It’s already hard to remember a time before Jennifer Lawrence’s face was on every billboard.
But the American Hustle star has recounted how six years ago she found herself waiting for hours in a ‘tiny little jail’ at a London airport, while officials tried to establish if she was a genuine actress.
The mix-up came when Jennifer failed to obtain a work visa before jetting over to meet Matthew Vaughn, director of X-Men: First Class, in which she would eventually be cast as Mystique.
‘They were like, “Whatever you do, don’t tell them that you’re here for work, because they’ll ask for a work visa; say you’re here for pleasure,”‘ Jennifer explained while appearing on British TV show Graham Norton.
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‘I felt tiny’: Jennifer Lawrence reveals she spent hours in a ‘tiny little jail’ after failing to obtain a work visa for trip to London
‘I get there and he’s like, “Business or pleasure?” “Pleasure”
‘”What are you doing for pleasure?” “My brother’s getting married.” “Where’s your brother getting married?” “Wimbledon.” “Is he American?” “Yes.”
But the fake back story was too much for Jennifer, who eventually admitted to the customs officers that she was in town to meet with Vaughn.
Calls the had to be made o verify her employment, during which time she was left in a room to wait.
‘I had to sit in a tiny little jail for like five hours while they called my employer,’ she said. ‘I felt tiny.’
That surely wouldn’t happen today – at the age of just 25 Jennifer is Hollywood royalty, having secured blockbuster roles and an Academy Award to boot.
Funny story: That surely wouldn’t happen today – at the age of just 25 Jennifer is Hollywood royalty, having secured blockbuster roles and an Academy Award to boot
But that’s not the only embarrassing story she had to share – also revealin she was blanked by fellow A-ListersHarrison Ford and J.J. Abrams on a night out.
Jennifer explained she died of ’embarrassment’ as they failed to recognise her when she started dancing in front of them ‘like an idiot’
Appearing on the show to promote her latest movie, X-Men: Age of Apocalypse, Jennifer explained that she was enjoying a night out with fellow guest Jack Whitehall when the incident occured.
‘I probably humiliated myself more than ever before,’ she said. ‘I never assume anyone knows who I am, but when I spotted Harrison Ford and J.J. Abrams I was like, “It’ll be fine, we’re all co-workers, right!”
Telling stories: Jennifer appeared alongside Johnny Depp on Graham Norton’s chatshow
‘So I went up to them and started dancing like an idiot and the whole table just went quiet and stared at me.’
She explained the reason for the uncomfortable silence, saying: ‘I realised while I am dancing that they had absolutely no idea who I was so I just turned around and walked back to Jack dying of embarrassment.’
However the American Hustle actress did add that Harrison later touched base with her, adding: ‘Later he wrote to me because someone with a 12 year old must have told him who I was!’
However it seem the iconic star, who shot to fame as Han Solo in Star Wars, had no trouble recognizing funnyman, Jack.
The 27-year-old comedian jumped in on his friend Jennifer’s story, and explained: ‘The funny thing was I had just done this show with Harrison and he is the only A-list Hollywood star I’d met.
‘Jen had just been blanked and I was like, “Hey, it’s alright, I’ll go and say hi to Harrison,” and everyone was like, “Jack, don’t do this. It will be humiliating.”
‘[So] I got up and walk over and thinking, “Oh God maybe he won’t remember me and I’m going to be humiliated too,” And literally as I walked over he stood up and shouted, “Hey, Jack!” It was so funny. It was probably the best night of my life and Jen’s worst!’
And unfortunately for Jen it’s not the only time she’s embarrased herself in front of another A-Lister, as she also revealed she’d had an awkward encounter with Sandra Bullock.
‘I still feel bad,’ she said of the encounter. ‘I should have emailed her and explained, but I don’t know what to say.
‘I was back stage with her at the Oscars where she was presenting and I said, “I love all your work except All About Steve – it was really bad”. She was lovely about it but as she walked on stage I shouted after her: ‘Don’t suck Sandy!” I still have no idea why!”’
The star is currently on the promotional trail for Bryan Singer’s second X-Men outing, in which she plays the nefarious mutant, Mystique.
Jennifer will be appearing alongside Jack, co-star James McAvoy, Johnny Depp and Will.i.Am on The Graham Norton Show, which will air on BBC One on May 13 at 10.35pm
When? Jennifer will be appearing alongside Jack, co-star James McAvoy, Johnny Depp and Will.i.Am on The Graham Norton Show, which will air on BBC One on May 13 at 10.35pm
