One of the things I like the most about working for handbag.com is that no day is ever the same. I’ve been asked to do a lot of crazy things in the name of work. I’ve had Oscar-winner Jeff Bridges threaten to tickle me, interrupted Pierce Brosnan mid-compliment (whoops), invented a ‘manbag.com’ with Michael McIntrye, been round Baz Luhrman’s house in Sydney, held an Oscar, driven cattle through the Australian outback and now, I’ve acted against, and played thumb wars with, an A-list actor.
Unfortunately for me, most of these highlights have involved a camera being present and me being quite willing to make an idiot out of myself.
When I was first asked if I’d like to visit Barcelona and star in a bank robbery scene with Benicio Del Toro to celebrate the release of limited edition Magnum Gold?! Ice Creams, which is a Magnum ice cream made with Madagascan vanilla, swirls of delicious caramel and coated with golden dipped milk chocolate, my first thought wasn’t “how cool!”, it was “oh god. I can’t act.” I have a cringey video of my school nativity to show for my acting talents, Benicio has an Oscar, a Bafta and a host of other awards for his.
We arrived at a secret location in central Barcelona and met the man himself, who looked suave in his suit and tie next to the gorgeous Caroline de Souza Correa, who also stars in the Magnum Gold?! adverts with him. I felt nervous. Was I meant to try and emulate the gorgeous model turned actress in front of me?
Next, I was ushered into a room to meet the acting coaches. Two larger-than-life women greeted me and we started to run thought my lines before my big moment.
With only five minutes of acting training under my belt, and having been forced into a hoodie and beanie hat to give that authentic bank robbery feel, I was led downstairs to start my scene with Benny feeling like a royal plank. I’d been imagining cat suits and leather, not me dressed up like I’m having a lazy Sunday at home.
Benicio introduced himself, and smiled. He really is incredibly good-looking. Which made it all the harder to remember my lines. He asked me if I’d ever played ‘thumbs’, and before I knew it grabbed my hand and started a thumb war with me. We ran through the first shot and I forgot where I was meant to be standing. Meaning we had to re-shoot, much to the disappointment of the director, I’m sure.
During the second take Benicio asked me again, “Do you play thumbs?” I died inside. “Please don’t adlib!!” Was all I could think. “Yes,” I said. Then added really cockily, “and I’ll beat you.” Where that came from, who knows?
At the end of the shoot I was given five minutes to spend chatting with the Hollywood actor. “What are you up to tonight?” were the first words out of my mouth, while my brain whirred, mortified, “Great Anneke, now he’s going to think you’re asking him out!” He smiled, “Going for Tapas.” I like to think if he hadn’t known I was leaving for London that evening he would have asked me to go along. A girl can dream, right?!
This isn't the first time I've made an idiot out of myself for handbag.com. You can check out my cattle droving video here.
To celebrate Magnum Gold?!'s release Magnum is holding an exclusive screening of The Usual Suspects at 6pm on Thursday 22 April at Odeon London. To get your free tickets all you need to do is click on www.mymagnum.co.uk.
