Page 8 of Nathan
Living the Dream
Serena
My face was itching from the thick layer of makeup I had on, and it felt like I had been in this damn chair the entire day, which wasn’t too far off because I’d finally reached my last interview.
Answering the same questions eight hours a day was no joke, but I’d been in this industry since I was a child and knew how to play the game. The press weren’t my friends, but they were instrumental in paying my bills and allowing me to live a luxurious lifestyle. My agent, Denise, was always preaching about the importance of pleasing the press.
“Congratulations.The Blue Doorknobhas already been nominated for several awards for the best animated movie of the year, and I have to say that you did an outstanding job as Molly Mango.”
“Thank you.” I smiled at the journalist, a middle-aged man with short spiky hair.
“Do you have a preference when it comes to acting in a normal movie versus doing voice-overs for animated movies?”
“Hmmm,” I said as if I had to think about a question I’d already been asked twenty-seven times these last days. “I like both. The best thing about voice-overs is that I don’t have to follow a certain diet or do months of intense fight training. And of course, it’s nice when you can work in your hometown.”
We exchanged a polite laugh.
“About that. Right now, Storm is in Bangladesh shooting his next movie; is that hard on your relationship?”
I stiffened a little. “Storm is very passionate about his work; we both are. The good thing is that today technology allows people apart to feel close.”
“Do you miss him?”
Sitting on the tall director’s chair with my legs crossed, I rocked my foot in the air and spun the ring on my finger. “Storm is a pretty amazing guy, so of course I miss him.”
“Congratulations on your engagement. Can you tell us when the wedding will be?”
“No comment.” I gave my best secretive smile.
“Did you and Storm…”
Marie, who was handling this press tour, cut in. “Please keep to questions about the movie.”
“Right, yes.” The journalist scanned through his papers. “How did you feel when Disney offered you the role of Molly Mango? Was it a deliberate choice to accept, to try and break with your normal typecasting of action movies? After all, Molly is kind and wise, but no hero.”
“And I’m not kind and wise?” I raised my eyebrows. “Honestly, I would say that Molly is closer to my personality than most of the roles I play in movies.”
“Interesting. Often, actors do animated movies to have something to share with their children. Are children something you want to have in the near future?”
Marie opened her mouth to speak.
“It’s okay,” I said and forced a smile for the umpteenth time today. “I adore children, and it makes me happy that my work will bring joy to the young ones among us.”
It wasn’t a direct answer, but polite enough that I could avoid a headline saying I was a diva who refused to answer questions.
“Thank you.” Marie showed the journalist that his ten minutes were up.
I smiled for a picture with him and me in front of the background of posters fromThe Blue Doorknob.
As soon as he left, Marie gave me a high five. “You did it. Thirty interviews in eight hours.”
I sighed. “My bladder is about to burst, and I’m hungry.”
“Then don’t let us hold you any longer. We’ll pack this up and then we’ll do the same thing tomorrow night in London. Remember, our ride to the airport will be here at one-thirty sharp.”
“Got it.”
“Enjoy your evening, Serena.” Marie went to roll up one of the banners while the technician was turning off all the projectors.
