From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Suddenly, their eyes met.

Scarlett thought she had prepared herself, but her heart still skipped a beat unexpectedly. This time, however, she didn't panic or run away, but instead became lost in those heartbreakingly blue eyes.

Thump.

The sound of her heartbeat was like a thunderclap, resonating against her eardrums.

Then.

Scarlett saw herself in those eyes, and memories of their previous encounters flooded her mind, making her feel somewhat embarrassed.

"Ah."

With a soft sigh, tinged with annoyance and a hint of melancholy, Scarlett couldn't help but let the corners of her lips turn up, giving a self-deprecating chuckle.

"Don't I look especially foolish right now?"

Anson raised an eyebrow slightly, "Foolish? Why?"

Scarlett, "Like a little girl, standing in front of a boy, all flustered."

Anson, "Why would a girl be flustered in front of a boy?"

Scarlett, "Because…" Because of a stirring of the heart.

The words were already on the tip of her tongue, but this time, Scarlett reacted in time, slamming on the brakes and regaining control. When she looked at Anson again, reason slowly returned, and a hint of slyness appeared in her eyes.

"Because girls can't stand boys' immaturity and foolishness."

Anson gently raised his chin, "Wasn't that a bit of a sharp turn?"

He saw right through Scarlett, but this time she didn't avoid it. She cleared her throat, raised her head, and puffed out her chest, "Haven't you ever seen a girl throwing a tantrum?"

Anson looked serious, "I've heard rumors."

His earnest expression made Scarlett's cheeks flush slightly, but she didn't show it. "You can't be like this. What happened to the promised 'dream lover'? If you don't understand girls, how can you become a heartthrob?"

Anson blinked, "Isn't it because of my face? Who cares about personality or consideration."

Anson: ???

Wait a minute, I suspect you're driving!

Scarlett, bathed in Anson's gaze, felt a little shy. She cleared her throat, averted her eyes, and looked at the clouds on the horizon, as if she didn't understand the meaning of Anson's gaze at all.

Fortunately, Anson didn't press the issue, but instead gave Scarlett a meaningful look before changing the subject, "So, is this your concern?"

Scarlett turned to look at Anson, questioning him with her eyes.

Anson explained, "Worried that people will ignore your performance because of your appearance, or even misunderstand and be prejudiced against you?"

Scarlett understood and retorted, "Aren't you worried?"

"No." Anson replied without a second's hesitation, which surprised Scarlett.

Anson noticed and smiled, "I can't say I haven't considered it at all, but I don't think it's a problem I need to worry about right now."

Scarlett, "Are you sure? 'Spider-Man' is still playing in theaters."

"Haha." Anson spread his hands, "That's a good thing. At the same time, this is just the first successful step. There's still some time before I reach the bottleneck where people ignore my strength because of my appearance."

Scarlett was puzzled—

The "pretty boy" image was now a label that Anson had to face. The most direct evidence was "Elephant", just an independent film, but the media made a fuss about mocking Anson's attempt to change his image. If they didn't recognize Anson's pretty boy image, the reaction wouldn't have been so strong.

Moreover, Scarlett didn't believe that Anson, with his intelligence, wouldn't have noticed.

At this time, Anson realized that the root of Scarlett and Brian's conflict should lie here.

Either Brian had a favorite actress, and Scarlett stole the role; or Brian had more expectations for Scarlett's performance; or other reasons led to the unpleasant cooperation between the two, and made Scarlett doubt her identity as an actress.

Anson didn't rush to speak, but thought carefully.

"Standing under the spotlight, everyone has their own labels and issues."

"Because the image presented to the public as a public figure is inevitably a side view, a cross-section, unable to fully show oneself. Over time, these images will become a stereotype that chokes the throat, a shackle that everyone tries their best but may not be able to get rid of."

"No one is an exception."

Scarlett asked softly, "Everyone?"

Anson nodded, "Everyone."

How should I explain it?

Anson looked at Scarlett, "Have you seen 'What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?'?"

Scarlett, "Of course."

This thriller about the bloody story of two sisters entangled and hating each other is undoubtedly a classic in film history. When it was released in 1962, it caused a sensation. The real success was not in winning five Oscar nominations, but in becoming a hot topic in the streets and alleys that year.

"What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" starred two legendary actresses, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.

In real life, they were natural enemies who didn't hide or compromise, and even openly confronted each other at award ceremonies. Not only Hollywood, but the general public also knew about their irreconcilable feud.

However, because their careers both fell into a trough, after struggling and repeating, they joined forces to cooperate in this film. The fundamental reason was that the relationship between the two sisters in the script, who loved and killed each other, was a complete reflection of their real relationship. The director also broke the fourth wall and allowed the off-screen contradictions to penetrate into the film, making it impossible to distinguish between true and false, virtual and real.

After the film was released, it caused a sensation.

Later, in 2017, a series "Feud" focused on the behind-the-scenes of the filming of "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?", presenting the grievances between these two legendary actresses.

It is still a legend to this day.

Scarlett didn't expect Anson to mention this movie at this time, "What, are you also gossiping about the drama between the two actresses?"

"Hehe." Anson spread his hands, "Is that really my image in your eyes?"

Scarlett hid a smile in her eyes, "Who knows, you can know a person's face but not their heart. In Hollywood, everyone wears a mask, and no one can know the truth."

Anson looked over, "Including you?"

Originally, I thought Scarlett would deny it or refute it, but I didn't expect her to just look at Anson quietly.

This time, Anson was defeated.

"No, not those rumors and gossip." Anson brought the topic back again, "I'm talking about these two actresses."

"They are undoubtedly legends, with an important place in the history of film. Whether it's personal image or classic works, they are all countless."

"However, when filming 'What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?', they both entered the later stages of their careers, facing the labels and issues on their own bodies."

So, Anson just answered Scarlett's question—

No one is an exception.

This is the Vanity Fair, this is Hollywood, whether it is before the Internet age or after the Internet age, every actor and even every public figure needs to face the dilemma.

Scarlett immediately understood.

Anson looked at Scarlett, "Just like you."

Scarlett also nodded lightly, "Just like me."