The overseas promotional tour for American Sniper began in Sydney. With the film's explosive box office success in North America, Warner Bros. organized a grand premiere in Australia to capitalize on its momentum.
Global premieres often followed similar routines, serving primarily as a means of publicity.
For the Australian leg, the studio amplified Margot Robbie's presence. As an Australian actress, she had a natural advantage in attracting local audiences. Additionally, Warner Bros. invited Nicole Kidman to lend her star power to the premiere.
It had been years since Matthew last saw Nicole Kidman in person. Once a stunning icon of Australian beauty, she could not escape the ravages of time.
However, modern science offered aging beauties many options.
Matthew noted that Nicole's face bore no visible wrinkles, as though she were still in her twenties.
Of course, this was an illusion—Nicole struggled to even smile naturally.
"How terrifying," Matthew muttered to himself after exchanging a few polite words with Nicole. He stepped aside and whispered, "Is it really worth it, not even being able to make a proper expression?"
Margot Robbie happened to approach him just then and asked, "What are you mumbling about?"
Matthew glanced at Margot, who was in her prime as a woman in her early twenties, and asked in a low voice, "Would a woman go to any lengths to preserve her youth and beauty?"
Margot thought for a moment before nodding slowly. "Probably. I can't bear to imagine what I'll look like when I'm older."
Matthew couldn't help but glance at Nicole Kidman again. She had once been his goddess, someone he had fantasized about. But now, in her bid to retain her youth, she had opted for a frozen, zombie-like face.
Noticing Matthew's gaze, Margot also glanced at Nicole and commented, "That's not a good choice."
Matthew smiled faintly but didn't elaborate. A woman in her twenties likely couldn't comprehend the fear someone like Nicole felt as she aged. Perhaps Margot's views would shift dramatically when she reached that stage of life.
Australia's sunny Gold Coast was a breeding ground for Hollywood actresses. Luminaries like Nicole Kidman and Naomi Watts hailed from this region.
While Margot Robbie's beauty didn't quite surpass Nicole's in her youth, her personality was undeniably more pleasant.
On the way to the screening room, Nicole approached Matthew again, expressing her desire to collaborate with him someday.
Matthew responded vaguely, but seeing Nicole's face made him reflect. Maybe there was a certain beauty in aging naturally.
The fleeting nature of youth, the inevitability of aging—growth and decay were part of the natural order. Despite makeup, skincare, or cosmetic surgery, aging was merely a matter of time. Life demanded trade-offs: the wisdom and experience granted by the years inevitably came at the cost of one's appearance.
Matthew recalled reading about a woman who spent forty years refraining from smiling or frowning to avoid wrinkles. The absurdity of such self-restraint made him chuckle.
That said, Botox and cosmetic procedures were often unavoidable for Hollywood actresses. Competition among women in the industry was fierce, with countless younger talents waiting in the wings. Nicole Kidman, for example, had a family to support.
What? Nicole Kidman's family was one of Australia's largest landowners? That was a myth. While they shared the Kidman surname, they weren't directly related. Nicole herself had publicly debunked the rumor in interviews.
The Australian premiere of American Sniper was a resounding success. As one of the Five Eyes countries, Australia often aligned closely with the US, including participating in American-led wars in the Middle East. The cultural and political bond bolstered the film's appeal.
In just three days, the movie grossed $7.25 million in Australia.
On Monday, Helen Herman arrived in Sydney with representatives from Vogue magazine. Matthew participated in an exclusive interview orchestrated by Armani, Rolex, and Warner Bros. to further promote the film.
Since it was American Sniper's promotional period, the interview would be featured in Vogue issues across the US and Europe.
Although Vogue was a prestigious publication, it still deferred to Matthew as a superstar.
To accommodate the interview, Vogue's US editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, even traveled to Australia with Helen Herman. The so-called "Devil Wears Prada" agreed to all of Matthew's reasonable demands.
