Chapter 190

Back at the Hilton Garden Inn banquet hall, Charles quickly found himself striking up a conversation.

"Hey, Emily, long time no see." Charles hadn't expected to run into Emily Blunt. Ever since her performance in The Devil Wears Prada had left an impression on him, he had thought this British actress wasn't bad at all.

Emily Blunt nodded with a bit of surprise, "I didn't expect it either. I was worried you might not remember me!"

"I remember. Your performance in The Devil Wears Prada was so good that even Meryl Streep couldn't stop praising you," Charles smiled. Actors trained in British drama sometimes were indeed stronger than grassroots American actors in many aspects.

The two of them moved to the nearby lounge area and started to drink while seated on the sofa.

Emily Blunt was still a low-profile actress in Hollywood, but she was expected to gain some recognition once The Devil Wears Prada hit theaters.

"You're quite new in Hollywood. Do you feel a difference between filming here and in England?" Charles asked.

"A difference?" Emily Blunt thought for a moment and explained, "In England, I mostly did mini-series and TV movies. After coming to America for The Devil Wears Prada, I felt everything was much more industrialized and organized here."

"Yeah, the movie industry," Charles leaned back on the sofa, having little to say about Hollywood's industrialization.

Noticing Charles seemed a bit down, Emily Blunt said, "I attended the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada earlier. The audience and critics had high praise. I'm confident the box office will do well."

After staring at Emily Blunt for a few seconds, Charles suddenly suggested, "How about we hit a nearby bar?"

Emily Blunt nodded. Charles Capet's allure to women was undeniable.

With status, position, and power, Charles could act recklessly in Hollywood. And on top of that, he was a handsome 24-year-old. It was overwhelming.

Hollywood was the gathering place for celebrities, and naturally, it had its fair share of nightclubs and bars.

Charles Capet took Emily Blunt to a private bar frequently visited by celebrities and secured a window-side room on the second floor.

Behind one-way glass, they could see the dancers on stage and the chaotic dance floor.

"Charles, look, isn't that Lindsay Lohan?" Emily Blunt pointed through the glass at a woman surrounded by people.

Charles took a closer look. Spot on!

"Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan," he scoffed. Hollywood's nightclub queens.

Luckily, he had steered Britney Spears back on track; otherwise, she'd have joined this notorious trio.

Paris Hilton's notorious reputation, paired with Lindsay Lohan's recent string of scandals.

"It's a bit of a shame. Since last year, Lindsay Lohan has been making headlines constantly," Emily Blunt said, knowing she couldn't compare to Lohan.

At 20, Lindsay Lohan was an all-around American new idol in movies, TV, music, and endorsements.

Famous from a young age, a complicated family - especially with her father's fraud charges on Wall Street last year. Drinking, violence, and drug scandals all surfaced.

Lohan's mother wasn't any better. In the throes of a divorce, they were fighting over Lindsay's custody, which was the biggest news.

Given Lindsay's substantial income, she was her parents' most important asset. This might've been the main reason for her downfall.

It's similar to Macaulay Culkin from the Home Alone series - fame at a young age, parents divorcing, and then quickly falling apart.

Charles sighed, lighting a cigarette. The price of fame was indeed high for young stars. Emily Blunt also lit one from the pack.

"Do actors all like to smoke?" Charles asked with a smile after taking a puff.

Emily Blunt shook her head, "I don't really know. Sometimes it's due to stress, or if a screen role requires it."

"Do you still keep in touch with Anne Hathaway?" Charles asked.

Emily Blunt nodded, "Yes, she's preparing to film Becoming Jane and will go to England soon."

Charles could hear the envy in Emily's voice. After all, Anne Hathaway was the lead in The Devil Wears Prada.

"Such a classic British biographical film isn't really suitable for an American girl to play. Jane Austen's significant reputation demands an actor who can embody the image of an 18th-century English person," he mused.

"Anne Hathaway is a typical American girl. Her accent is the biggest problem - Jane Austen with an American accent?"

Emily stayed silent. Charles Capet could freely critique actors, and to him, Anne Hathaway was just another small actor.

"I'm actually quite interested in some British love stories," Charles said, deeply inhaling his cigarette.

"Becoming Jane is at best a second-hand Pride & Prejudice."

"Actually, I've heard that Becoming Jane had approached Kate Winslet and Keira Knightley," Emily reminded him.

"Keira Knightley didn't have the time. She's set to star in the adaptation of Ian McEwan's romantic novel, Atonement," Charles chuckled. It's developed by the British company Working Title Films and co-invested by Capet Pictures' UK branch.

"Wow, Ian McEwan's Atonement?"

Of course, Emily Blunt knew. Ian McEwan was one of the most influential writers in contemporary British literature.

Looking at Charles' profile, Emily's feelings were complicated.

*****

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