She has been pictured with a wealth of A list stars including Lady Gaga, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp and sometimes spends up to 12 hours a day hunting down her favourite celebrities.
And superfan Vanessa Sky Ellis’s efforts are paying dividends – she has amassed a staggering 10,000 ‘selfies’ of her with a variety of famous faces.
Legendary pop singer Cher even knows the name of the 26-year-old barmaid, who says that celeb spotting is ‘the most important thing’ in her life.
Up close with the stars: Vanessa Sky Ellis, pictured with Katy Perry, left, and Brad Pitt, right, has amassed a collection of around 10,000 pictures with celebrities
Celebrity crush: Vanessa says that her favourite picture is one featuring her with Johnny Depp who she describes as ‘beautiful’
Famous faces: Vanessa is pictured in this selfie with Bourne trilogy star Matt Damon
Starstruck: Vanessa sometimes spends up to 12 hours a day tracking down her favourite famous faces. She is pictured here with Mariah Carey
The New yorker spends time every day on the lookout for the cream of Hollywood and beyond having inherited her unusual hobby from her mother Annette, who died of a heart attack in 2007.
Vanessa said: ‘I’ve waited outside hotels for celebrities to come out for 12 hours before – but there’s no better feeling than when you meet them.
‘I’m completely obsessed – but it’s something I really enjoy.’
Before heading out in search of the rich and famous, Vanessa scans TV guides to find out which celebrities she is likely to find in her native New York.
Souvenirs: The 26-year-old New Yorker is pictured with a collection of her celebrity photos and memorabilia
Inherited hobby: Vanessa, pictured with Lady Gaga, left, and Denzel Washington, right, picked up her unusual hobby from her late mother
Star-spotting: Vanessa is pictured with actor Al Pacino. She regularly waits outside morning television studios and hotels to meet her favourite stars
Another celebrity ticked off the list: Vanessa Sky Ellis poses for a photograph with Orlando Bloom
Ready for our close up: Tom Cruise is pictured posing in sunglasses with Vanessa
Frequenting stage doors on Broadway and morning TV shows, Vanessa has managed to get up close and personal to stars such as Al Pacino, Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry and Denzel Washington.
She said: ‘Celebrities like Lady Gaga are really nice, they will stop for fans and let you take pictures with them.
‘Then you have celebrities like Bruce Willis who will never, ever stop for fans.
‘I would say I have at least ten thousand photos. In New York I can get about a hundred photos within two or three weeks.
Approachable: Vanessa says that while some A listers are friendly and happy to stop for a photograph, others will never stop for their fans. She is pictured with Mike Tyson, left, and Sharon Osbourne, right
Celeb spotting in the city: Vanessa cuddles up with actress Sarah Jessica Parker in one of her photographs
Hoping to make Friends: Vanessa smiles as she is photographed with sitcom actress and Scream star Courtney Cox
On the lookout 24 hours a day: Vanessa, who says that her father doesn’t care too much for her obsession, is pictured with Keifer Sutherland
‘Celebrities are everywhere – I’ve found them just walking down the street or even at the train station. You have to keep your open because you never know where they’re going to be.’
Despite having a catalogue of personalities to choose from, Vanessa’s all time favourite is actor Johnny Depp.
She said: ‘Johnny Depp is the most handsome man ever – he might be 50 but he’s beautiful.
‘I’ve never considered cheating on my boyfriend with a celebrity, but if you had the chance with Johnny Depp what girl wouldn’t?’
Unusual hobby: Vanessa is pictured with Jennifer Lopez, left, and Megan Fox, right
Patiently waiting: While waiting for Vanilla Ice, pictured here, Vanessa managed to spot 10 other famous faces
And it’s not only Hollywood A listers than get her attention.
She said: ‘One time I waited outside a hotel for twelve hours for Vanilla Ice. I love Vanilla Ice.
‘While I was waiting I got ten celebrities, including Mike Tyson, so at least I was getting something.’
But while Vanessa shares her passion with a small group of autograph and celebrity enthusiasts, many people see her hobby as extreme.
Glamorous: Vanessa poses with rapper LL Cool J, left, and actress Drew Barrymore, right
Superfan: Vanessa met Gwen Stefani, left, and Rita Ora, right, while out and about in New York
Nice to meet you: Vanessa grabs a quick autograph from How I Met Your Mother and American Pie actress Alyson Hannigan
She said: ‘When Cher was in town I waited for a whole week to meet her. She actually knows me by name.
‘A lot of people find what I do a little bit strange. I don’t think they understand exactly.
‘But some people live their lives in their own little jars and don’t understand anything outside of it.’
And she has no plans to give up on her hobby just yet.
Big fan: Vanessa looks delighted to be photographed with The Wanted heart-throb Max George
She said: ‘I don’t think I’ll ever stop getting celebrities.
‘My dad doesn’t care for it too much – he just wants to make sure I have a job to support myself.
‘I try to fit my work around hunting for celebrities.
‘Sometimes you just have to go with just two hours sleep, but you know what, you’re still doing what you love.’
Read more: DailyMail
Leave a reply