Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Tom Hanks replies to fan mail and helps woman win a bet

Just another one to add to the list of 'Great things Tom Hanks has done in 2016'

Olivia Blair
Wednesday 21 December 2016 16:25 GMT
Comments
Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks (Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

In further proof that Tom Hanks is one of the most down-to-earth and nicest celebrities around, he has now inadvertently helped a fan win a bet by replying to some fan mail.

Already this year, the actor has posed with a newly married couple while out jogging in New York's Central Park, sent a typewriter to a fan who drew sketches of him and spoken with refreshing honesty about the loneliness he endured in his childhood. His ever-growing popularity has even led to calls for him to be the next President of the United States.

Now, just as 2016 is drawing to a close, Hanks took some time out of his busy schedule to personally reply to one fan who asked for a selfie.

'Tom Hanks saved my life'

Zena Gopal, from Toronto, Canada made a bet with her friends that she would get a headshot from a celebrity the fastest. After tracking Hanks’ speedy movements when it comes to responding to fan mail, she decided the Forrest Gump actor was her best bet.

Three weeks after sending a photo of herself and a letter asking for him to take a selfie with her picture, he sent a lengthy reply and, indeed, a photo of himself holding the photo of Ms Gopal which has been uploaded by a friend of the Hanks’ fan on Imgur.

Ms Gopal told Canadian broadcaster CBC she was “totally floored” by the response and said: “It made me laugh, it really made my day. It was just really cool to see that he reads his fan mail.”

In his response, Hanks apologised for his unshaven appearance citing an upcoming role on a film for his new beard.

“Does this count as a head shot?” he wrote. “Sorry for the beard, but I have some shooting doing up and I must have whiskers. And, my headshot is not all that current, taken long ago and I’d come off vain sending along.”

He then changed the focus of his letter to Toronto where he discussed the new condo towers being built in the city before asking Ms Gopal if she was ready for the Christmas holidays.

“This Polaroid has been developing as I have been typing. The thing is scary…” he wrote, signing off. “Throw deep, always. Tom Hanks.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in