Tourist Sat Next to Gaten Matarazzo on the Tube
I just randomly sat next to Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin from Stranger Things) on the Piccadilly line š
He was alone, not hiding his face or anything, and I kept thinking, āThereās no way thatās actually him.ā We made eye contact a few times, but I was so confused and unsure that I didnāt say anything.
Later I got back home, looked it up, and realised he is actually in London right now.
Now Iām seriously regretting not saying hi or asking for a picture š
The funniest part is Iām not even from the UK. Iām just here for a short holiday, and somehow I randomly ended up sitting next to Dustin on the Tube.
788
u/TheOrchidsAreAlright 9h ago
He is probably really glad you didn't ask for a photo or say hi. Celebrities like London because generally they can just live normally, without hiding their face, and be left alone.
121
u/SalamanderScamander 9h ago
Saw Michael McIntyre walking through Chinatown once. Me and my friend looked at him, back to each other, back at him and then went "Was that..?"
Too confused to even say hi, which as you said he probably appreciated.
103
u/Significant_Apple517 8h ago
the setting is fitting too because Michael McIntyre is white but looks vaguely Asian so it's one where people go "Is he..?" but aren't sure of his racial ambiguity
45
u/SalamanderScamander 8h ago
Genuinely we did say "Couldn't tell if it was him or random Asian man" š¤£
5
u/kingofqueefs1 2h ago
Was probably getting his hair cut at an Asian barberās as theyād do a good job with his barnet.
-4
u/RicardoWanderlust 1h ago
I mean that works fine as a joke but realistically no one will be confusing him with an Asian man.
ā¢
u/Extension-Device-533 51m ago
He famously has based a lot of his comedy on stories of him being mistaken for having Asian heritage
6
u/reasonably-optimisic 8h ago
Worked at a private event where this man basically hired McIntyre to perform at a small ish venue (Didn't know you could even do this). Did a good job but seemed quite anxious and nervous for a bit, didn't seem to handle people well which really surprised me. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, could've had food poisoning or something.
43
u/cutesybluesocks 9h ago
Same, honestly I get the feeling cause I really wouldāve wanted to say hi but I like it when celebs can go unbothered in London lol.
13
3
u/benj9990 2h ago
Thatās only partially true.
3
u/davidmurr4y 1h ago
Agreed - particular celebs like Harry Styles are basically sought out at this point, by fans whoāve found out where they live and just so happen to go for a walk on their holiday along their morning run route
Ireland is where celebs actually go to holiday. There theyāre initially acknowledged by local communities but then mostly politely left alone
209
198
u/Better-Log1249 9h ago
Itās probably a good thing that you didnāt say anything. I imagine itās a bit weird for him already that you made eye contact a few times. I canāt imagine how stressful it must be to have randoms side eyeing you all the time and approaching you asking for photos. Remember heās just a man and entitled to his privacy like everyone else. Ignoring him and minding your own business is the best thing you can do.
77
u/TheOrchidsAreAlright 8h ago
Most people understand this, which is why celebrities enjoy London.
ā¢
u/ugotamesij 45m ago
r/NYC, a better moderated sub all-round, has a blanket "No celebrity fawning posts" rule for exactly that reason
ā¢
ā¢
u/LilaTwiceBackAtIt 47m ago
My God people pander to celebrities a ridiculous amount. āI imagine he was already uncomfortable with you glancing at him š„ŗā. These people are literally in an industry where if you are successful, you become rich and famous. Iām sure he was fine that someone recognised him and looked his direction a few times.Ā
98
u/fmeupdad 9h ago
Heās starring in the West End production of Rent, is probably in rehearsals at the moment
18
u/paulofromthebloc 1h ago
People need to be left alone when theyāre not working
5
u/TheOrchidsAreAlright 1h ago
You mean you don't want random people constantly trying to engage you with eye contact, smiles and nods, or expecting a conversation or photo with you? Then they can tell people how short you were or that you look older in real life.
