One of the first online buddies I met thanks to this blog was Deb, a friendly gal from Texas.
We emailed back and forth and she invited me to become a member of a fun, private forum
(which no longer exists as of this month *sniff, sniff*) where I met many other awesome ladies,
discussing everything from Richard Armitage and other actors, to every day life... uncensored.
(I have to take a moment to give a shout-out to my NJTS friends. Miss you guys!)
Deb is a big fan of Toby Stephens and Richard Armitage.
She met Toby in person after seeing him perform in a play a few summers ago.
One of her friends took a picture of her getting his autograph. (I was so excited
when she told me all about it and saw the pics, being a fan of Toby myself.)
If that experience weren't enough...
guess who Deb recently met on the red carpet of the BAFTAs
while she was on her most recent trip to London last week!?
That's right...
Richard HANDSOME-PANTS Armitage himself.
Here are some of the photos Deb took while floating on cloud 9:
She was close enough to reach out and grope... not that she'd do such a thing! :)
Look at how nice Richard is, signing autographs and looking all handsome while he's at it:
For Spooks Fans~ she also met "Harry" and "Ruth"...
and "Jo!"
*By the way, Deb's photos are not to be posted
elsewhere without her permission. Please be respectful of these wishes.*
I knew Deb was going to be in London last week, since she had had this trip planned
for quite a while. Many of her RA buddies told her to stalk him for us while she was there,
thinking she'd show up at the Spooks set or something. When I heard that Richard was going
to be at the BAFTAs, I totally spaced the fact that Deb was in that neck of the woods!
It didn't even occur to me that she would be there until I was browsing one of the forums and
saw a picture of her RIGHT IN FRONT OF RICHARD, GETTING AN AUTOGRAPH!!!
(For Deb's privacy, I will not be posting that photo.) My eyes almost popped out of my head and
kept saying "No way!" I sat there staring at my computer screen forever with a grin from ear to
ear. (That lady seriously has the best luck/timing when it comes to meeing her favorite actors!)
The tired traveler just arrived home yesterday,
but I had to send her an email and pepper her with tons of questions.
She graciously gave me permission to share her answers with the rest of you.
Nat's interview with Deb, a lucky RA fan who
is going to have a side-kick the next time
she ventures off to London:
How did you find out that Richard was going to be at the BAFTAs?
I knew that the BAFTAS were going to be held while I was in London on vacation.
I was checking my email at the hotel on Friday (I think?) and there was one that caught my eye.
It was from a friend in the US and she said "HE WILL BE THERE."
So I opened it and she told me that Richard Armitage was going to be at the
BAFTAS presenting. She said that I had to go and send her pictures when I got home.
How early did you have to arrive/wait in line to get such a great red carpet view?
Well, in this case. We were instructed via the web site to be there early Sunday morning
to get wristbands. But it turned out that after all the wrist banded people were in place
front row at the barriers, they allowed other people to fill in behind us. So the
wristband was well worth the wait - in my opinion.
Here is how my morning went:
I left the hotel at about 7:30 am to catch the tube from the Elephant and Castle area of London.
It was a short ride to Oxford Circus. I asked the attendants at the Tube Station for
directions to the Palladium. It was a very easy 5 minute walk. So I guess that I arrived
about 8:00 am? I found the line for the wristband. They didn't actually start handing them
out until about 9:30 am (I think)? I didn't have a watch on to give you the exact time.
I was number 56. We were told to return at noon to the same spot to be escorted
by the staff to the viewing area. So I went back to my hotel. Ate breakfast. Filled my bag
with bottled water, fruit, my magazine, camera and sharpee pen. We had to line up in single file
according to the number on our wrist. Then they took us in in groups of about 20.
Who accompanied you there?
I went alone to London. I had been to see Toby Stephens final
performance at THE REAL THING with some friends the night before.
I met and spent time speaking to some Armitage forum members.
And I would like to thank them all so much - BTW. Mostly for helping this Texan out
while I was there. Without such a group screaming to get his attention and
waving any magazine or photo we had to get his attention...
he might just have passed me by?
Did you talk to Richard? If yes, what did you say to each other?
Yes. very shortly. It seemed that there were many people behind me
shouting questions about the filming schedule of SPOOKS and he was
trying to sign autographs and answer questions.
One lady had a SPOOKS book and asked him to sign it.
He asked her where she got it. She told him that it was for
Series 1 through 6. He seemed intrigued.
While he was chatting to everyone throwing Spooks questions at him,
he started to write over his face on my Magazine cover. So I had to stop him.
I think he asked me where to put it? I showed him below his chin.
***thank goodness - I caught him before he put the pen on his face***
He signed the TV and Satellite Week Magazine from May 1-7.
It had a really large head shot on the cover.
This is the one she mentioned:
What does Richard smell like?
Although I was very close and could see every whisker on his face and his extremely
blue eyes. There was a strong breeze blowing the opposite direction because of the
rain showers were in the London area. So, I'm sorry to say. I did not smell him.
***that's a funny question -BTW***
(You know I had to ask that question!!!)
Did you notice any details about him that you hadn't before?
Just that he is so much more attractive in person. Photos don't seem to do him justice.
***can you imagine that?** He had his Lucas tattoos on his wrists and said
that he'd been busy filming "Spooks."
Did you faint or drool, and if not... how did you keep your composure!?
No fainting. No drooling. I wasn't even a little bit nervous.
I guess at my age, I have stopped getting butterflies about such things.
How did you act when you met him? (shy? friendly?)
Friendly - I would say. (Me shy? hahahaha)
What does Mr. Deb have to say about all of this? :)
I called him after I returned to the hotel to watch the BAFTAS on the television.
I feel sure that he was very happy that I fulfilled my goal of actually seeing Richard
and getting an autograph. My BIG regret is not having had him sign a copy of
the book STRIKE BACK for Mr Deb. There were a few people having him sign their
books and the thought had never even crossed my mind.
A big thanks to Deb for sharing her experience and photos with us.
I am so excited for her... you'd think I was the one who met RA! :)
Been a fan since 2005, after my first viewing of North & South, but it wasn't until I stumbled across Nat's blog that I became a bit more ardent in my "obsession," err um, "interest." My fav fan sites/blogs are this one (of course), Me + Richard Armitage and RichardArmitageOnline. As much as I love, RA, I enjoy the community that has popped up around his fandom even more. Although, I am happily married, I consider Mr. Armitage my pretend hubs. Just kidding. Not really. Well, sort of. 
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