Uma Thurman, with her unique charm, always stands out among Hollywood's crowd of beautiful faces, capturing attention effortlessly.
But, Uma?
What was she doing here?
Maggie was baffled. She had no connection with Uma; Anson was even more confused, as he had never crossed paths with Uma at any event.
Was it because of Steven?
No, it wasn't.
Uma had purposely approached them only after Steven had walked away. Besides, if Uma wanted to be part of Steven's projects, her agent would have found a way without her having to step in personally.
Anson spoke up.
"The whole point of an awards ceremony is to constantly interrupt and be interrupted, isn't it? If someone doesn't want to be interrupted, I'm sure they could find a way."
With that, Anson quietly looked up at the sky.
Maggie and Uma instinctively looked up too, immediately understanding—
This was the Hollywood Hilton Hotel, with rooms all over the upper floors. Sneaking out of the awards ceremony to book a room for some fun was probably not a rare occurrence, whether for secret trysts or discreet meetings.
A smile crept up on their faces.
Maggie and Uma exchanged a glance, both showing a knowing expression. But when they looked at Anson, they quickly composed themselves.
Uma turned to Anson. "I just wanted to say, God, I really, really, really like your style. Not just tonight, but consistently over time. I wanted to ask, where do you usually shop? I'm trying to save Ethan's wardrobe."
Ethan Hawke, whom Uma married in 1997, had just welcomed their second child early last year.
As an indie film icon, Ethan was one of Hollywood's most handsome actors, with his rugged yet rebellious look capturing the hearts of many.
Among his filmography, the "Before Sunrise" trilogy stands out, along with "Dead Poets Society," "Boyhood," "The Purge," and "Training Day," which cemented his place in Hollywood.
In his younger days, his leather jacket and shirt combo was a striking fashion statement, but over time, his style grew increasingly sloppy and chaotic.
No wonder Uma was concerned—
After all, the seven-year itch seemed just around the corner.
However, Anson wasn't about to play marriage counselor. "Are you sure? I think Ethan has his own style."
"The dumpster style? God, I've always suspected he picks his clothes out of a trash pile," Uma retorted sharply.
Maggie added, "Aren't all men like this? My brother Jake is the same."
Anson: ??? All men?
Noticing Anson's expression, Uma burst into laughter. "That's why you're our savior, showing that it's possible. Men aren't entirely hopeless."
Anson nodded slightly. "Shh, I don't want to hurt anyone here."
Ha ha, hahaha.
Laughter ensued and couldn't be stopped.
Maggie turned to Anson, finally remembering to ask a burning question. "I've always been curious. How did you come up with this outfit?"
Once again, all eyes were on Anson.
Actually, it wasn't entirely unexpected, as this was the whole point of the plan.
But what was surprising was the effect—it exceeded all expectations by far.
Uma was only the first.
As the red carpet continued, guests kept approaching Anson, intrigued by his outfit and style.
And most of them were women.
Amid the bustle and curiosity, the question that kept popping up was:
"Who designed this suit?"
They hadn't caught Anson's answer on the red carpet, so they were now eager to hear it from him directly.
Hedi Slimane: Achoo.
What's happening? Hedi looked around, wondering if someone was talking about him behind his back.
Achoo, achoo, achoo, achoo!
He kept sneezing, unable to stop.
Hedi was bewildered. What was going on today? Achoo! Wait, could it be a cold?
Achoo!
Amid the noise and chatter, the "Anson" storm surged from the red carpet into the banquet hall, finally slowing down only as the awards ceremony was about to begin. For the moment, all eyes reluctantly turned to the stage, waiting for the ceremony to start.
"You don't look nervous at all."
Sitting to Anson's right was Cameron Diaz, one of the most famous "big-mouthed" beauties of Hollywood in the 90s.
Tonight, she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for "Gangs of New York."
At this moment, a trace of nervousness was evident on her face—
Among her fellow nominees were Kathy Bates, Susan Sarandon, and Meryl Streep, all three being Oscar-winning actresses.
It's hard not to be nervous.
Anson turned to Cameron. "Nervousness comes from anticipation. So, can I take it that you think you have a chance tonight?"
Cameron paused, glancing over at her boyfriend, Jared Leto, who was sitting on her right.
Clearly, the actor, who would later win an Oscar for "Dallas Buyers Club" and play the Joker in "Suicide Squad," wasn't paying attention to their conversation at all.
Cameron looked back at Anson. "So, you don't think you'll win?"
Anson spread his hands. "Hey, look at me. The nomination itself is a surprise."
His nonchalant "pretty face" demeanor left Cameron momentarily stunned, and before she knew it, a smile reappeared on her face.
Anson was clear-headed and not getting carried away by the Golden Globes nomination—
The nomination itself was a pleasant surprise, even a tactic by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to stir up interest and buzz.
After all, giving a topic-worthy person and film a harmless nomination to draw them to the ceremony wasn't something the Golden Globes hadn't done before. They were quite adept at creating such media spectacles.
The real intention wasn't in the award.
Tonight, Anson was that "gimmick."
One look at the seating arrangement made it clear. As a first-time nominee, Anson was placed at a prime round table. On his right sat Cameron and Jared, while on his left was Catherine Zeta-Jones. He was directly opposite the central round table where Leonardo DiCaprio was seated.
Right in front of him, a camera was positioned solely on their area.
Anson was sure he'd get plenty of screen time during the live broadcast tonight.
But Anson didn't mind—
The Golden Globes wanted to use him, and he planned to use them right back.
Judging by the current outcome, the Golden Globes had already become the backdrop for Anson's show. From the red carpet to the banquet hall, the awards ceremony dimmed in comparison, with all the buzz revolving around Anson.
So, if the Golden Globes wanted to get their pound of flesh back, Anson had no objections.
Winning the award?
Nah, he'd rather relax and enjoy the party tonight.
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