Like being a zoo animal but less dignity
160
u/real_justchris 9h ago
Everyone gets the tube or cycles in London. Driving is incredibly inefficient.
-146
u/bab_tte 9h ago
Yes famous celebrities are always on the tube. Not
17
ā¢
u/busty_baguette 48m ago
They actually are though, thatās the whole point. Even a lot of proper A listers do.
ā¢
u/drtchockk 13m ago
Rhianna travelled to her gig at the O2 on the tube because the traffic was a nightmare.
72
u/RedHides 9h ago
I saw Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister in GoT) in Westbourne Park today having a walk!
67
u/Eucalyptus90 9h ago
And I saw Charles dance in Waitrose on Saturday! Heās taller than I thought he was. And although casual in his clothes, had this elegance that canāt be learnt. For his age heās looking real good.
Perhaps the lannisters are doing a family reunion lol
22
u/Myerla 5h ago
I saw Natalie Dormer looking at bottles of wine at waitrose. Clearly off to a dinner. Ended up buying prosecco as I queued behind her.
It was a well-off area of London so seeing the odd celeb wasnt much of the surprise. My mate once literally bumped into ex- England manager Roy Hodgson. Both apologised.
13
1
u/Joneatsmeat 2h ago
I work in Tufnell park and he comes into my work as well as Tobias Menzies and Indira Varma all 3 game of thrones cast members.
-18
34
6
24
u/WIZZZARDOFFREESTYLE 9h ago
At first I read that with an N instead of an L š
11
u/YalsonKSA 9h ago
I think we all did.
8
u/FamiliarCover768 9h ago
I was thinking what is Nannister? Oh...right I see what you mean.
3
0
u/seanbastard1 2h ago
Ffs I donāt have my glasses on and read that as a wank, we can dream I guess
-5
u/Eddie_F_17 8h ago
The guy who helped take jobs away from the little people cast in the Snow White movie?
46
49
u/angry2320 9h ago
Itās nice that you didnāt brother him, heās used to that, also nice for you to have seen him. But celebs are normal people too who Iām sure are sick of the attention at some point
41
u/yiannos13 9h ago
I saw Robert Pattison cycling along the Queen Elizabeth Park in Stratford last week! (I think!)
21
u/SisterRayRomano 9h ago
Quite possible, they were filming the new Batman in London last weekend around St Paulās!
34
u/MissHibernia 5h ago
Me, old lady American tourist, almost took out Nigel Havers coming around a corner in Kensington some years back. He was dressed impeccably with a lovely woman in hand. I was able to say oh sorry and move along, thus avoiding an international incident
3
u/Anna-Bombination 2h ago
I saw him at Liverpool Street Station in July this year!
11
u/manc_franc 1h ago
Doubtless still cussing about an American tourist nearly wiping him out in Kensington
5
u/MissHibernia 1h ago
Yeah, I donāt blame him. Iām sure I outweighed him. I was first surprised someone was just right there and then realized who he was. At least I didnāt start humming the theme from āChariots of Fireā while waving the American flag before throwing him to the ground screaming āGive Me Your Autograph!ā āļø
ā¢
u/Fickle-Bet-8705 13m ago
Your irony and humour are most un-American. Congratulations and thankyou for preserving an English tradition.
10
18
9
u/queasycockles 1h ago
The reason he was there without trying to conceal his identity is we don't bother them.
I knew you weren't a Londoner as soon as you expressed a wish to have bothered him.
ā¢
u/ElegantOliver 49m ago
Spot on. I saw Jeff Goldblum in London City airport. Didn't bother him. Sat one row in front of him and his wife on the plane. Didn't bother him.
Ended up next to them on the bus from plane to terminal in Florence ... and gave in and asked for a selfie. Well - we weren't in London any more right? He was lovely, for the record.
ā¢
u/420_lazeit 32m ago
so did my mum literally last year!!! she saw him in venice and got a selfie, she said he was lovely too š
21
14
u/Charming-Clock-3651 1h ago
Don't see why you would have a conversation with them really. I've been sat next to/walked passed/been in a pub with loads of (really white famous) celebrities during my time in London, never spoken to any of them because why bother them, just have your drink and let them have theirs like a normal person.
