Hollywood stars Kirsten Dunst, Benedict Cumberbatch and Jesse Plemmons joined the sold-out crowd at Kiwi jazz musician Nathan Haines' gig at a Ponsonby hotspot on Saturday night.
Ponsonby Social Club owner Bobby Mukai told Newshub the A-listers showed up at about 9.30pm after enjoying a few drinks at local wine bar Annabelle's down the road.
The actors are in New Zealand while they're filming Jane Campion's Power of the Dog.
Mukai said Cumberbatch had been personally invited by Haines to the gig as the pair had "become friends somewhere along the way". Dunst and Plemmons were tipped off to join by the film crew, who Mukai says are regulars at Ponsonby Social Club.
"It was fun, so great having them there," Mukai said. In his conversations with them, the bar owner said the celebrities gave "props to Jacinda" and said they felt lucky to be in Aotearoa during the COVID-19 pandemic, telling him "your Prime Minister is amazing, you guys are great".
The famous trio was served "top shelf stuff" on the house, including some Japanese whiskey and tequila that would cost your average punter around $20 a glass.
"We made sure we looked after them... got them a few good drinks."
Mukai said Cumberbatch, Dunst and Plemmons mingled with the public and took some photos, but many of the patrons "didn't realise who they were" as the bar was so busy. The celebrities moved to a more private area later on, where they caught up with Haines and his band before heading back out into the night.
