Actor in Hollywood

*Three weeks at number one!*

*The Princess Diaries* mounted an incredible comeback, displaying an unbelievable staying power at the box office and emerging as Disney's best-performing film of the summer season. With a modest production budget of just $26 million, combined with low promotional costs, the film's profit margins were exceptional, saving Disney from what had otherwise been a disastrous summer.

However, just as Disney was riding high, eagerly anticipating the film's continued success, a world-shaking event occurred in New York on September 11, 2001. The celebratory atmosphere froze overnight, and the entire North American film market plunged into a period of mourning.

This turn of events led to a sharp decline in the film industry, which lingered for some time. Even as people began to slowly return to their normal lives, the silence in the cinemas persisted.

This was a blow to the entire film and entertainment industry, and *The Princess Diaries* was no exception.

Ultimately, the film's North American box office total came to a halt at $190 million, falling just short of the $200 million milestone.

Even so, *The Princess Diaries* surpassed *Pretty Woman*'s North American box office total, marking a new career high for director Garry Marshall.

From *Runaway Bride* to *The Princess Diaries*, the 67-year-old Garry Marshall experienced a remarkable resurgence, rediscovering his creative spark in the romantic comedy genre. This once again validated the Hollywood fairy tale—

In this place, anything is possible.

And that's still not the full story.

*The Princess Diaries* was also released in 23 countries outside North America, although the release wasn't as wide. The film's fairytale and school-centric themes were very much rooted in American high school culture, making it difficult to resonate with overseas audiences. Moreover, in 2001, America was still exploring international markets, so Disney's cautious approach was understandable.

Limited reach, combined with cultural differences, indicated early on that *The Princess Diaries* was unlikely to replicate its North American success abroad.

And indeed, this proved to be the case.

Even so, *The Princess Diaries* managed to gross $70 million across these 23 regions, bringing its global total to an impressive $260 million, much to the media's astonishment.

It was a spectacular triumph, and *The Princess Diaries* received widespread applause for its performance!

More importantly, the film witnessed the meteoric rise of two young stars: Anne Hathaway and Anson Wood.

These two newcomers, who had never before graced the big screen, displayed unparalleled charm, undoubtedly emerging as the biggest winners.

Compared to Garry Marshall, the buzz surrounding Anne and Anson was unstoppable, and they both experienced firsthand the Hollywood fairy tale—

Overnight fame and instant stardom.

In just a single night, their lives underwent a complete transformation, as Hollywood's doors finally seemed to swing open for them.

There's a difference between actors, just as there's a difference between living in New York and Los Angeles. Not every actor in Los Angeles automatically gains entry to Hollywood's inner circle; it's a different story altogether.

But now, both Anne and Anson had pushed open that door.

Of course, for Anson, perhaps that door had already opened last year with *Friends*; this time, he unexpectedly found himself opening another door.

…

*Hiss.*

The curtains were drawn back, and a dim light filtered through the window, scattering the darkness. The dense, impenetrable night seemed to dissipate like smoke.

But the light was not bright.

There was no golden sunshine; even though it was already 9 AM, the sky had yet to fully brighten. It seemed as though an autumn rain had just fallen last night, leaving layers of clouds hovering above, casting a subdued light.

Looking out the window, the wet streets were strewn with fallen leaves, with no sign of being cleaned up. The city seemed to revel in this scene—a touch of desolation, a hint of melancholy, inviting one's thoughts to settle.

Edgar thought to himself that this Paris was far removed from the romantic city he had imagined. Instead, it was a place where he could easily picture painters, writers, and philosophers gathered at café doors, contemplating life. The whole city seemed draped in a layer of literary and artistic color.

They had been in Paris for a full 36 hours now, and they still hadn't fully adjusted to the weather here—

Well, at least he hadn't.

Two months ago, Edgar received a call from Anna Wintour. When he confirmed that it was indeed the infamous "Vogue" editor on the other end, he almost choked on his own saliva. But he quickly composed himself, stayed calm, and fulfilled his duties as a manager.

Anna proposed a plan: *Vogue* was planning a feature, and the star would be Anson.

They wanted Anson to collaborate on a photoshoot for the magazine and attend Paris Fashion Week.

Edgar wasn't going to pass up such an incredible opportunity. At least, he thought he shouldn't. But when faced with Anna's invitation, he hesitated.

The issue was that Anna wanted Anson to participate as a model, not an actor—fully showcasing men's fashion as a model.

This made Edgar pause.

Both he and Eve had agreed—they didn't mind highlighting Anson's good looks, but they had to be careful. They couldn't let Anson be labeled as just a model, or it might seriously hinder his acting career.

The reason was simple: in Hollywood today, people don't like "pretty boys."

Especially the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the ones who hand out Oscars.

The most straightforward example: Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, two of the biggest stars in the world. Even though they're at the top of their acting careers, the Oscars have still remained elusive for them, and their choice of roles has often been limited.

Matthew McConaughey, George Clooney, Keanu Reeves, Johnny Depp—it's the same story. The most recent victim is Leonardo DiCaprio. When *Titanic* swept fourteen Oscar nominations, the only thing overlooked was Leo's performance as the lead actor.

In the industry, there's a long-standing notion: being labeled a "pretty boy" or "eye candy" essentially means no chance of winning an Oscar for the next decade, and even getting a nomination is rare. If you're lucky enough to get nominated, that's probably as far as it will go.

Right now, Anson had already starred in a blockbuster film. If he took another step toward being a model, it would narrow his acting path even further. Even with Anna Wintour's offer, Edgar needed to be cautious.

Anson, however, was more relaxed about it.

The Oscars? He hadn't even fully launched his acting career yet, so why worry about the golden statue now? Instead of obsessing over hypothetical concerns and doubts, he'd rather seize the opportunity in front of him and shape his own path.

Compared to an Oscar, Anson wanted more to be an actor with his own unique identity.

He didn't see modeling as a big deal. In fact, he should leverage his strengths.

So, they agreed and went to the fashion capital, Paris.

This was another door, leading to a completely different and new world.