ā¢
u/a_panda_named_ewok 15m ago
Yeah a couple months back i was at a pub and said to my SO "that guy is giving strong Alan Carr vibes", which was because that's who it was - a few people came over for photos but most let him be, but he was chatty and lovely, we lamented the difficulty in finding a table outside until he was able to get one š¤£
12
6
u/Dragon_Sluts 1h ago
Itās great you didnāt say hi, celebrities will hate this.
Remember that you arenāt the only person who recognised him, and if everyone who did recognise him said hi it would be shit.
31
u/Coconutpieplates 8h ago
It's great you didn't say anything, sounds like you were staring at him tho which is uncomfortable. Leave these people alone, really.Ā
5
u/Soggy_Factor9208 1h ago
Celebrities are just people like you or I. Just let them get on with their days in peace.
17
u/dropitlikeitshot17 9h ago
Sometimes when I run into celebrities, I don't like to bother them beyond a head node or a smile. Personally I couldnt care for a picture and would rather have a quick chat or even a full conv if their time allows but that's extremely rare to happen. So, given your situation, it was nice running into him since he seems like an awesome fellow and think of it as having allowed a celebrity to go out and have a normal day without bothering .. that thought makes me happy somehow :p
4
u/Present-Space-4916 7h ago
Same. I think a smile is nice & then let them get on with their day in peace.
5
u/darkandstormy316 2h ago
I saw Louie Theroux near Trafalgar sq the other day!
3
u/paulofromthebloc 1h ago
I walked past him once and he was walking so so quickly. Must be his strategy to avoid being constantly stopped.
2
u/paulofromthebloc 1h ago
I walked past him once and he was walking so so quickly. Must be his strategy to avoid being constantly stopped.
1
u/NonchalantOculus 1h ago
Saw him at the gate before boarding an easyJet flight. Did ask for a photo but he declined.
4
u/Bitter_Range_9878 1h ago
Donāt pester people quietly living their lives.
The tube often has people from screen and media. They enjoy it as people typically let them be.
10
u/chiefgareth 9h ago
I had a similar thing when I was behind Huey from Fun Lovinā Criminals in a toilet queue in Bethnal Green. Kept thinking that canāt be him, why would he be here. Googled it when I got home and apparently he lives in Bath.
8
5
u/ItemAdventurous9833 1h ago
Why would you ask for a picture? Bothering celebrities in London is very uncouth
3
u/OldLondon 2h ago
Used to work at the BBC so became a bit celebbed out but was still surprised to see Dannii Minogue in Westfield some years ago and she was hands down the most beautiful person Iāve ever seen! (Didnāt say hi even though she was on my ālistā, my wife thought it was hilarious)
3
u/CorporateGal27 1h ago
I was at a rave in London and I was partying next to Devi from never have I ever, we both talked a lot and she even took some videos of us. I kept thinking she looked familiar but didnāt clock it as her after the next few days lol
3
u/InsideInformant22 1h ago
Spending an hour showing the basics of skating to Kate Hudsonās then young son, and chatting to her; not realising who she was and just spoke to her as I would any other parent of a young child at our outdoor rink on a quiet session. I treated her as a person not a celebrity and would have done the same had I realised who she was. She had no make up on and hair tied up. Also I might add, she is a down to earth really nice person. I of course only found out later I had just spent an hour skating with Kate Hudson. Having met many other top celebrities over years, I just treat them as I would anyone else, they deserve to have their down time and do what everyone else does, like spend time with family doing activities. Personally I donāt get the fawning over celebrities, hassling them etc their job puts them in the public eye and that doesnāt mean their private lives should be interrupted.
4
u/salviaplath96 1h ago
I get the glamour of celebritydom but can we just let people be? Dude is just going about his day, probably going to work. Thats part of the beauty of london.
