodical (and a little insane) about the whole thing. They had a sign that said "Please sign for us" that was on a coat-hanger which they draped over the barrier, books of pictures to be signed and three or four pens each. Everyone around me was talking about what pictures so-and-so would be most likely to sign (someone named Helena associated with Tim Burton in some way is apparently really picky about what she'll sign, and Ewan MacGregor won't do pictures), and all sorts of stuff.
Screens all over Leincester Square
... playing the trailer on repeat for 4 hours. We had nothing to do for 2 and a half hours, so if you ever want to know anything about celebrities, I'm pretty sure I now know it all. (And after listening to the Willie Wonka song from the trailer for 4 hours, I can also entertain you with that, if you like, which you wouldn't. )
Anyway, it was amazing. I got a ton of autographs - most from people I don't know, actually. I didn't recognize Val Kilmer, and I still don't know who Tara Tarrington is (not that it stopped me from getting her autograph anyway) - but I did get the girl who played Wendy in Peter Pan, and almost all of the other child actors, and some guy named James from some show called Busted (I think it's a UK thing), and the short guy from The Office. Christopher Lee showed up and waved, but didn't sign. (Well, he doesn't need to, he's
Christopher Lee.) But Tim Burton was definitely the highlight of the day. I was really lucky to get his autograph, he was in a rush, some really annoying press people were following him everywhere he went. But I *did* get his
Tim Burton!
Crazy hair and all. autograph, even though the picture I have of him isn't very good. I'm really psyched about that.
I had another near-death moment when Johnny Depp showed up - everyone behind me sort of rushed the barrier and all of the people in the front row (like me) had to turn around and literally shove people back to avoid getting caught in the barrier. It was cool, though - he actually went around and signed for every single person, which no one else had done.
I can't believe I was actually there, it's completely surreal.
The other highlight of London was probably the Harry Potter premiere. Nearly every bookstore in London was having a party, but I waited until about 10:00 to go check them out so I could see which ones were the biggest.
It was definitely the Oxford Street Waterstone's. They actually had some of the actors from the movies there, and a red carpet, and a line that stretched almost to Picadilly Circus. It was absolutely insane.
There was a Borders across the street where I actually went to get my copy of the book, even though I was hanging out at Waterstone's. They actually
had some members of the Reduced Shakespeare Company come in and give a "Harry Potter In 15 Minutes", which was great fun.
And then last night I actually got to go see the (relatively) new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical - The Woman In White. Sort of Sweeney Todd meets Jane Eyre. I loved it - the music was great, and just being in the theater itself was amazing. A weird thing, though - that morning I went on a Shakespeare's London guided walk, and my guide had been talking about how he was doing a show in the West End at the moment. I didn't think much of it, but I was really surprised to see him onstage that night. And it wasn't even a bit part, it was a secondary lead with a major solo. I was impressed.
So, here I am, back in Dublin. The current plan is something like Donegal, then Sligo, then Galway, but we'll see what happens! I only had time to get a few of the pictures up, so you'll have to trust me that I did actually go see Big Ben and everything. http://photobucket.com/albums/a233/haley_m86/
I'll write again later!
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Whitney
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SHUTUP!!
i'm soooo jealous omg!! that's so cool that johnny went through and signed everyone's stuff... god he's so friggin' cool!!.... i can't believe how lucky you were to get up front... that's simply amazing.... and the "helena" that they were referring to.. was it helena bonham carter...? cus she's in the movie and i pretty much love her... okay that's my story... i'm still jealous!!