A LOVELORN workman has described the moment he thought he had ‘hit the jackpot’ when a beautiful brunette van driver stopped and asked him: ‘Are you single?’
Kevin McAlinden was completely unaware the siren was Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson disguised in a dark wig – and that he was secretly starring in her new sci-fi movie.
Father-of-two Kevin, 29, had recently separated from his partner when the actress drove up.
On Sunday night, recalling his lucky day, said: ‘What man wouldn’t think, “Wow,” when a good-looking woman has just pulled up in a van and comes out with something like that within minutes?
‘She said: “Are you single? What are you doing tonight?” I thought, “Yes! This is unbelievable!” I’d been having quite a tough time in my personal life, so this was like a lucky break. I should have known it was too good to be true.’
Kevin was one of several men randomly picked up in and around Glasgow and secretly filmed for Under The Skin in which Scarlett plays an alien temptress who lures men to their death with the promise of sex.
The unsuspecting electrician recalled: ‘When she pulled up and wound down the window, I said, “What’s the matter? Are you lost?” and she said she needed help with directions to the motorway.
‘It was a cold night and she asked if she could give me a lift home. Well, I wasn’t going to say no. She told me her name was Laura and her family owned a furniture business in London and she was in Glasgow to collect some furniture.’
He added: ‘I’m still surprised by what I found myself caught up in that night – and cursing myself for not making more of the opportunity! It’s not every day you get to meet someone like Scarlett Johansson. I did feel she looked very familiar but the hair threw me and I couldn’t figure out who she was. When we got to my place, I thanked her very much for the lift and wished her luck.’
All the strangers picked up by the actress were only told about the movie after they were filmed.
Kevin was ‘stunned’ when he got out of the van and was approached by a crew member. ‘The man said: “Do you know who that was who brought you home? Scarlett Johansson.” I knew instantly it was the truth. It all fell into place.
‘Afterwards, when I told my family and friends, they accused me of being nuts. But I had the last laugh when they saw the film trailer.’- Mail On Sunday