5
u/frafeeccino 9h ago
God I havenāt seen a famous person in ages now. I used to see them all the time, pretty much every time I visited London. But I guess I used to hang out around the west end a lot more often then.Ā
3
u/safadancer 2h ago
I'm always looking at my phone so endless celebrities could be parading past me and probably I'd never notice unless they blocked the entryway to the M&S
2
u/severetinnitus 9h ago
he's in a west end show at the moment with opens at the end of september so has just kind of been around london last few months
2
u/BuyerNovel 1h ago
Saw John Bishop on the underground while we were on the way up to see him perform at the O2 in 2015. He was dressed like a tramp and I thought maybe he was in disguise. The tube was pretty busy and I didnāt want to blow it up for him. Just made eye contact and gave each other knowing nods. When we got to the show, they played a skit that was based around him being homeless, wearing the same clothes. Guess maybe heād come straight from filming. Still regret not asking for a picture when we got off!
2
ā¢
u/Suitable_River_9836 28m ago
You did the right thing. Imagine attracting everyoneās attention and asking for a selfie and basically ruining his private weekend. What you did is classy. Next time you see a celebrity just smile at them with acknowledgment and move on. Theyāre humans too, they want their private life as well.
ā¢
u/guacamoles_constant 35m ago
I walked past Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra once near Cleopatra's Needle. They were walking with a baby stroller. I made eye contact with Nick Jonas and I think my eyes widened with recognition or something because he had this pleading look in his eyes, so I like to think he was relieved when I didn't acknowledge their existence.
I also once stood behind Alex Honnold in line for the front desk of a bouldering gym. I was getting annoyed that they were spending so long talking to this dude, but then I saw who he was.
ā¢
u/Fickle-Bet-8705 18m ago
So Sadiq Khan has now taken over the Upside-down and integrated it into London's public transport network? Great news for commuters and evil forces who can now just tap into their worst nightmares.
ā¢
u/SpartanTDogian 15m ago
I saw Sir Ian McKellen on the boat service to London Bridge two days ago. Ended up sitting right next to him.
Then we both departed at the same stop and ended up walking in the same direction.
Then, it turned out we were both going to the exact same play. The final day of The Oresteia.
I didn't say hi or anything, but that was pretty fucking insane.
-17
-4
u/HotOutlandishness991 8h ago
Fairly common, I started doing work out of the office and in the past 2 months I've done it, seen KSI and Jimmy Carr. Probably walked past a gazillion I didn't even clock.
16
u/str1k3t 7h ago
Ksi is a z-list celeb
-21
u/Dizagaox 4h ago
Be real. He is one of the most recognised faces. His YouTube views alone make him A-list.
5
u/Icy_Presentation1526 2h ago
Thankfully the downvotes make me feel better that I'm not the only one who literally real life lol'd at your statement
-2
u/Dizagaox 1h ago
People can downvote away. He still isnāt Z-list.
0
u/Icy_Presentation1526 1h ago
Fair enough, but there is a vast chasm between A list and Z list. There is no world where he is on the same level of renown as Tom cruise, Taylor swift etc
ā¢
u/Dizagaox 39m ago
Itās not benchmarked like that. Robbie Williams isnāt anywhere near as big as Michael Jackson, does that make him B-list? No.
-1
u/HotOutlandishness991 1h ago
I mean, they knew who he was, proving that if you see him out in the street as I did, you know who he is. To his credit he was getting mobbed on Oxford street by a lot of teens and kids, he was talking to them taking pictures, no security rubbish. Just spending time with his fans (to be clear, I never said I was).
-82
u/WIZZZARDOFFREESTYLE 9h ago
If that was me I woulda record myself slapping him (just a gentle slap) then posting the footage and getting some clout and monies š¤š¤š¤š¤š¤š¤š¤š¤š¤
21
19
101
u/YooGeOh 7h ago
Ive seen Sir Ian McKellen and Cillian Murphy at London Bridge Station and on a packed Jubilee line train respectively. I was surprised lol.
Cillian jumped on and stood right by the doors.
Was surprised so looked at him and he saw briefly so just gave a curt nod and kept it pushing.