There’s something magical about bumping into a Hollywood star, even if it’s just a brief glimpse in a hotel corridor. Recently, I had a moment like that with none other than Chris Hemsworth – yes, the Thor himself. I didn’t get to interview him (he only had four minutes with some of the UK’s biggest publications to cover his latest movie Transformers One before flying back to Australia), but I saw him in passing, and honestly, I was starstruck. It left me thinking about the nature of these larger-than-life encounters.
What is it that makes us so captivated by these big-screen gods? Why do we feel an almost personal connection to people we’ve never met? Is it because we’ve spent hours watching them in films, feeling like they’re somehow part of our lives? We might never have shared a real-life conversation with them, but their presence on our screens creates a bond that feels oddly personal.
I’ve interviewed rock stars, authors, and A-list actors before – people who are instantly recognisable. Even my 80-year-old mum would know who they are. And yet, there’s always a moment when you realise that while you feel like you know them, they don’t know you at all. It’s a strange dynamic – this one-sided connection where we, as the audience, have grown attached to these celebrities, but to them, we’re just part of a faceless crowd.
What’s even more interesting is the responsibility that comes with fame. Do these celebrities, VIPs, and global figures have an obligation to maintain that connection? Does their influence on the world mean they’re responsible for the messages they send and the impact they have? I’d say yes. These stars wield incredible power. They shape culture, influence public opinion, and – whether they like it or not – become role models.
At the end of the day, seeing Chris Hemsworth reminded me of the curious relationship we all have with celebrity culture. These actors and musicians might be out of reach, but through their work, they’re woven into the fabric of our lives. And that’s why, even in a fleeting moment in a hotel corridor, I found myself starstruck – because, in a way, they belong to all of us.
