#Golden Globes highlights

[abignewscom]

Golden Globes 2025: Best Red Carpet Looks

Golden Globes 2025: Red Carpet Fashion Highlights The Golden Globes 2025 brought an explosion of glamour, creativity, and elegance to the red carpet. From bold haute couture to timeless classics, celebrities showcased their personal style while paying homage to some of the most renowned designers in the fashion world. Spotlight Moments Zendaya in Louis Vuitton Zendaya lit up the red carpet with a…

[tallapril]

Tall Actors at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards: Fashion Highlights and Insights.

Tall Actors at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards: Fashion Highlights and Insights The 2025 Golden Globe Awards showcased a plethora of talent, with several tall actors making notable appearances. Here’s a detailed look at their standout outfits and the fashion takeaways they offered: 1. Timothée Chalamet (Height: 6’1″) Outfit Details: Chalamet donned a sharp black suit paired with a white striped…

[hypelens]

Golden Globe Winners 2025: A Night of Glamour, Surprises, and Historic Moments

The 2025 Golden Globe Awards dazzled audiences worldwide as Hollywood’s brightest stars gathered to celebrate the best in film and television. This year’s ceremony, held at the iconic Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, delivered its fair share of memorable moments, from emotional acceptance speeches to groundbreaking wins and jaw-dropping red carpet looks. Here’s a comprehensive look at the winners, highlights, and behind-the-scenes stories that made this Golden Globes unforgettable.

Major Winners of the Night

Best Motion Picture – Drama

The coveted award for Best Motion Picture in the Drama category went to “Eternal Horizons,” a poignant exploration of human resilience in the face of climate disaster. Directed by the visionary Ava Carter, the film has been lauded for its breathtaking visuals and compelling storytelling.

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

The lighthearted and innovative “Melody in Motion” took home the award in this category. With its blend of humor, heart, and spectacular musical numbers, the film charmed audiences and critics alike.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

In a career-defining moment, newcomer Mateo Rivera won Best Actor for his performance in “The Solitary Path.” Rivera’s portrayal of a conflicted artist navigating love and loss captivated the audience and earned him a standing ovation.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama

Veteran actress Viola Davis added another accolade to her illustrious career, winning for her role in “Shattered Glass,” a gripping drama that explores themes of justice and redemption.

Best Director – Motion Picture

Chloe Zhao made history again by winning Best Director for “Beyond the Horizon,” making her one of the few women to win this category multiple times. Zhao's meticulous direction and visionary approach were key to the film’s success.

Television Triumphs

Best Television Series – Drama

The critically acclaimed “Eclipse” dominated the night, winning Best Television Series. Its complex characters and intricate plotlines have made it a standout in the streaming era.

Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy

“Laugh Track,” a meta-comedy about the making of a sitcom, won the award in this category. The show’s clever writing and ensemble cast have garnered a devoted fan base.

Individual Performances in Television

Best Actor: Jeremy Strong, for his role in the final season of “Dynasty’s Fall.”

Best Actress: Zendaya, for her commanding performance in “Euphoria: The Next Chapter.”

Red Carpet Highlights

This year’s Golden Globes red carpet was a spectacle of glamour and innovation. Zendaya stunned in a custom silver gown adorned with Swarovski crystals, while Timothée Chalamet turned heads in a bold, avant-garde suit. Sustainability was a key theme, with several stars, including Emma Watson and Leonardo DiCaprio, opting for eco-friendly fashion choices.

Diversity and Inclusion Take Center Stage

The 2025 ceremony marked significant progress in celebrating diversity within the entertainment industry. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) faced criticism in recent years, but this year’s winners and nominees reflected a broader representation of voices and stories. Notable wins included:

Best Supporting Actress: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, for her role in “The Bridge of Echoes.”

Best Screenplay: Min-Jae Kim, for the critically acclaimed “Threads of Time.”

Memorable Moments

Tribute to Angela Lansbury: A heartfelt segment honored the late Angela Lansbury, with Meryl Streep delivering an emotional speech about Lansbury’s impact on the industry.

Standing Ovation for Viola Davis: Viola Davis’s speech about perseverance and representation moved the audience to tears.

Surprise Appearance by Tom Hanks: Hanks made an unexpected cameo to present the Cecil B. DeMille Award to his long-time collaborator, director Steven Spielberg.

Viewer Reactions and Industry Impact

Social media buzzed with reactions to the winners, fashion, and unforgettable moments. Fans praised the HFPA’s efforts to diversify the awards, though some expressed surprise at a few of the night’s outcomes. Industry analysts noted that the Golden Globes continue to set the stage for the Oscars, with several winners emerging as strong contenders.

What’s Next for the Winners?

The Golden Globe winners now have their sights set on the upcoming Academy Awards. Films like “Eternal Horizons” and “Melody in Motion” are expected to lead the pack in nominations. In television, “Eclipse” and “Laugh Track” are likely to dominate the upcoming Emmy Awards.

