Modern Family star Ed O'Neill on being asked for a fan photo by Britney Spears: 'No I didn’t know it was her'

The Modern Family star only realised when the post began garnering attention on Twitter

(Getty)

Britney Spears has been in the public eye for the last 17 years since she was 17-years-old. During this time she has been photographed constantly, written about endlessly and made numerous high-profile appearances on television screens.

However, despite all of this, some people apparently still fail to recognise her.

Modern Family actor Ed O’Neill told The Ellen Show he simply thought she was just another fan of the award-winning sitcom when she requested a photo with him last year.

The Finding Dory actor explained he had been sitting at LAX airport when Spears approached him and asked for a photo, telling him he was her favourite cast member. O’Neill obliged and thought nothing more of it.

That was until the next day when his manager called to say a photo of him had amassed over 5,000 likes on Twitter (that photo now has over 6,000 likes) and it was only then he found out the woman was Spears.

“No I didn’t know it was her,” the 70-year-old said to a highly amused audience. “Look at the look on my face, do I look like I’m sitting with Britney Spears?”

O’Neill said his daughter labelled him a “moron” for failing to recognise one of the most famous faces on the planet and he later called the "Oops I Did It Again" singer’s manager to apologise for the misidentification.