Hiding in the light. Walking the convention floor at #SDCC 2013 pic.twitter.com/ku0UFxvaJV
— Pegg News (@simonpegg) July 20, 2013
It should come as no surprise that Simon Pegg, who titled his autobiography Nerd Do Well, loves attending Comic-Con — but since he’s a fairly famous movie star, he can’t exactly walk around the main floor undetected. What’s a sci-fi-loving celeb like Pegg to do? Attend the show in disguise, of course.
Pegg shared some secrets behind picking the perfect costume to hide behind while milling around San Diego Comic-Con, as well as some of the lessons he’s learned about the overheating powers of latex. In an essay for The Hollywood Reporter, the actor discussed how his very first con — in promotion of Shaun of the Dead — was great because no one stateside knew who he was, and thus he was free to attend as himself.
In subsequent years, he’s wore a Joker mask on the main floor (way too hot, according to the star), and another time, he dressed as Shaun of the Dead Boba Fett, a mashup of his star-making movie and his favorite one. The costume featured a custom-made Boba Fett helmet with a tiny cricket bat instead of an antenna, which he wore with a shirt sporting a Shaun name tag and a splash of fake blood that no doubt prompted lots of people to point and say, “You’ve got red on you.” But Pegg’s rookie mistake that year? He wore his credentials, with his real name, for all to see. Things have improved, though, he writes for THR:
So over the years I’ve sort of honed my Comic-Con disguise technique. I’ve learned various lessons about keeping cool: Don’t go dressed as a Stormtrooper because it’s going to get very warm; wear something light and cool. Move fast, and don’t wear your name badge. I feel I’ve lost a certain amount of freedom to have that privilege to walk around the floor unfettered, but it’s fun to walk around the floor and look at people wearing masks and wonder if there’s someone you might know under there.
Pegg has also joked about his habit of appearing incognito in the past:
I’m excited about Comic Con. I’ll be disguised as a Stormtrooper but if you successfully identify me on the floor I will make out with you.
— Pegg News (@simonpegg) April 14, 2013
While it’s become a regular occurrence to hear about incognito celebs at cons after the fact, it’s fun to get an insider’s perspective on how to pull it off. So keep your eyes peeled, SDCC attendees, and don’t be afraid to ask for a photo with someone sporting some cool cosplay. You never know who could be under there.
(Via: The Hollywood Reporter)
