If you were in Manchester at the start of 2026, you might have done a double take at Aquaman and Minecraft star Jason Momoa. He was spotted enjoying himself around town, onstage with his band in Spinningfields and over at Old Trafford for a Manchester United match.
With big names making more and more films and TV shows in the UK and Ireland, or enjoying sporting moments thousands of miles from home, it’s not that unusual to see some very famous faces on our streets.
BBC Bitesize takes a look at some other ‘where do I know that face from?’ moments. When a regular trip to the shops, meal at your local curry house or just catching a bit of sports action could have brought you face to face with big-name celebs.
A (Hollywood) fish out of water
When Hollywood A-lister Matt Damon arrived in Ireland to film The Last Duel (2021) little did he know that he’d end up living there under quarantine for two months. But as the world went into Covid lockdown in March 2020, Damon had no choice but to stay put.
Along with his wife and younger children, Damon was staying in Dalkey, a seaside suburb of Dublin. The rules at the time were that you had to stay close to your house and Damon was spotted making the most of it - jogging, at the beach and doing the food shop. He even phoned in to speak to local SPIN 1038 radio show and told them, "Yes, you have to stay within two kilometres of your house, but in two kilometres of here, there's trees and woods, there's ocean… I can't think of any place you'd rather be in a two kilometres radius."
Spice loving stars
Enjoying a curry is a global delight, uniting many of us across continents. But who would have thought enjoying a tasty dish at your local restaurant could find you sat across from a star?
Well, if you’d been eating at the Everest Lounge in Market Harborough at the end of 2025 you might have spotted Zendaya and Tom Holland enjoying their chana saag bengan and chicken tikka masala.
Once described by a British Foreign Secretary as our true national dish, another fan of chicken tikka masala is Tom Cruise. In 2021 on a visit to Asha’s, one of Birmingham’s famous Indian restaurants, he enjoyed it so much in fact, once he’d finished, he ordered the same dish and ate it all over again. Other sightings of A-listers at Asha’s have included Jack Black, Pink and various members of the Indian cricket team. Oh - and King Charles lll.
A celeb hole in one
Sport and celebrity go hand in hand and if you happen to be in St Andrews, Scotland during autumn you might happen upon some celebrities out in the wild. Or, on the golf course, as the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship invites stars from the world of entertainment, and other sports, to play alongside some of the best professional golfers in the world.
This seaside town has hosted celebs from Samuel L. Jackson, Andy Garcia, Justin Timberlake and Ronan Keating, to members of Bon Jovi and Linkin Park. The locals tend to be used to famous people in their midst though, Prince William and Katherine Middleton as she was known then, both studied at St Andrews University in the early 2000s.
Another ball sprinkled with stardust
Another sport capable of luring even the most glamorous of Hollywood stars to out of the way places is football. Prior to actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney buying into Wrexham Football Club in February 2021 and sprinkling a little stardust, locals would not have expected to see so many celebs visiting the town.
The two stars bought Wrexham Football Club in February 2021 and along with wives Blake Lively and Kaitlin Olso, they’re regularly seen cheering from the stands. Other celebrities such as Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Hugh Jackman, Channing Tatum, Jason Sudeikis and Kit Harington have all joined them pitch side in North Wales. Or, up in the owner’s box, to see the team win three consecutive promotions from the National League to the Championship. They’re hoping for a place in the playoffs to join the Premier League this season too.
Actress Eva Longoria was so impressed after her visit to a game, she agreed to swap a share in Mexican top flight side Club Necaxa, which she part owns, in return for a five per cent stake in Wrexham.
Further east, lifelong Ipswich Town super-fan Ed Sheeran has sponsored their kit for years and was made the squad’s official number 17 in 2021. Then in 2024 he became a minority share holder in the club and is regularly seen at Portman Road.
In South Wales, do keep a look out for Snoop Dogg.
Usually more used to American football - he has run a youth league for kids in Los Angeles since 2005 - Snoop became a co-owner of Swansea City in July 2025. Although he hasn’t visited yet, there are reports that Snoop is planning a trip soon, so do keep your eyes peeled for the rapper down Swansea way.
Centre court is where the action is
And last but not least, we couldn’t talk about sport being a great place to spot celebrities without a special mention for Wimbledon. Its like getting two sports for the price of one, you can watch some fine tennis on the courts while also scanning the stands for familiar famous faces.
Royals, pop stars and Hollywood actors in town promoting their movies can be spotted cheering on the action, a tradition that dates back decades. And why not ask an older relative about that time Sir Cliff Richard led the crowd in a rendition of Summer Holiday in 1996, when rain stopped play.
This article was published in February 2026
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