The Kilburn Story .. in their own words
This was posted on IMDB but it seems to be gone now. The poster got the story off an IG email list, I think. Stevie you may to repost elsewhere The Kilburn story Sorry it took me a while, but here it goes! I got this from someone (she wants to remain anonymous) who pointed me to the archives of a website (I will not divulge the name) I am glad she came through for me. Sorry it took me a while, but here it goes! I got this from someone(she wants to remain anonymous)who pointed me to the archives of a website (I will not divulge the name) I am glad she came through for me. This is the story of what happened verbatim. I have omitted the names of the individuals(except for Ioan of course) to protect their identity since people on LOTF and A&E got stupid with them and I don't want anyone else to be an a-hole about it and bully them once again. If I am correct,HH fans were able to book The Grand Turk for a dinner party with the cast of the movie and they wanted to find out if Ioan was going because he had an invitation to attend. THEIR ACCOUNT: We are not insane. We are 2 very sane, normal women that had a rare opportunity put before us and took advantage of it!! I'm glad that we did. When ***** first said we should knock, I was like "NO FRICKEN WAY!!! That's his house!!" Then she said, "No guts, no glory! You'll be kicking yourself if you don't." So we discussed what we were going to say when he opened the door, came up with something cute and walked up the steps. Just standing there was so crazy. Then she knocked with the knocker! There was no way I could have knocked.She was as calm as a cucumber though. My heart was racing. We could see him walking down the hall to answer the door and I was just amazed that we had done this. It wasn't until he opened the door and had that darling look on his face that I knew everything was fine. It was the cu-*test*-('") smile. He leaned his head against the door and was smiling at us. *****said something like, "We're here from the States and we're big admirers of yours. We've read that you've never had anybody camped out on your doorstep so we're here to oblige." He just laughed and was so flattered. He put his hands to his face and said, "Oh my God. Well, thank you. That's brilliant!" (he uses that word a lot, by the way.) We chatted at the door for about 3 minutes and that's when he invited us in. We proceeded to spend the next 45 minutes chatting and laughing over tea. It was an absolutely fabulous time. Ioan was so very kind and gracious. I'm sorry if other folks are disgusted or whatever they are but I bet they would have done the same thing if they had the chance. Yes, we knocked on his door, but HE invited us in. Making us tea was HIS idea. He asked if we had photographs of him and while we were trying to say yes his mother sent us the small ones, he left the kitchen and then came back with 8X10 Hornblower glossies that he autographed for us, HIS idea. We were walking towards his front door to leave when he invited us to come in and look at his living room, HIS idea as well. Once again in the foyer hallway trying to leave, he leans over to give me a "stubbly" kiss and the same for*****and it was HIS idea. He made all these moves on his own. We did not ask for tea, or a tour, or a kiss, or autographed pics. These were all HIS IDEA! As he was bent down signing our pictures, I was standing to his right. I looked at his hair (couldn't help myself) and I noticed little gluey looking things attached on several strands of hair on several places on his head. I asked if he still had the hair extensions in? He kind of leaned up with his head toward me, still bent over, so I could see his hair more closely and he said, "Yes, they're real hair. Feel them." So, of course, when Ioan issues an order I am happy to oblige!! So there I was playing with Ioan's hair and looking at his hair extensions. ***** took a peek as well. When he stood up, looked at me and said they were great and "if you ever need extensions ..." and then he trailed off. I finished for him, "If I ever need hair extensions, real is the way to go, huh?" He said, "Well, you already have long hair so you won't need them." When we were at his flat, we mentioned to him that we were in town for the dinner. He motioned with is head toward a stack of papers on the kitchen table and he said, "Oh yes, I received the invitation. I had talked about it with some of the other cast. But I didn't RSVP." I told him don't bother do it now, they're all over here! Then I said,"Please, if they see you walking up the gangway, they're going to let you on." Then he said that he had a 6am call on Sunday morning for Dalmations. I said that we were starting at 7pm. Even if he just popped his head in for 5 minutes everyone would be thrilled to see him. Then he mentioned again that he hadn't RSVP'd and he knew they needed the counts for food and for the little drink chits. At that point I said, "Ioan, just tell them you're with me!" He said, "***** plus one and I'll be the plus one!?" (cute little grin on his face) I said,"Absolutely! You can be my plus one anytime!" We mentioned the dinner 3 times during our visit. He said he had a mattress on the floor. We *did not* go upstairs where the bedrooms were but he did say that he sleeps on a mattress on the floor. At one point when we were chatting, I said we hadn't come knocking because we were admirers but because we wanted to steal some of his decorating secrets. He laughed. As we were going to leave (it was late. He was tired.) The three of us are headed out of the kitchen toward the hall to the door. Me at the front,***** next and Ioan bringing up the rear (no comments). He says, "Wait, wait. Come here you have to see this." And proceeded to give us a tour of the dining room and living room. With the infamous clear blow up chairs! There was also a small TV on a tall stand ... and a whole mess of Nintendo 64 stuff strewn on the floor in front of the TV. "Well, at least you have your priorities in order, Ioan." I said. That elicited a smile and a giggle. In a recessed nook in the dining room was a directors chair and atop the seat of the chair, at just about the right height to play, was a dart board. He gave us the grand tour of the downstairs. Also, when we first walked in, as he was showing us to the kitchen, I said,"So this is the new pad?" And he replied, "Yes, this is the new pad." It was very cute. Someone asked: << Was he barefooted? >> No. He was wearing some square-ish toed, lace up Prada shoes. He had only arrived home from Cardiff about an hour or so before we