U & W (Part 1)

 U and W (Part 1) 

Getting closer to the end of the journey now folks, just a few weeks left but this week I’m able to reflect on some really positive memories of meting a couple of my heroes. This week we recall meeting:

Karl Urban

Dee Wallace Stone

Harriet Walter

David Warner

Carl Weathers

Karl Urban 

I think Mr Urban qualifies as a genuine movie star, he’s been a part of some of the biggest movie franchises of all time. Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, he’s popped up in the Marvel universe too,  as well as making some great TV appearances in series  like The Boys. I met him in Manchester at the last convention I attended (Dec 2019) and he was the last person I met. He was charming and when I complimented him on his work as Dr McCoy I added, “I hope we get to see more of you in that role”. Mr Urban smiled and said “watch this space”. Rumours abound of a Star Trek sequel in 2023. 

Dee Wallace-Stone

I met Dee Wallace-Stone the previous December, again in Manchester. She’s appeared in several films that are favourites of mine including The Howling and of course ET. She was very friendly and quite demonstrative, but I didn’t care, I’m a hugger.

Harriet Walter 

Or perhaps I should say Dame Harriet Walter, doyenne of the theatre as well as gracing many TV and film productions. She is an actor whose book on acting I read and found fascinating. She was very down to earth and easy to talk to. It was one of those occasions when there was no queue…as if people didn’t know who she was. I knew, and I grabbed all the time I could to chat. 

David Warner

November 2017, a convention in Birmingham. An elderly yet distinguished man is sitting alone behind a table, he’s drinking a coffee and just watching the world go by. 

Behind him, on the wall, is a poster featuring him in various film roles including many with his face hidden beneath prosthetics  and make up. Convention goers were just wandering past, perhaps not realising they were walking past the great David Warner. Once again I made best use of my time and spent around 20 minutes chatting with the great man. What a delight. 

Carl Weathers

The warmth of welcome you get from Carl Weathers when you turn up to get your photo was amazing. He was not going to be hurried by anyone - he was going to welcome you, chat to you and make sure you left with a smile on your face. A very good convention experience.

Next week we recall some not so great convention experiences along with two very lovely moments as we recall meeting: 

 

Peter Weller

Gemma Whelan

Billy Dee Williams

Mary Wiseman

Rupert Young