Back in the late 1990’s, I used to subscribe to a magazine called Autograph Collector. Within its pages were recommendations for celebrities who would be nice enough to respond to through-the-mail request for an autograph. (Of course if this magazine had had a larger circulation, the influx of mail that these poor celebs would probably single-handedly change all of that…) One of the celebrities who had been reported to have a high success rate was model/actress Natasha Henstridge.
Quite frankly, this surprised me a bit, as most of the celebs that were features were ‘older’ actors who had passed their peak in the spotlight. Natasha Henstridge however was an extremely attractive model who had recently starred in the hit film Species, which I had actually seen. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try…and sure enough she sent me a nice hand-signed photo (which included both a pre-print and an actual signature).
Sadly Natasha never really became as big of a star as she probably deserved to be. She didn’t lack for work, but never had any blockbuster roles that were send her to the next level (or remain on my personal radar). She starred in the two sequels to Species and also had a decent role in the Bruce Wills/Matthew Perry comedies The Whole Nine Yards and The Whole Ten Yards.
Approximately fifteen years after I got my autograph from her, Natasha showed up at one of the Hollywood Shows on February 11, 2012. Had I not already had the signed photo, I probably wouldn’t have purchased an additional one. But the fact that she was so kind to send it out in the first place made me want to get the accompanying photo op with her. For the privilege, I had to shell out $20. I found the price to be a bit ludicrous. I know some people see these models as a different species, but it was her generosity in the past that endeared her to me…and made me want to complete the circle of our association. So I went the whole nine yards, and shelled out for it.
Celebrity encounters from the Winter 2012 Hollywood Show will continue…
Brad,
I used to send off for autographs in via the US Mail when I was a kid. I had a bunch, but had to sell them a few years ago to pay for a central air unit that went out 🙁 There used to be a book at the Lane Public Library called the V.I.P. book that one could write to for autographs. I usually ALWAYS received an autographed picture of anyone that I chose in the book. The book was very thick, about the size of a phone book at the time (Late 80’s early 90’s). And all for free except for postage and a letter of request. Clint Eastwood mailed me two autographed pictures. I sold one and kept the other. Take care.
Craig S. F*rrell
Craig F*rrell
December 30th, 2013