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Post by thebearofwestend on Apr 19, 2017 8:26:29 GMT
Who are the nicest and who are the rudest actors who have been on West End/ Broadway?
And for the most part I find most actors to be very nice and genuine.I found that most seem to really appreciate being there.
I know this is local community of theatre pros as well. So keep it civil .
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2017 8:31:11 GMT
The absolute nicest person I have ever met has to be Ian Mckellen, an absolute dream! spent 10 minutes in his dressing room with him and he was just so engaging, interested about myself, what I thought of the play, the lgbt community, it is a memory I will treasure forever! Also really liked bumping into Tracey Bennett when we were at the ivy, stood outside chatting whilst she had a fag. I might be rose tinting this as I was massively pis*ed at the time! The only person I have ever felt disappointed with was Sharon D Clarke. She wasn't rude AT all but just seemed inconvenienced which I totally totally understand  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2017 8:40:44 GMT
Can definitely vouch for Lin-Manuel Miranda being a complete sweetheart in real life.
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Post by altamont on Apr 19, 2017 8:45:19 GMT
Andrew Scott was really gracious and friendly after Hamlet - and this was within minutes of coming off stage
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Post by LaLuPone on Apr 19, 2017 8:54:50 GMT
Oliver Saville has always been especially kind and patient and down to earth at the stage door, really nice guy! Joe Aaron Reid was also really nice at Dreamgirls stage door and Liisi too to be honest I haven't really met anyone rude yet! Suzie Mathers is very kind and always offers a smile. Shanay Holmes was lovely after Rent at the St James, she actually came up to us and asked how we liked the show and offered us a photo which I thought was especially lovely. I'm sure Rachel Tucker is very lovely to her fans too but there were so many people waiting to meet her at the stage door when I saw her I didn't want to take up too much of her time, poor thing!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2017 8:58:39 GMT
Thankfully most of my favourite leading ladies I have met (Louise Dearman, Rachel Tucker, Emma Williams, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt) were all lovely and friendly to chat too. Rachel John also stands out because she literally stood and chatted for a solid half hour and was really honest which I loved, and Marisha Wallace was just the sweetest, and chatted to me three times throughout the night on Sunday, which was amazing. Jodie Prenger was lovely, and was exactly what she was on TV: chatty, cuddly and a lot of fun. Also Hayden Wood, who is currently playing Chris in Play That Goes Wrong was lovely, who I bumped into at Tescos just after seeing his performance, and he was lovely. There are a few more I have met by chance, and those have been lovely too. I don't think I have ever been disappointed by anyone? Over the years I have learned to hold back my inner fanboy. Obviously certain people mentioned above, that was very hard for me, but I tried at least.  |
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Post by shady23 on Apr 19, 2017 10:07:56 GMT
I bumped into Alfie Boe at the weekend before the show and he was lovely despite huge swarms of the very annoying autograph sellers and (admittedly very well behaved) hordes of ladies of a certain age.
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Post by rumbledoll on Apr 19, 2017 10:11:33 GMT
Frankly, I've never met a rude actor at Stage Door in Britain..
The nicest were Mark Rylance (he is a legend I know but ever so generous and has time for literally everyone) and Sam Barnett (all hugs and smiles, enormous warmth and fun to talk to)
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2017 10:20:45 GMT
Sometimes I regret making friends with technical types and other non-acting theatre staff, as it does tend to slip into conversation which actors are dismissive if you can't directly promote their career, or liable to do "hilarious" impressions of disability, or flat-out rude, or not exactly unpleasant but distinctly arrogant. It does sort of pay off when they let you know which actors aren't just giving a show for the fans and are genuinely good people (Andrew Scott), but unless an actor is complete garbage, I don't always want my enjoyment of their work tainted by the knowledge they don't make eye contact with the admin team or they express impatience with stage door culture.
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Apr 19, 2017 11:22:48 GMT
Nicest: Jamie Parker (when not bitching loudly about Southwest Trains), Roger Allam and Amanda Abbington. Most actors are lovely!
Rudest: Bertie Carvel (until his seventh drink kicks in when he gets really friendly). I also had an highly unpleasant run-in once with an American soap opera actress of little note.
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Post by alece10 on Apr 19, 2017 11:35:03 GMT
I'm lucky in that I get to meet lots of actors. I have yet to find one who was rude. Some are quite reserved but are always polite.
My absolute favourite is Sheridan Smith who is just the nicest, fun person. Alex Hanson is also lovely as is Jamie Parker.
The late great Victoria Wood was very shy.
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Post by adrianics on Apr 19, 2017 11:44:24 GMT
Making a unilateral judgement on whether someone is 'nice' or 'rude' based on how they react to being confronted at the stage door, on the one day in history you ever interacted with them, is a little harsh to me.
