Meeting Bruce Greenwood DSTL3 2014

After months of anticipation and pondering will he or won't he. The big day loomed.  DSTL3 2014 had finally arrived.  Well it was also a huge moment for me, a bit of a milestone after being a fan of Bruce Greenwood for sooooo many years! Was so revved up (then had transport delays, thanx for nothing TfL!!)

First thing I did was to dash for an autograph and I got my sketch signed. Had a great conversation with him and I think he was a little taken aback at just how long I have been a fan of his!  To the point of not believing it for a minute, but he gave me the sweetest compliment!!  True to say, he is the most wonderful, friendly, down to earth guy you will ever meet.  Not just genuinely caring and so gracious of his fans and to his fans! but he really treats them more like a family or special friends than just 'random' strangers.

Bruce was surprised at the reception he received at his first convention and definitely should attend many more.  Let's say London was so privileged to have him here first and for this to be his first one too.  Got a lot to thank JJ Abrams and his casting Bruce as Captain Christopher Pike in the Star Trek movies.  Without that recognition, his fans would've been hard pressed to ever meet him, aside from the lucky ones who already have.

Had a funny time watching Bruce climb onto the stage cos he was 'escorted' the wrong way. He was meant to have been brought from behind the black curtain in true star fashion! Anthony Montgomery compering, decided they should do it again and the proper way, to cheers from the crowd.

Some questions included seven years ago how he got a call about JJ wanting to do Star Trek as a movie and got locked up in the room in LA with a script.  He read it but took tonnes of notes and put them in his pocket and then spoke to JJ.  "One of the best experiences of my life."  Also that Anton is a great chessplayer.

He's open to coming back to the next movie in any way shape or form, "even if they bring my head back in a box."  Adding that Pike's death must be meaningful in such a genre so he can't be brought back straightaway.  It would then seem just too easy to do that if people were killed and then could just return.

He watched the Star Trek show as a kid and went back and watched them again, but he read plenty of books when researching for the JFK role in Thirteen Days.  This involved reading and Star Trek involved watching.

Another question: Who had the biggest bromance of the two films?  "Maybe I didn't witness the biggest bromance...equal opportunity lovefest, to be honest...we were all dressed up in these outfits...get off stage and everybody collapses into their chair...unzip me... we spent  a lot of time undressing each other...is what I meant to say!"

The Talk being only about half an hour, the time was strictly adhered to, but Bruce adding he was going to take a log time to answer the final question, cos they can't get him off stage that easily.  Also, Anthony was eager to have the talk continue cos Bruce really wasn't going anywhere, but it was the organizers that be, you see and plus there was another talk scheduled! So Anthony said he'll be allowed to answer two more questions.

There was me waving like crazy and luckily was in the fourth row at the right end and he saw me. Trying to make the questions as different as possible, seeing as everyone asked about bromance on the set, Pike being a mentor and about Bruce's interaction with the cast of the movie etc.  I asked what he thought of Pike being killed off by Sherlock Holmes?  Getting in Benedict Cumberbatch's name in there too, ha.  Killing two birds with one stone and all the other sayings and cliches that come to mind.

Bruce wasn't sure about how to respond to that.  Even putting on a super Brit accent, luv! Once again he was truly endearing and gracious towards Benedict and working with him, acknowledging how good an actor he really is.  Also wondering why they had Sherlock Holmes in a Star Trek movie to begin with, ha!  SO at least I gave the audience a few more laughs!  Think the ultimate kicker for me, so to speak was that Bruce actually mentioned my name when he saw it was me asking the question.  He couldn't find me at first cos the mic wasn't so good.  Then to hear "Mila" again uttered by his gorgeous voice;  was just so exhilarating.  A fangirl moment but much more than that.  Like watching him all these years, and there have been a lot of years, was leading to this one moment, where I got to share a second where it was just him and me and kinda drowning everyone else out!  It's a huge rush!!

Truly a gifted actor, a superstar in how he treats everyone and so hilarious!  Seeing him in person is a feeling that can't be described, it's like a dream, fate, kismet all rolled into one!  Hope everyone gets the chance to meet him at least once!

For more on Bruce read here: http://mila255h.blogspot.co.uk/2013_09_01_archive.html