In This Life I Will Die as an Actress Not a Villainess Chapter 95

A few days later.

[Snowfall, Standing Ovation for <Hometown>!]

[<Fabulous> Director and <Hometown> Director’s Warm Handshake! With Han Sena Standing Between Them]

[<Hometown> Strong Candidate for Snowfall Award!]

Brief articles came out in Samyeon Daily, where Reporter Yeom Sangjin worked.

Before that, Juseong Daily with Reporter Go Sanghan had released an article about alleged calculated performance with the <Fabulous> director.

Then, as if Reporter Yeom Sangjin had been waiting for exactly that, he immediately published an article with an exclusive interview.

‘This work isn’t just a story for Koreans. It’s a story for everyone who faces discrimination under the sun.’

‘The Fabulous director and I exchanged pleasantries. We were both getting headaches from all the articles and gossip.’

‘Emily isn’t just a sad woman. She’s a woman who bravely walks the path she’s chosen.’

‘Bella is my second skin now. She was the most challenging character in my short acting career.’

‘Sena and I didn’t strategically decide to do <Hometown> together. We both simply loved this work.’

I hesitated for a moment before clicking on the comments section of Reporter Go Sanghan’s article.

Without realizing it, I swallowed.

-Reporter Go Sanghan. Let’s write with some class.

-Tired of this divisive crap. Let’s just appreciate the work for what it is.

-This is the outlet that wrote Han Sena can’t speak English. Not even funny.

-A Korean newspaper bashing Korea? Did you even watch <Hometown>?

-Finally getting some decent articles, and this reporter ruins it.

For the first time, comments defending <Hometown> had appeared.

Seeing these new reactions felt surreal.

Am I dreaming right now?

After being tormented for so long by unanimously identical reactions, this situation felt almost foreign.

Right away, Minyeong unnie contacted me too.

Six hours after the festival premiere, both <Hometown> and <Marvelous> had simultaneously opened in Korea. (+) ^[1] TLN: The last time, it was not Marvelous. I doubled checked it. And it really was Ables (에이블러스.) Typo, maybe. Idk

Unnie told me we’d recorded an excellent opening performance, especially considering we were up against a blockbuster.

Despite all the noise from various sources, our actual launch was quite refreshing.

When follow-up articles declared <Hometown> a likely festival winner, posts and articles dealing with rumors or gossip started getting deleted.

‘This is beyond expectations.’

Sitting in the van heading to the film festival for the awards ceremony, I gazed out the window.

Tall buildings lined up in rows rushed past the speeding car.

Before I knew it, even the exotic cityscape was gradually becoming familiar.

My eyes felt dry from staring at the buildings.

I wanted to rub them but held back with effort.

The makeup I’d spent hours getting done.

And more than anything.

‘After coming this far, I can’t let myself get tired over something this small.’

The real schedule was just beginning.

Now that our work had become a strong award candidate, we had a packed schedule of round interviews with local media lined up one after another.

Since flying back to America, I’d barely managed three or four hours of sleep each night for days on end.

On top of that, the <Hometown> crew had decided to watch at least two festival entries together every single day.

Truly, I wouldn’t have enough bodies even if I had ten.

Still, it was wonderful.

I couldn’t stop smiling.

Not only was the pouring attention welcome, but meeting actors and crew who’d worked on various projects was also enjoyable.

Director Raymond, who’d been dozing off in the back seat, rubbed his eyes and sat up.

“Are you tired?”

“Not as much as you, Sena.”

The director scrubbed his face dry and spoke.

“By the way, wasn’t Director Shawn incredibly unique?”

“That’s for sure.”

Director Shawn had made it onto the award nominee list with another film at this festival, and he was famous in the industry as an eccentric among eccentrics.

Yesterday, we’d run into him by chance while leaving after watching a film with the team.

Director Shawn had strode right up and greeted us, then said to the director and me,

‘You two seem to have a good relationship.’

While the director and I stood there bewildered, unable to respond, Director Shawn spoke again as if not expecting an answer, almost muttering to himself.

‘I fought like crazy with the actress while filming this one. Got chewed out plenty too. Lucky I didn’t get shot. On my last project, I got punched by a male actor. How do you two get along so well?’

Hearing that made my jaw drop.

What kind of madness is this?

Director Raymond had broken into a cold sweat but desperately kept smiling.

“We respect each other.”

At that, Director Shawn had erupted into laughter right there as if he’d heard the funniest joke.

People around us turned to stare in our direction.

When the director wouldn’t stop laughing, I’d stepped back slightly.

‘Respect. I thought that kind of thing was just a myth that doesn’t exist in this world.’

Director Shawn had kept us captive for over ten minutes after that.

‘As a Korean person, how much discrimination have you actually faced?’

‘This festival’s still the best one. All the other overseas festivals are complete garbage. White people’s party. Though I’m white too, of course.’

‘Isn’t wearing a tuxedo to a film festival also such an outdated culture? Next time I’m thinking of ripping open a cardboard box and wearing that.’