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Post by Marwood on Apr 19, 2017 12:21:04 GMT
I've never hung round a stage door, but met a few actors at film screenings or book signings, nicest were probably John Hurt, Mark Strong and Rik Mayall. Wouldn't go as far as saying I've met anyone that I would say was outright 'rude'.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2017 12:34:20 GMT
Making a unilateral judgement on whether someone is 'nice' or 'rude' based on how they react to being confronted at the stage door, on the one day in history you ever interacted with them, is a little harsh to me. Agreed. Carvel, for instance, was a complete gent when I met him, despite the fact it was late and the woman ahead of me had basically just had a panic attack all over him. He did seem very reserved though, which can sometimes be misconstrued (I say this as a shy person myself - am occasionally perceived as standoffish, which mortifies me because I can't stand people who are like that...but I also can't be little miss super confident and welcoming all the time). |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2017 12:39:19 GMT
I used to be a right stage door slut when I was a teenager but now I realise they are all deeply insecure and I don't want to add to it. That and I just look plain creepy now
Anyhow
Nicest - Judi Dench. She called me a liar too but was lovely
Unnicest - Maggie Smith. Not pleasant at all to a 14yr old me but then I hear she's nasty to her son so maybe I reminded her of him - HOT
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Post by Tibidabo on Apr 19, 2017 12:40:11 GMT
I signed up for Theatreboard precisely because it was one of very few places on the internet that did not have thread titles such as this. Couldn't we just change the title and leave it as 'Nicest Actors?' (Yes, I know, I don't have to read it. And I won't again.) Edit: I'd meant to quote adrianics post above about making unilateral judgements based on one meeting. Completely agree. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2017 12:41:47 GMT
Making a unilateral judgement on whether someone is 'nice' or 'rude' based on how they react to being confronted at the stage door, on the one day in history you ever interacted with them, is a little harsh to me. Agreed. Carvel, for instance, was a complete gent when I met him, despite the fact it was late and the woman ahead of me had basically just had a panic attack all over him. He did seem very reserved though, which can sometimes be misconstrued (I say this as a shy person myself - am occasionally perceived as standoffish, which mortifies me because I can't stand people who are like that...but I also can't be little miss super confident and welcoming all the time). Indeed- people often confuse shyness for arrogance or similar. I'm very quiet and reserved in a crowd/with people I don't know and I'd probably be horrendous in a stage door situation if I were an actor.
On the subject of nicest, I will never forget how adorable Stephanie J Block was to little 19 year old me over the run of The Boy From Oz.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2017 12:52:46 GMT
Maybe the thread title should of been something like "nicest encounter stories with actors/actresses" or something?
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Post by theatremadness on Apr 19, 2017 12:56:20 GMT
I want to hear about the Ricest/Nude Actors.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2017 12:56:24 GMT
I remember nearly dying meeting Louise Dearman, because I promised myself i wouldn't fangirl as I bumped into her unknowingly at the train station. But after we chatted for about 10 minutes, I had a mint in my mouth and started hyperventalating after when she had left and choked on the mint! Which surprised me alot, because I am usually quite good with things in my mouth, so I was mildly surprised. |
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Post by theatremadness on Apr 19, 2017 13:01:49 GMT
I am usually quite good with things in my mouth, so I was mildly surprised. You're starting early!!  |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 19, 2017 13:29:27 GMT
There's that thread on Digital Spy about nicest/nastiest celebs members had met which was a true eye opener. Cilla Black (RIP) didn't come out of it well!
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Post by Steffi on Apr 19, 2017 13:38:47 GMT
Making a unilateral judgement on whether someone is 'nice' or 'rude' based on how they react to being confronted at the stage door, on the one day in history you ever interacted with them, is a little harsh to me. Agreed. Carvel, for instance, was a complete gent when I met him, despite the fact it was late and the woman ahead of me had basically just had a panic attack all over him. He did seem very reserved though, which can sometimes be misconstrued (I say this as a shy person myself - am occasionally perceived as standoffish, which mortifies me because I can't stand people who are like that...but I also can't be little miss super confident and welcoming all the time). Another vote for Bertie Carvel being lovely at stage door. I only met him once (after Bakkhai at the Almeida) and he couldn't have been nicer. Very polite, introduced himself, asked for my name and seemed genuinely interested in my thoughts on the play. However, I agree that judging if an actor is "nice" or (especially) "rude" just from meeting them for a few minutes or less at stage door is a tough call. Some performers are good at the whole stage door "business", some aren't. But just because a performer isn't up for small talk / signing programmes / taking photos at stage door doesn't mean he/she is rude. On the other hand a performer can be the fans' darling at stage door but might be a terrible person in real life. |
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Post by rumbledoll on Apr 19, 2017 14:56:48 GMT
Two cents in defense of Mr Carvel - I never met him personally, but a couple of my friends did and they said he's sweet, engaged in conversation and a good listener (or maybe that was after 7th glass of wine I don't really know))
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Apr 19, 2017 15:03:40 GMT
Making a unilateral judgement on whether someone is 'nice' or 'rude' based on how they react to being confronted at the stage door, on the one day in history you ever interacted with them, is a little harsh to me. Oh, I didn't realize this was a stage door thread, I assumed it was about actors you'd worked with or had otherwise met properly - I don't consider stage door to be meeting someone. Carvel is many things but shy is certainly not one of them. (Edit for clarity) |
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