arrived. He had been in Wales all weekend. Working and going to the Rugby match.He said they had had quite a bit to drink and it was a long weekend. He looked a bit ravaged. But still gorgeous. Here's another bit I'll share. One of my favorite words is shpeel. I use it as a catch all when I'm talking. Hand me that shpeel ... It was a whole shpeel ... you know, stuff like that. As we were leaving and standing in the hall, at the door chatting, I used shpeel in a sentence. I can't remember what we were talking about. But Ioan kind of reiterated what it was I had said. For instance, I think I said something like, " It's that sort of shpeel." And Ioan said, "yes, it was that sort of sh ... that sort of thing." And I said to him, " You almost said shpeel! Ioan it would make my day if you would use shpeel in a sentence." And he proceeded to say, "Well, it was that sort of shpeel." And he had this huge grin on his face. It was so cute, you guys!! On top of everything that had happened, just totally made my night! Another question: Did you get up in his face and sniff him, or what? >> Actually, what happened was as we were standing in the hall at the door to leave he said, "I have to give you a hug!" (I swear to you he said that! Ask *****!) He hugged ***** first and a kiss on the cheek then it was my turn. After he kissed my cheek (really close to my ear!! Which I love!! But I won't go into that here!) he gave me a huge hug that seemed to last for a really long time and believe it or not ... I could still breathe. So as we separated I said, " ... and you smell good, too." *****asked what cologne he wore and he told us. He did smell WONDERFUL. Very warm, if you know what I mean. And another: << What type of tea where you drinking, i heard it was Earl Grey tea, is that correct. >> Yep, he had Earl Grey or ... peachy tips I think the other was called. We opted for the Earl Grey. Then he said that was his favorite, too. He asked if we took milk in our tea. I don't know what ***** said because I was looking at Ioan but I said yes, I take milk. He went to the fridge, opened it up to find NO MILK! He was so embarrassed. It was too funny. Then he showed us the contents of his fridge. Yogurt, some marmite, I think it was called (I really need ***** here. She'll remember) I know it's like vegimite a few other odds and ends but best of all! ... a bottle of champagne! Laying on it's side at the bottom of the fridge. And it was one of those fridges with the freezer at the bottom. He gave ***** and I the matching cups and he kept the one that didn't match for himself. I did have my camera in my purse at his place. He was so great about the pictures, too. ***** is the one that mentioned pictures. I would have just left his place, la la, skipping along, happy with the memories in my head. ***** was the smart one and asked if he minded if we take a couple of pictures. He said, "No, not at all. We can take the whole roll if you want." We did not. He had run upstairs to grab pictures to autograph (also his idea!) It was so funny. As we were sitting there drinking our tea he said, "Let me get some pictures to sign for you. My mum just sent me some new ones." He literally went running upstairs to get the pictures leaving ***** and I in the kitchen. This was the moment that I said to ***** "Am I being too glib? I feel like I'm being funny but is it coming off as sarcastic or anything?" I was just so amazed that I was able to be my usual talky, funny self. Thankfully ***** said I was fine. Needless to say, I was the one that did most of the talking. ***** has the bigger, brass cajones of the two of us but I'm definitely the extrovert in the group. (***** and I had just met that day, by the way. About 5 hours earlier) Anyway, so he ran upstairs to get pictures to sign, he came back with 2 black and white "Horatio at the helm" photos and asked, "Have you seen these?" Neither of us answered. We both kinda quickly moved on to something else. Have we seen those?! HI !!! I only had an autographed mini copy of that on my night stand for several months last year! It was pretty funny. He asked for the spelling of our names and wrote them down on a separate piece of paper first, to be sure he spelled it right (or to give to the police later, I'm not sure.) He asked me which * my accent went over BEFORE I could tell him I had an accent mark!!!! I LOVE THIS MAN!! The he signed 2 pictures, each saying "Thanks for a lovely surprise". Oh and something else I forgot! When we were chatting at his door, for those 3 minutes, Ioan asked our names. He asked me first and I said,"*****." He shook my hand and said, "Ioan. Lovely to meet you." How cute is that!!! Like we didn't know his name. It's such a natural thing to do when you're meeting people though, I guess. Even if they already know you, to tell them your name. AT MATTIE'S PLAY: A question: << Sooo......was he with *anyone*? Had to ask There were 4 of them. 2 guys and 2 girls. The girls flanked the guys. This blonde woman was on the aisle, then Ioan, then his guy friend then the other girl. I do not think Ioan was on a "date" with the blonde woman. He kept his hands to himself the whole performance. I was watching Matthew on the stage the majority of the time but Ioan was pretty much DIRECTLY in my line of vision down to the stage! It was perfect! The 2 people in the row right behind him, the aisle and the one right behind Ioan, left early so I had a complete unobstructed view of the goings on. You guys should have heard Ioan laughing out loud at the show and at Matthew. There's one scene in the play where Matthew/Benjamin and his mom and dad are visiting a "psychiatrist". The whole scene is done with the family sitting on bean bags and Matthew leaning over backwards in his bean bag, basically disgusted with the whole goings on. As soon as the lights came up on the scene, Ioan was cracking up! It was the weirdest feeling to be sitting there and knowing that the reason Ioan was getting such a kick out of this particular scene was because it so resembled their own living room! THIS IS HIS ACCOUNT: The year before "two American women in their forties" gained late night entry to Ioan's London pad. "They had hired the ship from Hornblower for a banquet and two nights before, they knocked on my door and reminded me: Are you going to come? It was 11.30. I was in my boxer shorts and invited them in. They were taking pictures in my kitchen! I asked how they found my address and one worked for an airline and discovered that I was on the Frequent Flyer list. "They were very naughty. It could have been dangerous, but I was lucky."

