Our off-screen bromance started in August 1968. I had an evening in London to myself and popped in to a cinema just off Leicester Square to see a new film – The Graduate – starring Dustin Hoffman. As a spotty and fearless 16 year old, I was half way through a hitch-hiking holiday (Manchester to London and back) with school chum John Darnell staying in a succession of Youth Hostels en route. It was one of those films where, as an impressionable teenager, you look back and say “It changed my life” however cheesy that might sound. I was so struck by the whole film and Hoffman’s performance that I vowed to follow his career from that point on.  That meant enjoying such great movies as ‘All the President’s Men’, ‘Lenny’, ‘Death of a Salesman’, ‘Tootsie’ and so many more. 

Fast forward in time to late summer 2002 - a most unlikely chance meeting took place. After a career in the City I was now working for myself and still keeping in touch with friends and colleagues from the old days. We often met in groups for a drink and to keep up with the latest gossip. On this occasion, four of us (me, Babs, Julie and Janine) noticed that the old Hampstead Theatre in Swiss Cottage was closing down and moving to new, posher premises. They were putting on a short, final season of Mike Leigh’s brilliant play, ‘Abigail’s Party’ and so we booked our seats and made a night of it. 

The four of us met at a trendy Japanese fusion restaurant near the theatre and sat outside to eat, soaking up the balmy August evening . On one of the other tables a similar party of four (one male, three females) was also tucking in to delights of the East and obviously enjoying themselves as the alpha male had one of those loud, engaging laughs that drew your attention. From our vantage point it was decided, after some debate between the four of us, that this was no other than Dustin Hoffman in the flesh! “Go and get his autograph” I was instructed. “Don’t be crass” I countered defensively (and cowardly) and quickly changed the subject (those were the days before selfies were the norm, thankfully).  Later the same evening we were totally engrossed in ‘Abigail’s Party’ and, ever conscious of the alcoholic needs of my party, I sat at the end of our row ready to move as soon as the curtain came down at the end of the first act. I dashed up to the tiny bar ready to order three large G&Ts and a beer but was amazed to see that someone was racing with me!

We both hit the bar at the same moment! “Hello” he said with a huge grin, “I hope you don’t mind if I order first, but I have three very thirsty ladies waiting for me”. I think I managed to blurt out “Go ahead but so have I!” We both turned round to see six women stood in a line at the top of the stairs staring at the pair of us. I’m not sure exactly what happened next while we both got served: I asked him how he was enjoying the play; he asked who my three companions were; he said he was with his wife, Lisa and two of his daughters. And that was it - in a flash and with another grin, Dustin Hoffman was gone and back with his party. As soon as I delivered our drinks to my pals, I was quizzed mercilessly about everything he had said. I remained irritatingly discreet and aloof as was my style in those days.

My regret was that I wasn’t brave enough to say to him how much The Graduate had meant to me when I was a teenager. But hey, not everyone gets to meet their heroes even for a fleeting minute or so.....

I am still a massive fan of Dustin and have seen most of his film work. In my view, one thing that makes a great actor is the ability to bring an animated character to life by voice alone – Robin Williams as the Genie in Aladdin and Liam Neeson as Good Cop/Bad Cop in the Lego movie are just two examples. So, a few years ago, when I saw Dustin Hoffman had taken the voice of Master Shifu in Kung Fu Panda, I couldn’t wait for it to come out. And what a fabulous performance from one of the truly great actors of our time - my erstwhile drinking buddy Dustin!!