In This Life, I Will Die As An Actress, Not As A Villainess [EN]: Chapter 95

A few days later.

[Snowfall, Standing Ovation for !]

[Director of and Director of Shake Hands Affectionately! Han Saena in Between]

[Likely Winner of Snowfall for !]

Short articles were published in Samyeon Ilbo by reporter Yeom Sang-jin.

Before that, Juseong Ilbo, where reporter Go Sang-han works, released an article questioning the intentional performance with the director of .

Then, as if waiting for it, reporter Yeom Sang-jin soon published an article with an exclusive interview.

‘This work isn’t just a story for Koreans. It’s a story for everyone who is discriminated against.’

‘I exchanged pleasantries with the director of . We were both suffering from all sorts of articles and gossip.’

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

‘Bella is now my alter ego. It was the most difficult character in my short acting career.’

‘It wasn’t that Saena and I strategically decided to do . We just both liked this work.’

After hesitating for a moment, I clicked on the comment section of the article posted by reporter Go Sang-han.

I swallowed hard without realizing it.

-Reporter Go Seong-han, let’s write elegantly.

-I’m tired of this infighting. Let’s look at the work as a work.

-They wrote an article here saying Han Saena can’t speak English. It’s ridiculous.

-Is the Korean newspaper criticizing Korea? Have you seen the movie ?

-Finally, some article-like articles are coming out, and this reporter is ruining it.

For the first time, there were comments defending .

I couldn’t easily believe the new reactions.

Am I dreaming right now?

I had been suffering from the same reactions for so long that this situation felt unfamiliar.

I immediately received a call from Min-young unnie [older sister or close female friend].

and were released simultaneously in Korea 6 hours after their premiere at the film festival.

Unnie told me that it had recorded a better-than-expected start, considering it was up against a blockbuster.

There had been a lot of noise in many ways, but the real start was quite refreshing.

As follow-up articles reported that was likely to win an award at the film festival, posts and articles dealing with rumors and gossip began to disappear.

‘This is better than expected.’

I sat in the van heading to the film festival for the awards ceremony and looked out the window.

Tall buildings lined up outside the speeding car.

Before I knew it, I was getting used to the exotic cityscape.

My eyes felt dry as I looked at the buildings.

I tried hard not to rub them with my hands.

It was makeup that I had spent hours applying.

And above all.

‘How did I get here? I can’t be this tired.’

It was no exaggeration to say that the schedule was just beginning.

As our work was nominated for a major award, we had a tight schedule of round interviews with local media.

Since flying back to the United States, it had been difficult to get more than three or four hours of sleep every day.

On top of that, the crew got together every day to watch more than two entries a day.

I really needed ten bodies.

But it was good.

The laughter never stopped.

Not only was I happy with the outpouring of attention, but I also enjoyed meeting the actors and staff who participated in various works.

Director Raymond, who was dozing off in the back, rubbed his eyes and got up.

“Are you tired?”

“Can’t be as tired as Saena.”

The director washed his face with his hands and said.

“By the way, Director Shaen was very unique, wasn’t he?”

“I know.”

Director Shaen was nominated for another award at this film festival and was known as an eccentric in the industry.

I ran into him by chance while watching a movie with the team yesterday.

Director Shaen strode up, greeted us, and said to me and the director.

‘You two seem to have a good relationship.’

The director and I were dumbfounded and couldn’t answer, but Director Shaen said as if he didn’t expect an answer.

‘I fought a lot with the actress while filming this movie. I was scolded a lot. I’m glad I didn’t get shot. In the last film, I was punched by a male actor. How are you guys so close?’

I was speechless when I heard that.

What is this madness?

Director Raymond was sweating but tried not to lose his smile.

“We respect each other.”

Then Director Shaen burst out laughing on the spot as if he had heard a funny joke.

People’s attention turned to us.

I took a step back as the director didn’t stop laughing.

‘Respect. I thought that was a myth that didn’t exist in this world.’

Director Shaen kept us for more than 10 minutes after that.

‘How much discrimination have you actually suffered as a Korean?’

‘This film festival is the best. Other overseas film festivals are all garbage. A party for white people. I’m white, of course, though.’

‘Isn’t it too old-fashioned to wear a tuxedo to a film festival? I might tear open a box and wear it next time.’

I couldn’t answer a word to the director’s words.

I felt like I was sweating on my back just thinking about it again.

As soon as I turned my eyes away from the director, I found an actor wearing suit pants with slippers.