BridgeofSighs -- Wow! That made for an interesting read. Thanks for posting the story. :)

Thanks for posting the story, BridgeofSighs. Interesting read, indeed.

Many thanks, Bridge! It's good to be reminded of that story from young and innocent times! And very interesting how chinese whispers can distort things.......

Some LOTF got stupid on them?! Is she sure it wasn´t the other way around? :oops: wrong thread.... :tsk tsk: Silvia

Thanks for posting the "real" story - my how this story has been twisted!!! I wonder if these two ladies in their "WILDEST DREAMS" thought this story would get so distorted? Something so nice and pleasant turned into a night with two crazy ladies (per Ioan's side). I would want to confront Ioan with the "real" truth, but we all know how well he avoids that.

Thanks from me, too, Bridge. It helps to hear from the "primary source." I believe their telling to be consistent with how Ioan has represented himself in other stories (sociable, impulsive, a little naive). Most of us tweak a story now and then to make a point or exaggerate things to be more amusing. Ioan does it frequently and he's usually self-effacing, i.e., he makes himself the butt of his own joke. I wonder why he doesn't in this case. Under other circumstances, I can easily hear him telling this story in a similar tone: "And then I said, wait, wait, you simply must see my bedroom, but these poor girls were backing away looking at me like I was mad. It's a wonder they didn't turn and run screaming into the night. After that I didn't dare show my face at the dinner...." I don't know, it's just sad.

So, what is Ioan's side of the story?

