The Poster Memorabilia blog

I’ll Always Follow Braveheart

One friend's lucky autograph, one determined fan, and a carpet full of action legends.

By an anonymous Hollywood insider

A movie that will always inspire me is Braveheart. That amazing story of a Scottish warrior who revolts against the English when the love of his life is killed by them will always touch me in more ways than one. No matter how many times I see it, I'm always reduced to tears afterward.

I even love it enough to have followed some of its cast members to get their autographs. I was never into that sort of thing. I like celebrities as much as the next guy, but not to the point that I'll stop my life to track them down. They may be famous, but they're not so different from you and me.

My views changed when a friend showed me his own memorabilia signed by Mel Gibson. Part of me got jealous that he actually met the actor in real life, William Wallace himself, but another part felt inspired. If my friend managed to see our favorite actor in real life, then why not me?

“If my friend managed to see our favorite actor in real life, then why not me?”

I was more of a go-getter than he was. And I'm sure I'm a bigger fan of Braveheart than he will ever be. He even told me that seeing Mel Gibson was just a lucky encounter and that he never would've thought he'd give him an autograph.

But now, I wanted one too. I especially wanted his autograph on a Braveheart poster I recently bought. So I researched him and looked for when he would make a public appearance next. I also read the entertainment section of the newspaper to see if he had any movie premiering soon.

I finally got the opportunity in 2014, when he appeared at the red-carpet premiere of his latest film that year, The Expendables 3. Since the film featured an all-star cast of the most famous action stars of the 80s and 90s, that was the first time I got to see all of those icons in real life.

✦ ✦ ✦

Having that moment be the first time I saw celebrities in person overwhelmed me. I was only there for Mel Gibson, but Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Wesley Snipes, Jason Statham, and Antonio Banderas were there too. I couldn't help but get starstruck! Everywhere I turned, there was a movie icon right in front of me.

No one trumped Gibson for me, though. I was floored when I finally met him. He was a bit older, naturally, but he still looked like the Braveheart I always watched on screen. He was also pretty nice and signed my poster when I asked him. I admit I was surprised at how pleasant he was in real life.

Later, I met Sophie Marceau, who played Isabelle, and Brian Cox, who played Argyle. Like Gibson, they were also nice when I asked them to sign my poster. I still wish I had met more cast members, but I'm more than satisfied with who I got, especially since it includes Gibson.

Some things you watch. This one you keep.

Guaranteed authentic for life • 90-day returns, any reason