Comedian Armando Iannucci got past security guards at the US State department in Washington with a pass which “could have been produced by a child”, in what he described as “probably international espionage”.
The identification he had with him was an amateurish BBC pass with his face show by a print out of a picture of him from the internet Photo: PAUL GROVER
Mr Iannucci was researching his latest film, the US-British political drama ‘In the Loop’, when he visited the department’s headquarters in the Foggy Bottom neighbourhood of the US political capital.
The identification he had with him was an amateurish BBC pass with his face show by a print out of a picture of him from the internet.
He flashed the card at the guards in the main reception of the building, said he had an appointment and was waved through.
The comedian then spent an hour walking around the building taking photographs, which were later used to help with the set designs for the film.
The writer, who also created political satire-cum-farce The Thick Of It for BBC4, said: “I had a terrible, amateur BBC identity pass, with basically my face printed off Google and my name under it.
“A child could have produced it in 20 seconds. I wandered up to the front reception of the State department and said ‘BBC. I’m here for the 12. 30.’
“They showed me in. I spent an hour wandering round the building with my camera taking photos for our designer.
“Part of me thought it was fun, another part thought it was probably international espionage.”
Last Updated: 10:28AM BST 08 May 2009
Source: The Telegraph