Adventures In Fangirling

Three years doesn’t seem that long really. But a lot can happen in three years. 

 

In 2012 I attended the UK Premiere of Avengers Assemble. It was my first glimpse of the Marvel cast in the flesh, and although I’d loved all of the Marvel movies up to that point, I had no idea how much my life was about to change.

In the three years that followed I have become one of Jeremy Renner’s many fanwomen around the world. I have also had the privilege of getting to know a number of other amazing women (and men) in his fandom. 

 

Three years ago I didn’t even know what fandom was. I had a tumblr but it was for random things like cats and movie quotes and some more cats. Now tumblr has become a humungous part of my life. I have a Renner blog (RenneredSpeechless.tumblr.com if you’re interested) and I spend most of my free time either watching his movies, looking at updates about him/his movies on tumblr or writing fan fiction about his characters. See how much can happen in three years?

 

In that time I have attended several public events to try and get another glimpse of the illusive Renner, but alas I have been thwarted at every point. Firstly, at the Avengers Assemble Premiere, he was the only member of the cast to not come to the section where I was standing, so I never actually saw him in the flesh the first time I was in his presence. The second attempt was at the 2013 BAFTA’s where he was presenting an award. I waited for more than 10 hours in the freezing February rain and snow and he got out of his car right in front of where I was standing, but somehow I missed him then too. 

 

Then came The Graham Norton Show, I waited again for a good 10/12 hours in the February freeze on the bank of the River Thames, but whilst I waited out back, his car left via the front exit of the building. The most I got was a 5 second video as he walked by the window in the studio.

 

Over the next two years I attended every phase two Marvel premiere, just on the off chance that he might be in the UK and might come, but no. I even went to the 2014 BAFTA’s just in case he was there (as his film American Hustle was heavily nominated), but he was not. Finally in the summer of 2014 I thought my chance had come as it was announced that Renner would be in the line up to play at Soccer Aid. I got there in time for the buses to arrive but sadly the players did not come and greet the waiting fans, so again, the most I got was a fuzzy picture from my seat (half way up the stalls in Old Trafford). 

Going to these lengths has caused one of my closest friends to label me a ‘stalker’, which understandably I found quite upsetting. I have found comfort in the friendships I have made with the other 'Renner Women’ that I have met through his fandom. As I said above, these are amazing women who are all uniquely talented, some are fantastically gifted at graphic design and have created posters that are so professional that IMDb used one of her images on their official Kill The Messenger page. Others have the gift of being tremendous writers, some of fan fiction like myself, others of full blown novels. Whilst a handful of them run the JeremyLeeRenner.com fansite which is a job in itself keeping us all updated with his upcoming projects. 

 

I recently had the opportunity to spend the weekend with two of my good friends in the Rennerdom, who accompanied me to a screening of Kill The Messenger. I was left completely awed by both the movie and the time spent with like-minded fans. Being able to spend the weekend with them, talking about Renner-related moments in our lives, and watching his movies with them was an experience I will never forget.

 

Now it is time for Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. The London premiere is tomorrow*. I have decided to cosplay as the Black Widow in the hopes that he might see me and I might, just might, get my moment with him. They are so fleeting and I know it will be a miracle if I can even say two words to him, but to see him, in front of me, now that really would be something to marvel at.

 

*I wrote this article on 20th April 2015 - it was originally published on Geek La Chic on 21st April 2015 - the day of the premiere.