- Christmas is upon us – and with the season of goodwill comes some weird and wonderful gifts
- And it’s reassuring to know that just like us, celebrities have also sometimes been at a loss for what to do when they are given a dodgy present
- 10 stars reveal the best and worst gifts they have ever been given – or have given themselves…
The season of goodwill is upon us… unless, of course, you receive a dodgy Christmas present.
We’ve all been there – you spend the whole of December picking out thoughtful gifts for your loved ones, only to receive a pair of novelty socks in return.
While you may think it’s just us mere mortals who have to practice our best ‘filled with gratitude’ faces, it’s reassuring to hear that celebrities often find themselves in the same predicament.
And although it must be tricky to buy for the person who has everything, these stars have revealed some truly, erm, unique presents they have received in the past.
Read on to find out the best and worst presents these 10 stars have ever been given – or given to other people…
Claire Foy
She may have played Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown, but Claire Foy was truly humbled one year… when she received a new shirt from her dad.
“I got the worst present of all time,” the actor, 40, revealed. “A jumper with a faux attached AIRTEX polo shirt. From Costco.”
Matt Smith
By contrast, her The Crown co-star Matt Smith loves to receive clothing.
The actor, 42 – who played Prince Philip in the hit Netflix show – admitted, “I always like a good pair of comfy trousers. Tracksuit bottoms. Oh, and I like a nice pair of socks.”
Allison Janney
From the mundane to the downright creepy – we think that Allison Janney wins weirdest gift of the holidays.
“My friend Steven Rogers, who wrote I, Tonya, has a Christmas party every year where you have to bring the worst gift you’ve ever gotten – it’s a re-gift party,” explained the Oscar winner, 65. “So there have been so many [bad gifts] that I’ve gotten.
“Once, I got a wine caddy that was sort of like a Victorian doll. You put the wine bottle in the cavity of the doll and then you put the head back on. It was just a very odd-looking, creepy thing.”
*Shudders*. But if you thought that was strange…
Emma Thompson
…then you should hear about what Emma Thompson received one year.
As millions tune in for their annual holiday viewing of Love Actually to see her not receive the gold necklace from on-screen husband Alan Rickman, Thompson’s real-life gift one year was sort of much worse than finding out her other half was having an affair.
“The worst gift I ever received was from my old Aunt Mill, who sent me a half-eaten candy bar at Christmastime,” Thompson, 65, admitted. Yum.
Zac Efron
You can’t really go wrong with knitwear in the winter.
But Zac Efron, 37, did have a fair point when he criticized one gift.
“I just got a scarf,” he said. “I live in California.” Toasty…
Lily James
Cinderella may have eventually gone to the ball – and it sounds like Lily James’ real life is also a party!
“I once had one of those bar dispensers that you put a vodka bottle in,” the actor, 35, laughed. “That was fun for my entire family!”
Zendaya
Family members can buy you the most random gifts.
But when you’re a grandma, you can get away with anything – and your grandchildren may even enjoy it, as Zendaya admitted about one present.
“My gran bought me a pillowcase with me and my cousins printed on it, which was pretty cute,” the Dune star, 28, smiled.
Luke Evans
And then there’s the minefield of keeping the gift-giver happy when you may be less than impressed with your present.
It’s a good job he’s an actor, because Luke Evans found himself in this exact pickle with his mother.
“The worst gift I ever received was a china frog that my mum got at a car boot sale,” the Beauty and the Beast star, 45, said. “I still have to get it out when she comes to the house and put it away when she leaves!”
Elle Fanning
In a bizarre twist, Elle Fanning says she received a very practical gift one year – except it was totally useless to her.
“I once received contact [lens] solution,” The Great actor, 26, shrugged. “My sister [fellow actor Dakota, 30] and I talk about this all the time – we were really young girls and it was Christmas and one of our relatives gave us contact solution.
“Neither of us had contacts or wore glasses.”
Hugh Jackman
And finally, the worst celebrity present giver award has to go to Hugh Jackman.
The Aussie, 56, may be known as one of the most charming men in Hollywood – but perhaps not in the eyes of his sister.
“The worst one I gave was to my sister, and it was deodorant,” Jackman cringed. “I thought I’d really stepped up. She was furious with me, [shouting] ‘How dare you!’. I had no idea what was going on.”
Smells like it was a hit…
