A FAMILIAR FACE AMONG THE CROWD
WALES seems to be enjoying its current status as the go-to place for famous stars. Hollywood hotshots like Tom Hardy have been popping up all over the country in places you’d least expect – from Barry Island fun fair to M&S.
Meanwhile, Russell Brand’s been seen in Caernarfon, Liz Hurley’s snapped herself by the seaside, Alan Carr’s trekked across Snowdonia and Oscar winner Forest Whitaker’s gone sightseeing around Newport, Cardiff and Tenby.
But none of this is unusual, famous faces having been spotted in the unlikeliest places here for years. Here are some of the oddest examples:
HARRISON FORD ON A CANAL BOAT NEAR LLANGOLLEN
The Indiana Jones legend, along with his wife Calista Flockhart, enjoyed a family break on the waterways around Llangollen back in 2004.
“It was really fun – a real pleasure,” said the star.
“I’ve often taken narrow-boat journeys in France and England too – it’s something I like to do. There’s nothing quite like it to slow your life down.”
NICOLAS CAGE IN CARDIFF BAY
The US actor stunned fans by quietly sipping coffee in a cafe on the waterfront of Cardiff Bay in 2009.
Cage refused to disclose why he was in the Welsh capital – but dismissed speculation that he was to appear in Dr Who.
“I’m here on private business,” he said. “I like Dr Who but it’s not what I’m here for.”
IDI AMIN AT THE EMPIRE POOL IN CARDIFF
The former Ugandan dictator claimed to have been a regular at the city’s now defunct public baths. The late despot admitted as much to Cardiff South MP (and then Foreign Secretary) Jim Callaghan after he’d arranged to meet Amin to negotiate the release of a UK lecturer being held captive by Ugandan forces.
“When I knew you came from Cardiff I decided to release the prisoner,” Amin is supposed to have said, explaining that whilst living in London (possibly in the 1950s) he was that much of a keen swimmer he’d often travel to the Welsh capital to make use of the Empire’s Olympic-sized facilities.
JOHNNY DEPP AT THE RED LION IN PENDERYN
In 2004 heart-throb Johnny Depp sat sipping pints in a remote pub in Penderyn, near Aberdare.
Disbelieving staff and patrons at the Red Lion pub didn’t realise the Oscarnominated superstar had dropped in until later, when they read about him filming a movie in Powys. The Pirates Of The Caribbean legend, along with his then partner Vanessa Paradis, was first seen taking photos of St Cynog’s Church opposite, which led one dog walker to inform the landlord he might have “some foreign visitors”.
ANTHONY PERKINS AT THE ANGEL HOTEL
Anthony Perkins shot to fame as disturbed mummy’s boy Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. But in 1989 the late star found himself arrested on drugs charges at Cardiff’s Angel Hotel, where he was staying while filming a series of mystery films.
It seems that, before leaving the States, he decided to take a small amount of homegrown cannabis and post it the UK. Unfortunately, the package arrived before he did and was handed to a completely different guest at the hotel called Perkins. The “deeply embarrassed” actor ended up at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court where he was fined £200.
JOHN MALKOVICH AT THE BIG SLEEP HOTEL
You don’t expect to see John Malkovich wandering around the foyer of a Cardiff stop-over dressed only in his PJs and dressing gown: the sight which greeted everyone at the launch of the city’s Big Sleep hotel in 1999. Malkovich, who co-owned the venue, spent most of the day being interviewed in a bed.
CHARLTON HESTON IN A LLANISHEN TIGHTS FACTORY
On a visit to Cardiff in 1952, the legendary star dropped in at Brocklehurst Yarns nylon factory in Llanishen.
THE BEATLES IN A BARBERSHOP
In their very early days Paul McCartney and George Harrison rehearsed with a local band called The Vikings in the basement of a barber shop in Harlech – now a newsagents/gift shop.