Dominic West recalled his awkward first encounter with the Spice Girls when he starred in their hit movie in 1997, on Friday.
The actor, 54, starred as a photographer in Spice World because he 'really wanted to meet the group' - but not in the way it turned out.
Dominic recalled the embarrassing story while chatting with hosts Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond on This Morning.
The Crown star said he was having a 'quick nap on a sofa' when he woke up to Victoria Beckham, Mel B, Mel C, Geri Halliwell and Emma Bunton looking at him.
Speaking about his filming days on set of Spice World, he said: 'I had been to a big weekend in Ibiza, and I thought I’d have a quick kip and I woke up during a script meeting and they [Spice Girls] were all looking at me like "who’s this twit".'
![Dominic West, 54, recalled his awkward first encounter with the Spice Girls when he starred in their hit movie in 1997, on Friday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/24/13/85295969-13456167-image-a-116_1716554020469.jpg)
Dominic West, 54, recalled his awkward first encounter with the Spice Girls when he starred in their hit movie in 1997, on Friday
![The Crown star said he was having a 'quick nap on a sofa' when he woke up to Victoria Beckham, Mel B, Mel C, Geri Halliwell and Emma Bunton looking at him (all pictured in 1997)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/24/13/85295971-13456167-image-m-118_1716554029127.jpg)
The Crown star said he was having a 'quick nap on a sofa' when he woke up to Victoria Beckham, Mel B, Mel C, Geri Halliwell and Emma Bunton looking at him (all pictured in 1997)
![The actor starred as a photographer (pictured) in Spice World because he 'really wanted to meet the group' - but not in the way it turned out](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/24/14/85298345-13456167-The_actor_starred_as_a_photographer_pictured_in_Spice_World_beca-m-19_1716557334890.jpg)
The actor starred as a photographer (pictured) in Spice World because he 'really wanted to meet the group' - but not in the way it turned out
Alison, who joked he was a 'sleazy' photographer in the movie, asked Dominic the real reason he wanted to star in Spice World.
Dominic said: 'I wasn’t sleazy! I was terrified and they were at the height of their fame, and I was dying to meet them.'
Alison added: 'Is that the only reason you did it?'
Dominic responded: 'Yes I was dying to meet them.'
It comes after Dominic revealed that his kiss scandal with Lily James was 'deeply stressful' for his wife Catherine Fitzgerald, as he shared her reaction to the snaps for the first time.
In October 2020, co-stars Lily and married Dominic were caught enjoying what appeared to be a racy weekend in Rome - which made headlines around the world.
Following the snaps emerging, the actor put on a public display of unity with his wife, with the couple releasing a statement about their marriage saying they were 'very much still together'.
Catherine was also said at the time to have banned Dominic from speaking with the actress, 35, as part of a peace deal struck between the couple.
![Dominic recalled the embarrassing story while chatting with hosts Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond on This Morning](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/24/13/85296235-13456167-image-a-121_1716554352233.jpg)
Dominic recalled the embarrassing story while chatting with hosts Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond on This Morning
![Speaking about his filming days on set of Spice World, he said: 'I had been to a big weekend in Ibiza, and I thought I¿d have a quick kip and I woke up during a script meeting and they [Spice Girls] were all looking at me like "who¿s this twit"](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/24/13/85296233-13456167-image-a-122_1716554354174.jpg)
Speaking about his filming days on set of Spice World, he said: 'I had been to a big weekend in Ibiza, and I thought I’d have a quick kip and I woke up during a script meeting and they [Spice Girls] were all looking at me like "who’s this twit"
![Mel C, Emma, Mel B, Victoria and Geri pictured in 1997 at the 50th Cannes Film Festival](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/24/13/85296201-13456167-Mel_C_Emma_Mel_B_Victoria_and_Geri_pictured_in_1997_at_the_50th_-a-120_1716554328258.jpg)
Mel C, Emma, Mel B, Victoria and Geri pictured in 1997 at the 50th Cannes Film Festival
![Alison, who joked he was a 'sleazy' photographer in the movie, asked Dominic the real reason he wanted to star in Spice World](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/24/13/85296237-13456167-image-a-123_1716554394996.jpg)
Alison, who joked he was a 'sleazy' photographer in the movie, asked Dominic the real reason he wanted to star in Spice World
![Dominic said: 'I wasn¿t sleazy! I was terrified and they were at the height of their fame, and I was dying to meet them'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/24/13/85296251-13456167-image-a-124_1716554400065.jpg)
Dominic said: 'I wasn’t sleazy! I was terrified and they were at the height of their fame, and I was dying to meet them'
Speaking to The Sunday Times' Culture Magazine, Dominic said: 'I hesitate to speak on my wife's behalf because it was obviously horrible, particularly for her.'
'But we do joke about it sometimes... It was an absurd situation. It was deeply stressful for my wife and my kids, but there were lighter moments. That was the best that came out of it, really.'
Dominic surprised onlookers when he was pictured passionately embracing actress Lily during a romantic, mid-pandemic break in Rome back in 2020, shortly after international travel restrictions were lifted.
The couple didn't seem to mind who saw them as they cuddled up to one another and shared a ride on a scooter while taking in the sights throughout the day.
At the time he was still married to Catherine - and no split had been publicly announced - but he was not wearing his wedding ring.
A source told MailOnline that the pair spent two nights in a suite at the top Hotel De La Ville with a panoramic view over the whole city and just at two minutes walk from the Spanish steps.
They only left the hotel for a few hours riding an electric scooter around the Spanish Steps and Piazza di Pietra, before joining their friend and mutual manager Angharad Wood at a downtown restaurant.
As paparazzi photographers lurked, Lily sat next to Dominic and he couldn't resist kissing her neck and stroking her.
![It comes after Dominic revealed that his kiss scandal with Lily James was 'deeply stressful' for his wife Catherine Fitzgerald, as he shared her reaction to the snaps for the first time](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/24/14/83936395-13456167-image-a-2_1716555606358.jpg)
It comes after Dominic revealed that his kiss scandal with Lily James was 'deeply stressful' for his wife Catherine Fitzgerald, as he shared her reaction to the snaps for the first time
They were preparing to star in Emily Mortimer's adaptation of Nancy Mitford's celebrated novel The Pursuit Of Love for the BBC and filming began that July - three months before their surprise holiday.
But the pair go way back and starred in Othello together at Sheffield's Crucible back in 2011. Lily played Desdemona when she was aged 22 and Dominic played Iago aged 41.
After pictures of them finally emerged, the versatile actor gave waiting reporters a surprisingly wooden performance as they gathered outside the sprawling Cotswolds home he shares with a bewildered looking FitzGerald and their children.