Bridge, thanks for that acounting of the well-known Ioan story. It's fun and enlightening to read the story from the "visitors" point of view. My concern is that we not jump to the conclusion that Ioan changed the story to make them look crazy from this Ioan accounting as it appears to be either a partial quote or something that was re-written by another reporter from another story. Something that has been seen before. Like FloMo said stories do adapt and change as people tell them orally. There's been a lot of research and discussion on how stories become embellished in Folklore and Urban Legend studies. Storytelling is greatly influenced by the audience response and questions. If I were studying this here are a few questions (thought not all) I would ask: 1. How long ago after the event was the woman's accounting written down? If it was shortly after, it is probably pretty accurate, if not there are likely more things forgotten, compressed or expanded. No one can remember every detail. Since there were two of them there, they've probably compared notes which would help in accuracy. So, likely her account is more accurate than Ioan's, but it is also likely it is not a completely accurate account. One little nitpicky thing that shows how difficult it is to hear or remember events completely accurately. She says Ioan asked if they wanted Earl Grey tea or peachy tips. So was that peach flavored tea or more likely PGTips, a popular English tea? 2. What transitioned the story from the original to what is told now? When I saw this posted on IMDB, I noted that the Ioan account is not shown totally in context, just some chosen quotes. I remembered reading several times where Ioan told this story over the years in articles I read on IOL. It seems to me in an early one the reporter said something about the visit being late and they ended up in a kind of joking manner talking about "sitting around in boxers and drinking beer" sort of thing when they arrived. When the reporter suggested it could have been a dangerous situation, Ioan's response seemed to be that he hadn't even thought about it and made a joke. This could have easily influenced later accountings of the story either with another reporter quoting without the jokes or Ioan adding that to his own version of the story. Kind of hard to tell which. As I recall, the story gradually changed in the retelling which is not unusual when you are telling a story especially since having the possible element of danger is a better story than two sweet women being invited in. Now I have to admit that this is based on my memory and may not be totally accurate in itself and of course that valuable the resource IOL is no longer available to check. I tried to do some research to find the articles where he recounted the event. I did find this quoted section in an article from 2005 by Sian Griffiths about the selling of the flat Ioan and Matthew shared. The actor Ioan Gruffudd is telling stories about “the time of his life” — the six years, now coming to an end, spent sharing a north London flat with his childhood friend, fellow actor Matthew Rhys. One concerns an unexpected late-night encounter with some enthusiastic female fans. It was a few years ago, when the two pals’ careers were still being forged, but Gruffudd — tipped as the next James Bond — can still remember his surprise on opening the door of the flat to two excited middle-aged Americans. In London for a convention on Horatio Hornblower, the 18th-century seafaring hero who launched Gruffudd’s career when he played him on television, the fans had read an interview about the boys’ NW6 bachelor pad. They had traced the address and come to see the inflatable armchairs and PlayStation consoles described in a newspaper article. “Like an idiot, I invited them in,” recalls the tall, dark-haired 31-year-old, speaking from Los Angeles where he is filming The TV Set with David Duchovny and Sigourney Weaver. Not liking to disappoint, and mindful of his manners — this is, after all, a film star who was a chapelgoer as a child — Gruffudd offered his fans a cup of tea. But the boys were clean out of milk, so the fans ended up having a pint of orange squash apiece and a tour of the three-bed flat. “Everybody said, ‘What the hell were you doing?’” recalls Gruffudd — but it was all par for the course at the flat in a street near Kilburn High Road. “We always kept a social house,” explains Rhys. “We called the place the Welsh Embassy because there was usually somebody staying in our third bedroom.” In this version, there is no mention of boxers and much of the story is consistent with hers. Well, except the Orange Squash. And since the event he was obviously told that letting them in wasn't the smar-*test*-('") or safest choice. Just something to think about when reading the differences in the stories. It would seem the desire to entertain and what others say to him hold some sway in how his stories are told. I would venture to guess that Ioan is not the only one whose stories are influenced in this manner. GG

Gaffer'sGirl -- very good points you brought up. There are always 2 sides to a story and unless I hear it from Ioan face to face I won't know for sure what his side is. And you are very right about how stories can become so twisted.

Good points, GG. In fact, how differently different people can tell the same story or an event they've all witnessed is a subject for studies. Thinking aloud: When I read back through some of Ioan's old interviews, there is a sense of excitement there, of finding everything interesting and wanting the world to know. In effect, he seemed to be saying "Come share this with me" and showing us his openess. This naivete is part of what attracted many of us in the first place. Because this seems to have changed (or he's just grown up a little) it appears to make his past stories somehow gauche or silly. I think each account must be taken in it's context. :dunno Thinking aloud: I agree with you, Stevie.

Ditto, Stevie and Frances. And yes a log might be a good idea. :wink: :mrgreen: GG