In the end, I hadn’t managed to respond to a single thing the director said.

Even thinking about it now made my back break out in sweat.

The moment I escaped from that director and turned away, I’d spotted an actor wearing slippers with dress pants.

An actor more famous as a fashion terrorist than for his excellent acting skills.

Seeing him in person, I’d forgotten about being rude and stared holes into him.

Truly, America really was a place where all kinds of people lived.

“Korea has a pretty calm atmosphere overall, right? Compared to America.”

Aiden, sitting next to me, asked.

“I guess you could say so.”

“Wow, we’re here!”

With Chloe’s words, the van stopped in front of the festival red carpet.

“Shall we all head out?”

With Aiden in the lead, we all got out of the van.

Flashbulb explosions like fireworks turned everything instantly white before my eyes.

I stepped onto the red carpet.

* * *

Exactly one hour later…

“I was worried whether my autobiographical story would be conveyed well, but once again I’ve achieved my goal thanks to truly outstanding actors.”

Director Raymond stood at the microphone.

And I stood beside the director in a row with Aiden and Chloe.

Our team had received the Grand Jury Prize.

I clasped hands with Chloe, who was jumping for joy.

I couldn’t contain my overwhelming emotions either and smiled broadly.

It even felt like all the humiliation I’d endured was being washed completely away.

My first overseas awards ceremony, a trophy, and success.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

Aiden, as if sensing my feelings, looked at me and smiled warmly.

“Then I’ll pass the microphone to this film’s MVP, Sena.”

That’s when Director Raymond finished his remarks and looked at me.

Every audience member’s gaze turned toward me.

I could see various nationalities in the faces watching me.

A truly unfamiliar and precious experience.

With trembling steps, I approached the microphone.

After a brief deep breath, I carefully opened my mouth.

“Thank you to the director and my colleagues for giving me the opportunity to deliver remarks as the actors’ representative. This work tells the story of people of color and adoptees—the most marginalized members of society. Yet it’s also the work that best suits America, called the melting pot of cultures.”

People smiled and sent me brief applause.

Encouraged by that applause, I continued.

“Recently, the Snowfall Film Festival has been inviting films centered on various marginalized communities. I’m grateful to the jury and audience members who honored our <Hometown> with this award, and I hope we’ll continue to see many excellent works through Snowfall in the future. I’ll also work hard to meet audiences in various roles.”

The moment I finished speaking, every actor attending the ceremony rose from their seats.

And a standing ovation erupted.

It was the second time, following the screening theater.

Completely shocked by a reaction I couldn’t have imagined even in my dreams, I froze like ice.

I looked at the people before me.

* * *

The very next day after winning the award.

“The Leo talk show?”

I asked in surprise after receiving Minyeong unnie’s call.

The moment we won at Snowfall, an invitation came from the Marden International Film Festival for the non-competition section.

Though non-competitive, getting invited even without a world premiere screening was unusual.

Film festivals typically required works they invited to premiere at their festival.

We’d already premiered at Snowfall, yet still received an invitation.

Just as I was savoring that improved mood, two famous American talk shows sent us offers on top of that.

One love call sent to Chloe and me, another love call sent to the director, Aiden, and me.

The Leo Show that invited the director aired late at night as a live broadcast, so Chloe wasn’t invited.

That aside, the talk show with just Chloe and me felt somehow uncomfortable.

The Abigail Show.

A talk show hosted by a Canadian woman named Abigail, who always acted generous on the surface but had actually been exposed as a massive bigot.

Of course, this was also a fragment from my past life’s memory.

At this point in time, Abigail was riding even higher on her upward trajectory.

“Hmm… let me think about it for a moment, unnie.”

I hung up with Minyeong unnie and fell into thought.

But why didn’t they invite Aiden?

Any normal interview or talk show would want to invite all the actors.

Something felt off about specifically leaving out only Aiden and inviting just Chloe and me.

How do I handle this?

If I rejected it outright, I had no idea how to persuade Chloe, who was getting tons of attention, and her company.

Abigail’s discriminatory attitude wouldn’t surface for a few more years.

And we needed an opportunity to promote <Hometown> not just in art film circles, but widely to the general public.

‘I guess we’ll have to go.’

Even thinking hard, I couldn’t come up with any better solution.

It’ll be fine, surely.

She wouldn’t openly say something, would she?

Maybe I’m worrying too far ahead.

* * *

One week later, the problematic talk show.

A live broadcast studio where countless cameras and audience members were waiting.

Chloe and I were waiting backstage when I heard a staff member’s voice from the end of the corridor.

“Abigail’s arrived! Everyone stay sharp!!”

The staff instantly found their positions with tense expressions.

“…?”

In the tense atmosphere, Chloe looked around in surprise.

I sensed the ominous mood too and grabbed Chloe’s hand.

That’s when the door at the corridor’s end opened and Abigail appeared.

• 1. TLN: The last time, it was not Marvelous. I doubled checked it. And it really was Ables (에이블러스.) Typo, maybe. Idk