I know this will sound almost unbelievable, as looking back, I can't believe it either - but this is a true story. It's set in the early 1980s. I am young and although I am no virgin, to be honest, I fairly inexperienced in sex.
I remember so much of this four month period in my life with the sort of clarity as if it were yesterday. It led to an important decision that could have changed my life... I often wonder did I make the right choice....I will never know.
I have changed the names, places and times to protect the identity of those in this true account.
The Actress
Bomb Attack
I was in my early 20s and was employed as a full time firefighter in London. On my days off, I worked providing fire cover on film sets in various studios around the capital. I had always wanted to either join the fire service or work in the film industry - so I was blessed to be doing both dream jobs simultaneously.
For one film, I was required to attend the set in a small film studio for several weeks with two colleagues covering times when I was on shift so couldn't make it. The film was being made by a famous director known for his frankly dull art house productions that were often rather difficult to follow.
On the second day of shooting there was a war scene depicting the explosion of a bomb in a city centre bombing raid. A pretty young American actress was required to stand in a booth which had been constructed with plywood sides and roof, but a clear perspex front and back.
This was in the days before CGI, so to achieve a shot of this young victim in the blast, the actress was required to stand in the booth with the camera zoomed in tight to her head and shoulders through the perspex window.
The special effects guys would direct a propane ball of flame and polystyrene rocks and debris at her, while she was protected in the booth. She was directed to turn around in the booth screaming, putting her hands up to her face to shield her face from the explosion. As she shielded her face, she needed to break a concealed blood capsule. As the camera zoomed in, her bloody face would be enveloped in fire and then blood.
The actress went through many 'dry' rehearsals which eventually lead to a full technical run through. This was the part I was specifically interested in as I was already very anxious about the design of the booth and whether it would adequately protect her.
On cue, a compressed air cannon blasted the booth with the lightweight polystyrene rocks. At the same time, the gas explosions were set off from flame thrower type apparatus and the ball of fire surrounded the free standing booth.
Bloody hell, it was far more violent and strong than I was expecting and the air and gas blast wobbled the booth rather precariously. But it did look dramatic, so the special effects guys and unit director were happy with the test, unfortunately I wasn't. I wanted projecting legs fitted to the booth to stop it overturning during the explosion. With no floor, I was worried that if it did flip over, it would expose this beautiful young woman to a ball of flame.
The special effects coordinator was offended at my criticism of his competence and argued it was safe. I disagreed and said that I would stop the shoot (which I could do by informing the studio managers). In the end they reluctantly agreed.
Kate - the actress - had heard the argument and looked very concerned. I introduced myself and explained my role to her and apologised for the delay. She said it was 'very sweet' of me as in her experience, there's always a big focus on getting the film in the can and safety often takes second place. I have to say, in may experience, she was right.
I had never spoken to her before. Initially I though she was quite shy and had to work hard to play this excessively sexy vamp type character for her role. I had no idea what colour her hair was, but she was tall, slim, chatty, intelligent and I discovered later, when out of the costume, she was even more sexy than the woman she was playing.
The shot was finally made in two takes. She was amazingly brave as it must have been bloody terrifying and hot in the booth. Afterwards, she emerged and ignored my enquiry if she was ok. She disappeared off set into her dressing room to prepare for the next scene.
There's always lots of waiting around on set and later that day I was able to ask Kate how she found the scene. I asked her about the story of the film which I didn't understand and was baffling me, indeed, even after her explanation I still didnt get it, but she was a delight to talk to. I had two firefighter colleagues on set or this explosion scene and they gave me some stick suggesting I trying to 'pull' this Hollywood actress but had no chance. The truth is I knew that she was not interested and she was just being friendly..... wasn't she?
Friends
The next day was the third day of shooting. Kate and I had chatted a lot between takes and I was really looking forward to the next break in shooting. In the early afternoon, Kate approached me and asked would I like to meet for a drink after work. I could not believe my luck, but accepted immediately.
She asked me to keep our drink quiet from the crew to prevent gossiping. I was in no place to disagree with any conditions, plus I certainly didn't want my colleagues knowing.
I was to meet her in the lobby of a hotel in Kensington at 8pm. I knew it fairly well as I used to be stationed nearby and regularly attended calls there when their fire alarm activated in error.
I rushed home, got changed and dashed out as if my life depended on it. I am off for a date (I think its a date?) with a beautiful Hollywood actress who is the star of this film. She might not be widely known in the UK, but apparently she was relatively well known across in the States. This didnt happen to guys like me.
I was early as usual. I waited in the hotel bar with a glass of water as I didn't know if she drank and I could hardly meet her with alcohol on my breath. She arrived and looked amazing and gave me a huge hug. She was wearing a short skirt, a slightly transparent embroidered cotton blouse showing a lacy bra underneath and she wore a small denim jacket over.
In my panic to get there and disbelief of getting this date, I hadn't thought about where to go, but she knew a wine bar which did really nice food. I had a bit of a panic about the cost, especially as we jumped in a taxi. I was young, single, but a little bit restricted with disposable cash as I had a large mortgage. Wine bars and especially taxis were very unfamiliar environments to me, as were Hollywood actresses!
We had the nicest evening. We talked so easily together and she told me about her life which was so far removed from mine. Her Dad had left the family home and the step Dad arrayed and was a complete "asshole". She left home at 17 and after avoiding a host of dodgy film studio managers who were all trying to fuck her, she landed her first role.
Fast forward to the here and now and she lived in mountain side house with a pool in LA and named dropped friends who I most definitely has heard of. She knew she had done well and was very humble. She said in almost embarrassed tones that she had a cleaner at her home who has become a friend. Kate took her as her guest to a premier of a film a friend had made and the cleaner had loved walking in to the theatre on the red carpet and being shouted at by the paparazzi.
She wanted to know all about my job as a firefighter and regularly steered me back to milk me for both amusing and tragic anecdotes. She was genuinely interested in the human angle rather than the sensation which told me a lot about her.
She kept looking around for photographers - a constant curse in LA. But she was loving her anonymity in London. Then it was 10:15 and we were in the cab back to her hotel and that really awkward will she/wont she invite me in moment. But there was no way that was happening. It was a Wednesday evening and she had a 5.00 am car coming to collect her for work the next morning. I had over an hour's journey home and also had an early start.
We had a kiss and a hug outside the hotel to say goodnight. I said I had had an amazing time and asked if we could do it again. She agreed and that I would take her somewhere the next night. One more kiss and she went into the hotel.
WOW! - what a night.! Was that a date? Was she using me to entertain her? My insecurities were on overtime. How can such a successful and beautiful women be interested in me?
The next day on set we were super cool to keep our friendship secret from the crew. I used to have to wait around for hours on set as part of my role as the unit firefighter. But today was different as every minute of waiting felt like an hour. I couldn't wait for that call from the assistant director 'It's a wrap' as I had plans, and I was hoping they would include getting into Kate's panties tonight.
Kate and I had been super cool. We had only said 'Hi" to each other and discussed the weather, but that was it. She was an actress and it was easy for her to play this role. For me it was so stressful.
