Man, 83, in Taylor Swift video had 'no idea who she was'

A man who appeared in Taylor Swift's new music video said he had no idea who the global megastar was.

Barrie Reynolds featured in the video for Swift's Opalite song, which also brought together a number of celebrities who appeared with her on the Graham Norton show, including singer Lewis Capaldi and Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson.

The 83-year-old from Capel-le-Ferne, Kent, said his granddaughters, Millie and Francesca, were "very surprised" when they found out he would be in the video.

But despite Swift being one the world's blockbuster performers, he told them: "I'm afraid I have no idea who she was."

Reynolds performs regularly with the St Nicholas Players in Ringwold, but he appeared in Swift's video due to his work with an acting and modelling agency.

He told BBC Radio Kent: "I was told I needed to be in north London for 07:00 GMT and I said there was no trains, so they sent a taxi for me instead."

Reynolds said he only became aware of Swift after he read about her tour in the newspaper before the assignment.

He was allowed to take a photograph with her at the end of the shoot, and said he called her "Niftie Swiftie", relating to her speed when dancing.

Opalite is a surreal 1980s-inspired video which tells the story of a lonely woman who uses a magical spray to improve her life and find romance with a fellow loner - played by Gleeson.

The pair dance together in a contest near the end of the video, with Reynolds appearing as one of the judges.

He said: "This particular song was very catchy, even though I scored her a zero!"

Describing her as "so kind and very compassionate", he praised Swift for chatting to everyone involved with the video, but admitted that "security was very hot".

Opalite features Norton, Gleeson, Capaldi, and a cameo voiceover from Irish actor Cillian Murphy, all of whom appeared on The Graham Norton Show with Swift in October.

Other parts of the music video were filmed at Croydon's The Whitgift Centre.

Opalite is the second single from Swift's 12th album, The Life Of A Showgirl, which was the biggest-selling record in the UK last year.

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