Meeting President Obama in the flesh would be a nerve-wracking experience for even the most self-assured person.
While many would become tongue-tied in front of the 44th President of the United States, Charlize Theron found herself over-compensating for awkward silences when she was ushered to meet him backstage at the Jimmy Kimmel Live show.
The Mad Max actress said Obama was explaining how much he enjoyed appearing on a programme where he could reach a “younger demographic” when a pause sparked a rather inappropriate suggestion from Theron.
Recalling the incident for a second appearance on Jimmy Kimmel, she said: "There was this pause, and I didn't know what to say. All I could come up with was, 'Well, if you're looking for a different demographic, I can take you to a strip club.'"
Luckily for a mortified Theron, Obama was "nothing but lovely" about her gaffe - not that it made her feel any better. "Then I couldn’t sleep for four weeks because every time I close my eyes I went ‘Oh my God I said that! Oh my God why did I say that?!”
Obama was himself starstruck (but much better behaved) when he met Sir David Attenborough at the White House, proving that even the most powerful man in the world can be reduced to a gushing fan when faced with one of his idols.
