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"I stole so much stuff!" - The best anecdotes from Ali Plumb's big interviews in 2020

2020 has been no ordinary year for film and TV, but that hasn’t stopped us from revisiting all-time classics, bingeing much-loved series, or watching big-deal new releases on repeat.

In the last few months, Radio 1’s Film Critic Ali Plumb has been speaking to a who’s who of Hollywood megastars, and they’ve given us some incredible what-did-they-just-say anecdotes.

Which household name still doesn’t think they’re famous? Who has been watching Lord of the Rings on repeat while in lockdown? And which A-Lister confessed to stealing set props?

From the enlightening to the all-out hilarious, here’s a round up of some of Ali’s standout interview moments in 2020.

Still wondering what else to watch?

Radio 1's film critic Ali Plumb has put together his top 21st century films and there is something for everyone's mood.

John Boyega and Daisy Ridley are proper Star Wars stans

What’s the greatest film theme in terms of sing-a-long-ability? Chances are Star Wars is up there.

And so it proved when our The Rise of Skywalker stars, Daisy Ridley and John Boyega, joined Ali to talk Star Wars fandom. Daisy still isn’t 100% sure how to talk to strangers on the street, and John often gets given cakes, and pictures of his face tattooed on fans’ body parts. Pictures of his character Finn tattooed on people’s shins, to be precise. Finn on shins.

When Ali pointed out the uncanny rhyme – Finn, tattooed on to someone’s shin? Mind blown – John and Daisy decided to give an impromptu rendition of the Star Wars theme. A wonderful moment. Watch above.

We found out what NOT to say to Russell Crowe in the street

While it’s many an aspiring actor’s dream to be responsible for an iconic cinema moment, it can have its pitfalls. Step into Russell Crowe’s shoes for a second, and imagine – 20 years on from release – being recited the same line from iconic film Gladiator, over and over again.

Ali asked Russell if he regularly finds strangers reciting famous moments from films, and he replied – with a certain grimace on his face – that “everyone thinks they’re the wittiest person in the world, if they say to me: ‘Are you not entertained?’” It’s arguably the most famous line to be declared from his character Maximus, and it’s stuck ever since.

Evidently, Russell is not that entertained. If you happen to pass him in the street, maybe just give him a smile.

Millie Bobby Brown is still all about studying

She might live a dramatically different life to most 16-year-olds, but Millie Bobby Brown told Ali she remains dedicated to getting those all important grades.

The Stranger Things star is focused on studying, despite starring in huge movies like Enola Holmes. “I’m still doing chemistry right now, it’s very difficult. And I’m going through everything every other normal person is going through in life, but maybe at a different platform.”

Balancing study with fame can’t be easy, and she summed up being a mega-famous teen with brilliant candour: “I love my life. I love what I get to do. But it’s overwhelming at times, for sure.”

Armie Hammer steals props, and nobody can stop him

Armie Hammer (star of Call Me By Your Name and this year’s Rebecca) loves lots of things. Brits, for starters – he sees himself as an Anglophile. “I’ve grafted myself in. You guys are stuck with me,” he says. He adores The Sopranos and Schitt’s Creek too. But one thing he loves above all else is nabbing props while on set.

“Oh you have no idea how much I stole. I stole so much stuff!” he admitted to Ali, when talking fancy props. A fetching mustard / gold suit from the Rebecca set is now in his possession for life. “I grew to love that suit. Don’t tell the people at Netflix, but it’s actually in my closet right now.”

Rebecca co-star Lily James was gobsmacked. “I have never done this on any job, and I should…”

In this strange year, Anne Hathaway has found comfort in Lord of the Rings

In 2020, familiar, feel-good TV and film has reigned supreme. Many of us have found ourselves returning to old favourites, acting like a comfort blanket in these ~strange times~.

“Don’t laugh at me!” Anne Hathaway said when asked by Ali to name her 2020 go-to, before admitting: “It’s the Lord of the Rings.” Don’t worry Anne, it's

Without getting too deep, Anne says there “really is something about a group of people coming together, against all odds, to defeat this like, mad evil that’s threatening to end everything.” With that in mind, it’s hard not to watch the LOTR trilogy without being an emotional wreck.

We experienced an incredible, personal tour of Simon Pegg’s house (and all the Pegg-related memorabilia)

The real upside to interviewing celebrities in lockdown? Getting a cheeky glimpse of their home set-up. And when Ali sat down to chat with Simon Pegg, he asked the actor if there was any “nerdy ephemera” sitting around in his home. Well, let’s just say Simon did not disappoint.

In fact, his home was plastered with the stuff. “This is the shelf of me,” he said, steering his camera towards an entire collection of “toys that you can get of me.” Every iteration of Simon Pegg in miniature form, he owns it. He even has a few toys of trusty co-star Nick Frost’s characters.

This was just a collection in one room of Simon’s house. In another, we found an actual human size Stormtrooper. Probably just the tip of the iceberg in amazing memorabilia.