Has anyone been a big fan and met the person and became good friends? — Page 3

Thanks Rathnait. By the way, I love your new picture.

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Oh, I'm so embarassed. I thought that was you!!! Still, nice photo.

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Yes, this has totally happend to me! It's cool when it happens.

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I think this is an interesting question, if only because of the balance that comes along with it. As responses to some of the comments on this thread allude, it seems it's difficult for people to believe that it's possible, and a lot of fans are the reason for that difficulty. There's obviously the delusioned fans, the people who try too hard, etc.

But that doesn't mean it can't happen. It's a hard place to be in while it's happening, because when you aren't delusioned and it really is happening, you keep worrying that you are and that it's not. In the end, though, actors are just people. Fans are people. Occassionally, there is going to be a connection that can lead to a friendship. I've seen it happen to some of the people I'm closest to. One of my best friends started out as, and still is, a fan of someone in a current show, and they're now VERY close friends. It took her a long time to accept that she wasn't just being humored, that she wasn't reading into everything, and she got a lot of doubting from people who wanted that relationship. But, in the end, they're closer for it.

So yeah, that's my take on it, I guess. I know people love to doubt the possibilty, but chances are, some of those doubters are people who think they're relationships are just more legit.

Updated On: 11/19/04 at 01:54 PM

Not in my experience. It's a healthy balance - yes, their career is discussed, but so is yours. Plus family, mutual friends, movies, pets, and everything else you discuss with a FRIEND. Not an acquaintance who you try to make into something more because you want the cachet of having a Broadway star as a friend.

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Even when you almost run him over with your bicycle?

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i couldn't help almost running him over. It was as if Jesus was walking up Lafayette Street, AND he had the Jesus beard too-I lost my concentration. No one was hurt!

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It gets to a point where it's a healthy balance, obviously. As friendships should be. But friendships aren't necessarily immediate, and it's the path to actually becoming friends where the balance can be weird.

Alice Ripley? Alice doesn't live here anymore? Go ask Alice? Alice from Mel's Diner?

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That's a good example.

I've had situations similar to that, specifically when a friend of mine invited me to an after-party for a show he was just in. He introduced me to all of his theater related friends as a his friend, but at the same time, our relationsip is pretty much limited to seeing each other when he's in different projects. We catch up when we see each other, but we rarely hang out outside of something he's doing. I do consider him a friend, because it's never just "good job!" "thanks!", but it's definitely a different level of friendship than say, my friends form college. Meanwhile, that is the level my above-mentioned friend has.

Yes, GFC... That's exactly what I'm referring to.

That's sort of remnant of my friendship with a certain actress. I don't see her often outside a theatre setting, but when I do see her at different shows our conversations aren't limited to just that, etc.

My level of friendship with her is different than my other friends, but on the same token, my friendships with all my friends are different. You're clearly closer with some, but I see many of my friends in very specific settings.

The way I see it is you have your handful of "true" friends, if you are so lucky, and the purpose of the rest in your life are everchanging and vary greatly.


Of course, I've seen many cases where people experience similar friendships to the ones you and I just described, but are under the impression these people are their best friends. That has always confused me.

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Updated On: 11/19/04 at 03:18 PM

I'd be more concerned that your friends don't tell you their last names.

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I'd be more concerned that your friends don't tell you their last names.

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