Spotting a favorite actor or other high-profile individual is understandably thrilling, but the last thing you want to do is make them uncomfortable by causing a scene while hounding them for an autograph or a selfie together.
Depending on the situation, celebrities just want to go about their day without it turning it into a spontaneous meet-and-greet frenzy.
That's what fan conventions are for—where you can have one-on-one interactions with your idols in a controlled environment where the lighting for the obligatory photo is ideal.
The Rookie actor Nathan Fillion was particularly impressed by a fan who respected his privacy after recognizing him on their shared flight.
He gave a special shoutout to his fellow passenger alongside an Instagram photo he snapped of the note he was given.
The message that was scrawled on the back of what appeared to be a flight itinerary or receipt read:
"I didn't want to out you, but wanted to say that you were fantastic as Captain Hammer. Respectfully, Alyssa."
The Captain Hammer reference was a nod to the superhero character Fillion played in the 2008 internet musical dramedy miniseries, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, starring Neil Patrick Harris as the eponymous supervillain.
Fillion gave props to his respectful admirer by writing in the caption:
"Classy moves, Alyssa. Classy moves."
Everyone started buzzing about Alyssa.
@nathanfillion/Instagram
@nathanfillion/Instagram
@nathanfillion/Instagram
Some fans shared how they would've acted if they had found themselves in the same situation.
@nathanfillion/Instagram
@nathanfillion/Instagram
@nathanfillion/Instagram
@nathanfillion/Instagram
Fillion is a Canadian actor who is famous for playing the leading role of Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds in the space western drama series Firefly and its continuation film Serenity.
He was featured as a guest star in several primetime TV series, including Lost and Desperate Housewives, before landing on his next successful starring role in Castle as the titular lead character, Richard Castle, a mystery novelist who helps the NYPD solve murders.
The show ran for eight seasons on ABC and earned the actor a nomination for the Satellite Award for Best Actor–Television Series Drama.
His connection to working on Castle led to him starring as John Nolan in the ABC police crime procedural dramaThe Rookie, which was created by former Castle executive producer Alexi Hawley.
Fillion has also appeared in notable films like Waitress, which later spawned a hit Broadway musical of the same name, and he's starred in many James Gunn superhero movies in supporting roles like T.D.K. in The Suicide Squad, and Master Karja in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
@BosniaNTBall/X
@BosniaNTBall/X
@theecoobadass/Bluesky
@BosniaNTBall/X
New York Post
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social