Even Hollywood stars get mistaken for other Hollywood stars. During Apple TV+’s Dark Matter press events at San Diego Comic-Con, Joel Edgerton shared one of the funniest fan encounters of his career, recalling the time he accidentally, and intentionally, let someone believe he was Sam Worthington.
The story came during an interview with Entertainment Weekly, where the cast discussed the most unusual cases of mistaken identity they’ve experienced.
Edgerton said the encounter began like any actor’s dream. “One time I had a young lady run up to me and say, ‘Oh my God, Oh my God, can I get your autograph?'”
The actor admitted he initially assumed the emotional reaction was because of one of his own performances. “I was like, ‘Wow, I’m really having an effect over this woman.'”
Then came the reveal.
As she clutched the autograph to her chest, the fan thanked him for his performance in Avatar, making it immediately clear she believed she was speaking to Sam Worthington, who famously plays Jake Sully in James Cameron’s blockbuster franchise.
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Rather than spoil the moment, Edgerton simply smiled. “I just said, ‘Thank you. Thank you.'”
The Train Dreams and The Gift actor admitted he generally doesn’t correct fans when they’re genuinely excited. “Whenever people mistake me for a particular movie, I just say, ‘Thank you… Thank you for the compliments.'”
Eventually, he suspects the fan probably realized something wasn’t quite right. “I’m sure she went, ‘J.E., what…'”
Edgerton laughed off the mix-up, adding that being confused with Worthington isn’t exactly an insult.
“He’s a good-looking guy.”
His Dark Matter co-star Jennifer Connelly quickly revealed she has her own case of celebrity mistaken identity. Connelly said people regularly insist she’s Demi Moore, even when she tells them they’re wrong.
One recent encounter happened while going through airport security. “They’re like, ‘Oh my God, you’re Demi Moore.'”
Even after Connelly denied it and offered to prove her identity with her passport, the traveler refused to believe her.
“‘You are.'”
“‘Again, no. I’m really not.'”
Connelly said the confusion doesn’t stop there.
She’s also been congratulated for appearing in movies she never made, including one supposedly starring Brad Pitt.
“They said, ‘You were so good in that movie with Brad Pitt.'”
Her response?
“‘Not in a movie with Brad Pitt… I promise you.'”
The lighthearted exchange came as Edgerton and Connelly promoted the second season of Dark Matter, which debuted its latest trailer during Comic-Con’s Hall H presentation ahead of its Aug. 28 premiere on Apple TV+.
For Edgerton, though, one fan may always remember him a little differently.
Or at least until she got home and looked at the autograph.
