Chapter 306: Mindset

Chapter 306: Chapter 306: Mindset

"You don’t understand the preferences of the Oscar judges," Shelly smiled, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness. "The core group of Oscar judges consists mostly of older, relatively traditional white men. They love to see a certain kind of drama: the ’destructive’ nature of a blonde beauty born for the cinema."

"In the movie, Nicole disfigured herself, shedding her halo to play a marginal character. Outside the movie, she ’lost’ the perfect marriage that outsiders envied. This ’double sense of brokenness’ is exactly what can trigger the judges’ sympathy, making them feel she has sacrificed too much for art and her career, thus leading them to cast their votes for her."

"I see." Irene realized, and then couldn’t help but shudder.

To be so calculating for an Oscar statuette, even going as far as to gamble with her private life—this kind of operation was truly beyond her understanding.

She looked down at the simple suit she was wearing and was suddenly incredibly grateful. "Fortunately, I didn’t choose to be an actress. I couldn’t handle a life of scheming for awards and even having to sacrifice oneself."

Hearing this, a hint of a smile flashed in Shelly’s eyes. His tone was gentle but carried a touch of reality. "Actually, you don’t need to be so resistant. If you aren’t obsessed with that Oscar statuette, with your family background, the halo of the Coppola Family, plus your own talent and current achievements, you can live very comfortably in Hollywood without getting involved in these convoluted struggles."

He pointed to the filmmakers in the banquet hall who were exchanging pleasantries on the surface but each had their own hidden agendas. "Those who fight desperately to climb up and use any means necessary for an award are either from ordinary backgrounds and need the award to prove themselves, or they are already at the top but still want to consolidate their status."

"You’re different. You’ve had the resources others dream of from the start, and you’ve carved out a place for yourself with your own abilities. To you, an Oscar is more like an honor that adds luster, rather than a life-saving straw you must grasp."

Irene nodded in silence. Shelly’s words were right. The reason she could face the pressure of the Oscar race so calmly and refuse those meaningless social engagements and hype was precisely because she had never made the Oscar statuette her only goal.

What she wanted was to film more movies she liked and build her own film empire. The Oscar was just one of the sights she might encounter along that road.

Just then, a small commotion occurred at the entrance of the banquet hall. Nicole Kidman, accompanied by her agent, slowly walked toward the center of the crowd.

Her face wore a perfectly measured sadness, yet her eyes revealed a hint of imperceptible determination. Every smile and every nod seemed to turn into a meticulously designed act in the eyes of the crowd.

The surrounding guests stepped forward to offer comfort, their words full of sympathy, while their subtle gazes hid an investigation and amusement regarding this ’divorce drama.’

Irene watched this scene and shook her head gently. She turned to Shelly and said, "Let’s go over there and say hello to the judges. We’ll just do our best and leave the rest to fate."

---

Irene was standing by the champagne tower talking to several Academy judges. The topic ranged from the realism of the boxing scenes in Million Dollar Baby to the emotional core of the character Maggie.

"What I want to show isn’t the thrill of a comeback, but the persistence of dignity by ordinary people in desperate situations." Her few words made several older judges nod repeatedly.

Just then, soft footsteps came from behind. Hilary Swank, dressed in a light blue gown, walked over.

Her makeup was simple and elegant, her long hair neatly tied back, and she wore a gentle, appropriate smile as she stood side-by-side with Shelly.

Shelly had obviously already informed her of Nicole Kidman’s maneuvers, but there wasn’t a trace of the anxiety or vigilance in Hilary’s expression that Irene had expected. She remained as transparent and open as ever, as if the external turmoil had nothing to do with her.

"Hello, esteemed judges." Hilary’s voice was warm as she nodded slightly in greeting. When her gaze fell on Irene, there was a hint of familiar warmth in her smile. "Irene, I’m so glad to see you here."

Irene responded with a smile, "Hilary, you look great today." Several judges also greeted Hilary, and the conversation naturally turned to her performance in the film. Someone praised her for portraying Maggie’s resilience and vulnerability vividly. Hilary only responded modestly, "It’s because the script was so good, and Irene gave me enough creative space."

After some small talk, the two took the opportunity of getting food to walk to a relatively quiet area in the corner of the banquet hall.

"I didn’t expect Nicole to do that." Irene spoke first, her tone carrying a hint of emotion. She didn’t directly use the word ’hype,’ but she expressed her complex view on the matter.

Hilary sighed softly, a trace of melancholy flickering in her eyes. "Actually, it’s quite heartbreaking. Marriage is the most private matter. Regardless of the outcome, it should be respected. But now it has become a bargaining chip for an award, discussed and speculated upon by everyone. For a woman, this in itself is a kind of injury. It’s not easy for actresses in Hollywood, especially at a certain stage. To break through a bottleneck, it seems they can only prove themselves through ’self-destruction’ or ’sacrifice,’ where even privacy becomes an involuntary tool."

Her tone was calm, without complaint or accusation, more of a sense of helplessness and empathy from seeing through the ways of the world.

Irene looked at her. "Then... are you worried?" Irene hesitated for a moment before asking the question in her heart. "If you don’t end up winning Best Actress, will you feel disappointed?"

Hearing this, Hilary smiled, and her gaze became exceptionally clear. "There will definitely be disappointment. After all, I’ve put in so much effort and have expectations for this award. But as for being obsessed, I really am not." She looked up at the flickering lights in the distance, her tone carrying a sense of relief. "I’ve won an Oscar for Best Actress before. I’ve experienced that feeling of standing at the peak, so the magic of that Oscar statuette has already faded for me. It’s an honor, a recognition, but it’s not everything in life."

She turned to Irene with a sincere gaze. "And to be honest, Nicole’s performance in The Hours was indeed outstanding, and the effort she put into that role deserves recognition. Even if the award ends up in her hands, I’ll be genuinely happy for her. For me, being able to encounter a character like Maggie and showing the power of women to more people through this movie is already the greatest reward."

Irene listened quietly, a sense of inexplicable admiration rising in her heart.

The Hilary before her had shed the halo of an actress and lacked any sense of utilitarianism. That open-mindedness and clarity gradually overlapped with the Maggie who stood in the boxing ring in Million Dollar Baby, never backing down even when bruised and battered.

Both had seemingly fragile appearances, yet their hearts held an incredibly resilient strength, shining so brightly that one couldn’t look away.

"You’re truly remarkable," Irene said sincerely.

In this vanity fair where people fought tooth and nail for an Oscar statuette, even at the cost of their privacy, Hilary’s composure was particularly precious.

Hilary smiled and shook her head. "I’ve just learned to take things in stride. All we can do is do our jobs well and leave the rest to fate." She raised her champagne glass and looked at Irene. "Let’s not talk about that. I wish for you, and for us, that we all get what we desire."

"Cheers." Irene also raised her glass and clinked it gently against hers. The crisp clinking sound echoed in the corner, like two transparent hearts finding resonance in this noisy vanity fair.