He was more famous as a fashion terrorist than for his outstanding acting skills.

When I saw him in person, I forgot it was rude and stared at him.

I thought, America is really a place where diverse people live.

“Korea has a generally calm atmosphere, right? More than America.”

Aiden, who was sitting next to me, asked.

“I think so.”

“Wow, we’re here!”

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

“Shall we go?”

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

In an instant, a barrage of flashes like white fireworks poured down.

I stepped onto the red carpet.

* * *

Exactly one hour later….

“I was worried about whether my autobiographical story would be well conveyed, but thanks to the very wonderful actors, I achieved my goal again.”

Director Raymond stood in front of the microphone.

And I stood next to the director, side by side with Aiden and Chloe.

Our team was awarded the Jury Prize.

I grabbed Chloe’s hand, who was overjoyed.

I couldn’t control my overwhelming emotions and smiled brightly.

I even felt like all the humiliation I had suffered was washed away.

An awards ceremony, a trophy, and success for the first time abroad.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

Aiden seemed to notice my feelings and smiled warmly at me.

“Now, I’ll hand over the microphone to Saena, the biggest contributor to this film.”

Then, Director Raymond finished his speech and looked at me.

All the audience’s eyes were on me.

I could see various nationalities in the faces of the people looking at me.

A really unfamiliar and precious experience.

With trembling steps, I stood in front of the microphone.

I took a short breath and carefully opened my mouth.

“Thank you to the director and colleagues for giving me the opportunity to deliver my thoughts on behalf of the cast. This work is about the most marginalized people in society, people of color and adoptees. At the same time, it is the most suitable work for the United States, which is called the melting pot of races.”

People smiled and gave me a short applause.

Encouraged by the applause, I continued.

“Recently, the Snowfall Film Festival has been inviting films that focus on various marginalized groups. I would like to thank the judges and audiences who gave our the honor of winning an award, and I hope that we will be able to see many good works through Snowfall in the future. I will also try to meet the audience with various roles.”

As soon as I finished speaking, all the actors who participated in the awards ceremony stood up from their seats.

And a standing ovation erupted.

It was the second time after the screening room.

I was so surprised by the reaction that I had never imagined even in my dreams that I froze.

I looked at the people in front of me.

* * *

The day after the award ceremony.

“The Leo Talk Show?”

I was surprised and asked back after receiving a call from Min-young unnie.

As soon as we won the Snowfall Award, we received an invitation to the Marden International Film Festival in the non-competitive section.

Although it was non-competitive, it was unusual to be invited even though it was not a world premiere screening.

Most film festivals made it a condition to premiere their films at their film festival when inviting works.

We had already premiered at Snowfall, but we were still invited.

I was enjoying the feeling of being so happy, but it didn’t stop there, and two famous American talk shows contacted us.

One love call [invitation] was sent to Chloe and me, and another love call was sent to the director, Aiden, and me.

Chloe was not invited to the Leo Show, which the director was invited to, because it was a live show late at night.

By the way, I felt uncomfortable going on a talk show alone with Chloe.

The Abigail Show.

It was a talk show hosted by a Canadian woman named Abigail, who always pretended to be generous on the outside but was actually revealed to be a huge bigot.

Of course, this was also a piece of memory from my past life.

From the current point of view, Abigail was on a rising streak.

“Hmm… I’ll think about it for a moment, Unnie.”

I hung up the phone with Min-young unnie and pondered for a moment.

But why didn’t they call Aiden?

Usually, interviews or talk shows would want to invite all the actors.

I felt strange that they only called Chloe and me, excluding Aiden.

What should I do about this?

If I refused rashly, I wouldn’t know how to persuade Chloe, who had started to receive a lot of attention, and Chloe’s company.

Abigail’s discriminatory attitude would not surface until a few years later.

And there was a need to widely promote to the public as well as the art film industry.

‘I have no choice but to go for now.’

Even after thinking hard, I couldn’t come up with a better answer.

It’ll be okay, right?

She wouldn’t openly say anything.

It might be a premature worry.

* * *

A week later, the talk show in question.

A live studio with numerous cameras and audience members waiting.

I was waiting with Chloe in the back of the studio when I heard a staff member’s voice from the end of the hallway.

“Abigail has arrived! Everyone, get your act together!!”

The staff quickly found their places with stiff expressions.

“…?”

In the chilling atmosphere, Chloe looked around in surprise.

I sensed the unusual atmosphere and grabbed Chloe’s hand.

Then, the door opened at the end of the hallway and Abigail appeared.