Celebrity Stalkers

So, in case you're interested in knowing if we've run into any celebrities, here's my tally so far:

** Prince Philip, as he got out of a helicopter in Kensington Gardens and walked into the Palace.

** Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, being driven by her chauffeur out of Kensington Palace.

** Jude Law, in the staircase of Liberty of London, and also in the 4th floor Christmas Shoppe at Liberty. He said "Excuse me" as he squeezed by.

** Sean Bean, eating noodles at Wagamama. He was at the table right next to us. (We were eating the delectable raisukaree, my favorite.)

** Jonny Lee Miller, who passed us on the sidewalk just a few minutes after we left Wagamama. He was wearing extremely awesome glasses.

** Jamie Dornan, on the Tube. I still have no idea who he is, but the students I was with flipped out and got their photo with him.

Some of our students ran into Chris Hemsworth in the local gelato joint. They got their photo with him, natch. They also went to the Les Miserables premier and spoke with and had their photo taken with Hugh Jackman and Helena Bonham-Carter, as well as seeing Prince William. Ditto for The Hobbit premier and Richard Armitage.

I would never, under any circumstances, approach a famous person for conversation, autographs or photos. (No judgment on those who would.) But every time I've seen a celebrity, everyone around them is either staring at them or pretending not to stare at them, and all I can feel in such a situation is abject pity at how deeply horrible it must be to go through life like a well-dressed animal in a zoo.

Still. Jonny Lee Miller's glasses truly were incredibly awesome. Good call, Jonny.