Ask Johnny Depp, not Scarlett Johansson

http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2007/12/15/2007-12-15_celebrity_autograph_seekers_ask_johnny_d.html

Celebrity autograph seekers: Ask Johnny Depp, not Scarlett Johansson
By ELIZABETH HAYS
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Sunday, December 16th 2007

Signing autographs is no laughing matter for funnyman Will Ferrell.

The "Saturday Night Live" star is panned as the rudest celebrity when it comes to signing autographs in Autograph magazine's 2007 list of "10 Best and 10 Worst Hollywood Signers."

"Spider-Man" star Tobey Maguire, who is mild-mannered and helpful in the movies, is almost as bad, according to the mag, coming in a close second.

"Tobey has a bit of an attitude, but he will sign," said Lon Strickler, 49, a Baltimore autograph collector. "But Will Ferrell, I don't know what his problem is. He just tries to ignore people."

Meanwhile, for the third year in a row, Johnny Depp was voted the most gracious and approachable celebrity when fans ask for autographs.

New York autograph dealer Anthony Risi told Autograph the soft-spoken Depp "likes to talk to fans and get to know them while signing."

"He'll sign more than one item when he has time, too," he said.

The list is based on rankings from autograph collectors in New York, California and Europe.

Maybe there is still hope for Ferrell and Maguire for next year. Russell Crowe, who is known for his foul temper and ranked among the worst signers last year, managed to change his ways and this year made the top 10 list.

"At one time he was terrible, but I saw him a couple of months ago and he was taking pictures with fans and everything," Strickler said. "Someone must have said something."

Nicest

1. Johnny Depp
2. Matt Damon
3. George Clooney
4. Jack Nicholson
5. Rosario Dawson
6. John Travolta
7. Katherine Heigl
8. Jay Leno
9. Dakota Fanning
10. Russell Crowe

Nastiest

1. Will Ferrell
2. Tobey Maguire
3. Joaquin Phoenix
4. William Shatner
5. Renée Zellweger
6. John Malkovich
7. Julie Andrews
8. Bruce Willis
9. Teri Hatcher
10. Scarlett Johansson

ehays@nydailynews.com