My brother works in a supermarket frequented by Titanic star Kate Winslett. He used to work in one frequented by Red Dwarf star Robert Llewelyn, so he must gravitate toward the rich and famous, eh?
Anyway, whenever a celebrity enters your circle of reality, it's always on your mind to impress them with an incisive, unique question. But, thanks to the circumstances of being in a working environment, it means the question has to be informal, chatty and quick...
So what should he ask?
Most things I can think of seem too geeky, particularly if you're midway through scanning their shopping. You could go for comedy: "I never did see Titanic; what happens at the end?" That might work, but if it doesn't the "tumbleweed moment" would be unbearable.
Something like "didn't you work with Peter Jackson on Heavenly Creatures years before his Lord Of The Rings succcess? Did you think he'd become world famous back then?" just seems too long and anoraky.
It has to be something that seems spontaneous. If it's too obvious you've been thinking and rehearsing the question, speaking like an automaton, that could be very embarassing. You can't get too nerdy on the poor woman, who's only popped in for some bread and milk!
My brother isn't gay, so questions enquiring about Leonard DiCaprio are out. What about Jim Carrey, who she co-starred with in Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind? "What was Jim Carrey like between takes? Was he funny, or deadly serious about the work?" Hmmm, on reflection, better not say "the work". Sounds pretentious...
You could get a bit cheeky and say "any roles for a young supermarket manager coming up? I'm available!" Hmmm, if you had the guts, it might go okay. Or she could get creeped out if you seem quite serious.
Kate's married to director Sam Mendes (American Beauty/Road To Perdition), so maybe you could ask something about him. It would acknowledge you know she's unavailable and not "trying it on" with her, too. But maybe that's a wasted opportunity...
What about making sure the shop is stocked with Kate Winslett DVDs and ask for an autograph on on? It might look weird pulling out a copy of Titanic from under the counter, with a marker pen. Too planned. Even worse if you had two DVDs (one to put on Ebay).
"What was it like working with James Cameron, I've heard he's quite tough on people?" is the best one I can think of. It's asking about Cameron, but it's likely to spark some Titanic reminisces. Maybe even an interesting on-set anecdote?
I suppose you could always forget thinking up something original, and just go for the popular "what are you working on at the moment?", or "wow, are you Kate Winslett?"
Or... if nerves really get to my brother, perhaps the more relevant:
"Do you have a dividend card?"
Anyway, whenever a celebrity enters your circle of reality, it's always on your mind to impress them with an incisive, unique question. But, thanks to the circumstances of being in a working environment, it means the question has to be informal, chatty and quick...
So what should he ask?
Most things I can think of seem too geeky, particularly if you're midway through scanning their shopping. You could go for comedy: "I never did see Titanic; what happens at the end?" That might work, but if it doesn't the "tumbleweed moment" would be unbearable.
Something like "didn't you work with Peter Jackson on Heavenly Creatures years before his Lord Of The Rings succcess? Did you think he'd become world famous back then?" just seems too long and anoraky.
It has to be something that seems spontaneous. If it's too obvious you've been thinking and rehearsing the question, speaking like an automaton, that could be very embarassing. You can't get too nerdy on the poor woman, who's only popped in for some bread and milk!
My brother isn't gay, so questions enquiring about Leonard DiCaprio are out. What about Jim Carrey, who she co-starred with in Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind? "What was Jim Carrey like between takes? Was he funny, or deadly serious about the work?" Hmmm, on reflection, better not say "the work". Sounds pretentious...
You could get a bit cheeky and say "any roles for a young supermarket manager coming up? I'm available!" Hmmm, if you had the guts, it might go okay. Or she could get creeped out if you seem quite serious.
Kate's married to director Sam Mendes (American Beauty/Road To Perdition), so maybe you could ask something about him. It would acknowledge you know she's unavailable and not "trying it on" with her, too. But maybe that's a wasted opportunity...
What about making sure the shop is stocked with Kate Winslett DVDs and ask for an autograph on on? It might look weird pulling out a copy of Titanic from under the counter, with a marker pen. Too planned. Even worse if you had two DVDs (one to put on Ebay).
"What was it like working with James Cameron, I've heard he's quite tough on people?" is the best one I can think of. It's asking about Cameron, but it's likely to spark some Titanic reminisces. Maybe even an interesting on-set anecdote?
I suppose you could always forget thinking up something original, and just go for the popular "what are you working on at the moment?", or "wow, are you Kate Winslett?"
Or... if nerves really get to my brother, perhaps the more relevant:
"Do you have a dividend card?"
