15 June 2007 (but written later)

 

Simon Baker came to Seattle for SIFF in 2007 to promote the movie Sex and Death 101. He played the starring role of a man who receives a mysterious list of all the women he will sleep with before he dies and begins working his way through it. How long will it take him and what happens when he reaches the last woman?

It’s a cute romp, written and directed by Daniel Waters of Heathers fame, and I stayed for the Q & A after the film to learn more about this attractive unknown-to-me-at-the-time Australian actor.
Daniel and Simon both spoke and answered audience questions until we all got shooed out of the theater as the next screening began.

Once on the sidewalk, both men were happy to continue the conversation and Simon even started signing autographs. I lined up like everyone else and when I gave him my ticket (the only thing I had that could be written on) he smiled and made a comment about it being free. I explained that the press got a limited number of complimentary tickets, and he should feel good that his film was among my "chosen” ones, because I was planning to give it a good review. He said that he was indeed glad, and kindly signed across the top of it.

 

Though the movie didn’t make such a splash, I’m glad he did, getting a much-deserved starring role on a network show. I enjoy his performance, and most of all, remember a night when he stayed on a Seattle sidewalk to chat with hovering fans.