High Rollers

On Monday I met Joshua Jackson as part of an event at work. Based on the terms of his contract and his decent celebrity status, I expected a somewhat pretentious guy surrounded by an entourage of handlers. I pictured him walking in on a red carpet in dark sunglasses with a smirk of arrogance across his face. I pictured fancy clothes, expensive accessories, maybe even a hot girl by his side. I pictured a high strung agent pushing aside throngs of screaming, star-crazed teenage girls.

Instead, I met a nice guy. A normal guy. A guy drinking a medium Tim Horton's coffee as he began his workday. Off-screen, he just seemed like a regular person I could meet anywhere in Toronto. He was wearing a simple sweater with jeans and was funny, friendly and enthusiastic. He signed autographs and happily posed for pictures without making it seem like a huge deal at all. He was modest and unassuming.

It was not what I expected. I feel a little silly for expecting some big show. I think I forget that celebrities really are just people. I wonder if its weird for him. I wonder if he remembers what it was like to not be famous.

Either way, I now have a new appreciation for a celebrity I never really considered before. Hell, I may even try and catch a few episodes of The Fringe.