On the day of the interview, Matthew wore a tailored Armani suit and a Rolex watch while posing for cover photos. The photoshoot alone took two hours.
By comparison, the actual interview lasted less than an hour.
"You didn't make things difficult for Vogue, did you?" Helen asked Matthew on their way back to the hotel. "They ran all their questions by me beforehand."
Reclining in his seat, Matthew spread his hands and replied, "Do I look like someone who gives people a hard time on purpose?"
Helen gave him a pointed look. "The fashion crowd can be eccentric. I was worried you might flip the table on them."
Matthew understood her concerns. "Relax."
Everyone in the industry knew he wasn't someone to mess with. That reputation wasn't just talk; it had been earned through countless incidents.
Traffic was heavy, and the car moved slowly. Helen glanced at the gridlocked streets outside before suddenly asking, "Have you made any progress with Margot Robbie?"
Matthew shot her a puzzled look. "What progress?" Then, realizing her implication, he shook his head. "Margot's not interested in me. She's turned me down clearly a few times, so I've backed off for now."
"That's because you lack sincerity," Helen said bluntly.
"Sincerity?" Matthew rubbed his forehead. "Helen, are you suggesting I pursue her as a girlfriend or fiancée?"
He shook his head. "That's not happening."
Helen withdrew her gaze and said, "If you don't show sincerity, how can you expect reciprocation?"
Matthew didn't respond, unwilling to continue the conversation.
It was true that Margot's actions during the shooting range incident had impressed him. Her straightforward personality and remark about "a scumbag matching a scumbag" had struck a chord with him.
But he had ultimately decided to let it go, choosing not to pursue Margot further.
For reasons he couldn't explain, the image of Abby Hornacek suddenly popped into his mind. A thought followed, unbidden: When I'm back in LA, I should visit USC.
"Why so quiet?" Helen asked.
Matthew turned to her, recognizing her as one of the few people he could trust completely.
"Helen, can I trust you?" he asked softly.
She didn't reply immediately but met his gaze steadily.
"Right, that was a stupid question," Matthew admitted. "If I couldn't trust you, I'd be living a pretty miserable life."
After a pause, he added, "I've realized something. Whenever I see a beautiful young woman, I can't help but think about seducing her."
Helen raised an eyebrow. "And this is news? Haven't you always been like that?"
Matthew opened his mouth but said nothing.
The awkward silence was palpable, but he quickly recovered, his thick skin helping him shrug it off. "You misunderstand me. It's worse now. I feel like I'm losing control. If this keeps up, I might turn into another Harvey Weinstein."
Helen, understanding his concern, thought for a moment and then replied calmly, "Matthew, this sounds like the early stages of sex addiction."
"Are you sure?" Matthew frowned.
"Pretty much," she said nonchalantly. "Years of chaotic personal life have probably altered both your body and mind, making certain behaviors almost reflexive. Even if you tell yourself to stop, it's hard to suppress."
Matthew recalled his encounter with Abby and murmured, "It does feel that way."
"See a therapist," Helen advised in a typical Western fashion.
Talking to Helen was one thing, but admitting this issue to someone else was another. Matthew dismissed the idea. "It's not that serious."
Helen, unfazed by his denial, replied, "It'll only get worse."
Matthew scratched his head. "Is there another solution?"
"Sure," Helen said in her usual tone. "Settle down. Stay single for a while, or find a long-term partner."
She added, "That would also help with our plans."
Matthew fell silent. Over the past six months, he'd enjoyed fleeting moments of fun with people like Elizabeth Olsen but had never considered changing his ways.
Why change, he wondered, when he'd stuck to his principles for so long?
Helen glanced at him but said no more. She knew how difficult it would be for someone like Matthew, accustomed to a hedonistic lifestyle, to make a drastic change without a major upheaval.
Though Margot had jokingly called herself a "scumbag," she was far better than many women in the industry. For someone like Matthew, perhaps only a true "scumbag" would be a fitting match.
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