Conclusion

The 2025 Golden Globe Awards celebrated the best in entertainment, showcasing the power of storytelling and the resilience of the industry. With groundbreaking wins, unforgettable speeches, and dazzling fashion, this year’s ceremony will be remembered as a turning point in Hollywood’s evolution.

Stay tuned for more updates on the awards season and the stories that continue to shape the world of entertainment.

[hardruinskitty]

Golden Globes 2025 highlights: Nikki Glaser shows how to host an awards ceremony, 'Emilia Pérez' and 'The Brutalist' stake claim in Oscars race and TV winners rehash the Emmys

[starberry-cupcake]

highlight of the golden globes for those who don't watch them: the little cat movie 'flow', made using the free and open source software blender and that used recordings of actual animals for sound, just beat pixar, disney, netflix and dreamworks and won best animated film

to give a quick rundown, the budget for the major studio films in this category, as reported, went between 78 to 200 million dollars and the winning film cost 3.6 million to make

the little cat that could

[taylorswiftstyle]

2024 Golden Globe Awards | Los Angeles, CA | January 7, 2024

Gucci gown

Let it be known my Roman Empire is painted a shade of aurora borealis green. 

I’m biased. I love it. You’re buckling up for a rave. But everyone knew that, right? 

I want it on record that no one should be surprised when they see this lewk on the TSS Favourite Outfits of 2024 list. And that I’ll devise some maniacal strategy to make it make sense to include in every annual list from here to eternity.

Let's get the obvious out of the way in that this shade of green could easily be interpreted as very snakelike and thus a nod to reputation and its forthcoming re-recorded version. I'd even happily apply it to the teal-y and springlike green of debut if we want to go debutation on this.

But if we are to talk about Gucci we have to talk about the precipice the house is upon right now. As it relates to Taylor, I suspect her dress (specific shade TBD - Chartreuse? Apple? Pear? Some other adjacent fruit that’s a feast for my eyes?) is a preview of Fall 2024 and a clear indicator of the path the new creative director Sabato De Sarno’s will take the brand in. Which is to say, muting the eccentricity of Alessandro Michele’s era of Gucci that brought the brand to a new level of renown in favour of something cleaner and sexier. Nicole Phelps for Vogue already noted that De Sarno’s first collection for Gucci — Spring 2024’s Ancora, meaning ‘again’ in English and released in September — evokes a Gucci when Tom Ford was once at the helm, praising De Sarno’s approach to “the upfront sex appeal of those ’60s-by-way-of-the-’90s shapes, and straight riffs on Ford hits” while “establish[ing De Sarno’s] essentials, focusing on cut and proportion, and repeating shapes for emphasis.”

Indeed, Taylor’s gown is directly reminiscent of a Fall 2004 look from Ford’s Gucci - all green sparkles and sexy disco energy. This makes sense when we consider De Sarno’s history and homeworking when he decided to take the creative director post. He told WWD, “Gucci to me equals luxury … the first fashion piece I ever owned was a Gucci jacket by Tom Ford. I still remember I traveled to Rome to buy it with my friend … luxury was really not part of our world. Television was the only way to see fashion for me back then.” He added, “My ambition is to build an aesthetic message with an edited collection that is mindful of Gucci’s heritage and close to my own aesthetics.”

When we consider my personal history with Taylor and Gucci, I don’t have to look very far to immediately picture one of my all time favourite Taylor looks — the 2014 Grammys when she wore a sparkling Gucci Première column gown which is not too dissimilar to this one. What can I say, I’m consistent. The shape, the perfect kiss-the-floor hemming, and obviously the divine colour that really pops on Taylor will have me swooning for a long time. 

At the end of it all, what I come back to is De Sarno’s sentimentality to naming his first collection: Ancora. Again. He told WWD, “Ancora is a word that you use when your desire is not over yet … I want to fall in love with fashion all over again — ancora.” In the same interview he said, “I like words a lot, they have weight and a precise meaning, they convey emotions, so I like artists who use words.” 

It dawns on me that Taylor’s light is shining at its brightest now as she highlights, celebrates, and - indeed - falls in love with all the versions of herself she has ever been. Revisiting her eras past again. And again. In every re-record. In every step she takes on stage. In every cutting line she writes in ruminating and revisiting the experiences of her life and translating them into song. She’s flitting, flirting, memorializing all her past selves in celebration of their summation of her current self. And that’s what this ‘era of eras’ has been. 

So if this is De Sarno’s Gucci I say welcome. Ancora. 

Photos by Monica Schipper/GA and Amy Sussman via Getty Images

[crumbledcastle28]

Javier Peña: The Shittiest Goodbye

Pairing: Javier Peña x fem!reader (she/her; afab)

Summary: Javier has no one saying goodbye to him. No one but you.

He smiled; you could tell even from behind your tears. His golden skin crinkled under his eyes, and he pulled you forward by the waist for a short hug. A really short hug – barely four seconds – before he stepped away and leaned down, gathering a bag in each hand.

