Celia Imrie has revealed that she was once stopped by police in the United States after being mistaken for a sex worker. The 74-year-old actress shared the story during an appearance on the Joe Marler Will See You Now podcast.
Imrie, known for her role in Calendar Girls and The Thursday Murder Club, appeared on the most recent series of Celebrity Traitors alongside Stephen Fry, Joe Marler, Paloma Faith and Alan Carr. She became a talking point after breaking wind during a challenge, an incident she says she did not intend.
Hotel mix-up leads to police encounter
Speaking to The Times, Imrie said she is "guilty of doing anything for a laugh" but insisted the moment was unintentional. She explained that she was "nervous" and still cannot believe what a "huge thing" it became, adding that she does not want to be "defined" by it.
During the podcast, fellow Celebrity Traitors star Joe Marler asked Imrie to share an "adventure" that may have resulted in a "bit of trouble". Imrie then recounted an incident in Fresno, California, where she said she had "very nearly" been arrested.
At the time, Imrie was staying in Los Angeles while a friend was in Davis, about 400 miles north. They agreed to meet roughly halfway between the two cities.
Misunderstanding with police
Imrie said they arrived at around half past six in the evening looking for the Radisson hotel, which they had booked and paid for, only to find it boarded up. With nobody around, they noticed a casino was open and went inside, where locals told them the hotel had moved across town.
It was dark, so Imrie moved towards a better-lit area. When two men approached, she stopped them to ask for directions, but they misinterpreted her intentions.
"And they took terrible fright and thought I was trying to pick them up and sort of scarpered. And the next minute, this police car drew up and said, 'Are you two street walking and... seriously!'", Imrie recalled.
She continued: "And we said, 'No, we're looking for a hotel'. She said, 'Get in'. And she put the flat of her hand on my head and shoved me down into this, back of her police car, you know, black and white, real flashing and everything."
Fortunately, the officer accepted their explanation after radioing through and confirming the hotel had been relocated. She told them: "But you should not be walking around, you two. This is not a safe place for you."
Imrie received a free ride in the police car to the front door of the Radisson, noting that the receptionist did not seem pleased. She later described the back seat as having a "Bakelite" feel, and when Joe joked that she had "enjoyed" the experience, she responded that she had "loved" it.
