From Blackpool to Hollywood- local lad tells how he kissed Madonna and rubbed shoulders with other A-listers

He's kissed Madonna and head-butted Tom Cruise - for real.
Sandro Monetti with Hollywood superstar Margot RobbieSandro Monetti with Hollywood superstar Margot Robbie
Sandro Monetti with Hollywood superstar Margot Robbie

Now a man who started his career as a cub reporter in Blackpool is sharing the secrets of Tinseltown in his new book.

Show business journalist Sandro Monetti, has penned his tell-all autobiography of life following A-Listers around Hollywood for the past 20 years- but he says it is all in good fun.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Educated at the former Arnold School in Blackpool, Sandro started his career as a reporter on the Blackpool Gazette after graduating from the journalism course at the University of Central Lancashire in 1987.

Confessions of a Hollywood Insider author Sandro worked his way up the ladder, leaving Lancashire for a spell as a columnist on Smash Hits magazine before becoming a showbiz correspondent on the Daily Star and TV correspondent for the News of the World.

He then moved to America, first with Sky TV for four years and later as a correspondent for Express Newspapers. He also contributed to BBC radio and various TV shows.

Sandro added:" Hollywood movies and TV shows had been a huge influence on me growing up and I always knew I wanted to live in LA and work as a showbiz reporter there interviewing stars and now I do."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Of his book Sandro said: " I’m sharing unique stories of my amusing encounters with more than 100 members of the A-list.

"You’ll find out what the biggest names in the world are really like. From Sylvester Stallone to Meryl Streep, Donald Trump to Princess Diana, and Brad Pitt to Britney Spears there’s funny stories about all the most famous celebrities."

He has won many awards over the years and credits much of his success to his humble beginnings and said: "It wouldn’t have been possible without a solid journalism background in Britain and the first step in the journey to dreamland was taken at UCLan.

"The NCTJ course, taught at Preston, was recognised as the best entry to the journalism industry.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I had lots of laughs amid all the hard work. I remember the hours of learning shorthand and the good tuition.

"They were happy times and I have such golden memories."

Sandro has previously written books about his favourite movie stars, Mickey Rourke: Wrestling with Demons and Colin Firth: The Man Who Would Be King.

He is on the board of directors of BAFTA Los Angeles and after a break to write his previous books he returned to his passion to become managing editor of the Los Angeles Business Journal and editor in chief of Hollywood international Filmmaker Magazine.

For the last five years he has been a regular on CNN International as a showbiz expert and has appeared on a string of TV shows.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

More recently he has started making entertainment content and is President of acquisition and development at Big Screen Entertainment Group. He was recently voted best radio host in Southern California for his podcast, Who’s the Best?

He has also received humanitarian awards from the White House, United Nations and Buckingham Palace for his work on mentoring, inspiring equality, diversity, human rights and other causes.

Confessions of a Hollywood Insider is out now in paperback, e-book and Kindle.