“I’ll…I guess I’ll see you.”

You kept looking at him. You couldn’t seem to stop. Neither could he.

Warnings: feeeels, crying, kissing, yearning, longing, and all that jazz, one line that can kind of be interpreted as a size kink, but a hopeful ending.

Word Count: 2.2k

A/N: javi. he's always going to fucking do it for me.

A/N 2: I haven't watched narcos in like four years so if the plot is splotchy, I apologize.

If you would like to leave a like, ask, reblog, or comment, it would be much appreciated <3

Pedro Masterlist

He had told you in person, which was better than nothing.

“They’re sending me home. Tomorrow morning,” he said, putzing with the plastic chain hanging from the lamp on your desk. Eyes unable to meet yours. “My flight’s at 6.”

And then he walked away, each sound of his step away from you tipping the globe further and further off its axis.

You had known he was starting to take matters into his own hands. You had known said matters were dirty, bloody, and grey. And you had known said hands were now buried in a while lot of shit because of it.

You had known, and you still knew, walking into the El Dorado International Airport, squinting against the rising sun. You knew perfectly well who Javier Peña had gotten himself involved with and what they both had done on each other’s behalf.

The fact of the matter was – you didn’t give a shit, because what Javi was doing was moving the DEA further towards its goal than ever. It was fucking working.

In your opinion, if agents couldn’t get their hands dirty, then they couldn’t catch Escobar. Luckily for you, Javier felt similarly.

And yet, here he was, being sent home. The one person who gave you any comfort in the shitshow that had become your life. The only friend who had remained so every single day, the only one you could count on. The one man in all of South America that actually made you feel safe.

And, arguably, the only person in the entire DEA who truly wanted things to get better, even if it left a mark on his soul he could never wipe away.

These thoughts haunted you as you searched for Javi. For six in the morning, the gates were surprisingly crowded. Your tired eyes did their best to search for his prominent features – chestnut hair, perfectly highlighted with tips of blonde by the South American sun, broad shoulders, high cheekbones, curved, Roman nose, pouted lips, likely leaning on one leg, popping his hip out, with his hands on his waist. You secretly hoped he was in his Levi’s leather jacket.

Your eyes squinted as you peered around, lost in the sea of bodies, children, staff, and flight attendants. Suddenly, the thought of missing him wrapped its coils around you, sending a strange, foreign heat down to your toes and up your scalp. Your breathing heightened, images of him already on his flight, alone, thinking no one cared, thinking no one came from him, began to flood your brain. Your fingers grabbed at your chest, your teeth clamped around the skin of the inside of your mouth, pulling so hard you began to bleed.

He had said six, right? In the morning? Today? Had I heard him wrong?

Had he lied to me?

That thought was too much to bear, too much to process, too much too much too much –

A warm, callused hand wrapped around your forearm. You gasped, heart pounding so loud in your head that the man attached to the hand had to repeat what he was saying. His voice was muffled, his face was blurry, but everything about him was so handsome, and so familiar.

“What the hell are you doing?” he asked in a kind of whisper-yell.

It was like you had taken a sedative, looking at Javier Peña, standing right in front of you. Not gone, not forgotten. Right here. Your nervous system evened instantly, like a bucket of warm, clean water had been dumped over your body.

You smiled at him, despite yourself. Despite the situation. Despite it all.

The edge of his lip quirked slightly, but it lasted quicker than a second, before returning to his usual scowl.

“Answer my question,” he said, pulling you towards him. He didn’t sound mad, just…shocked, and a little terrified. His touch on you was gentle, but firm.

You swallowed; eyes still locked into his. You placed your hand on his chest to steady yourself and grinned at the feel of the leather.

“Only if you answer mine first – did you really think you would get to leave without saying goodbye?”

He huffed, meeting your stare, unable to prevent the drop of humor that had culminated in his eyes. “I did say goodbye.”

“Oh please,” you said, pushing away from him. “That was the shittiest goodbye ever.”

He stayed silent for a moment, before letting out a quiet chuckle.

“Besides, six o’clock in the morning is an early call time for you,” you said. You were proved correct by the dark circles under his eyes. You wondered if he had slept at all the night before. “Had to make sure you actually made it.”

“Right,” he said, and looked around him, placing his hands on his hips. His tone suddenly became serious. “You shouldn’t be here.”

That shocked you. “Are you kidding me? Why not?”

“What if – someone sees you, from the DEA, thinks you were working with me. Then what?”

“Then I fucking deal with it,” you said. “I wasn’t going to let you leave thinking that no one would care that you were gone.”

That froze him, his eyes widening just so. The fact that he was shocked at all by that statement caused a fresh set of tears to line your eyes. It was faint, but it was noticeable.

He sighed, looking down at his shoes, allowing you to notice his bags placed on either side of his feet– a large leather carrier, and a small backpack. For a moment, he looked like he was about to say something, until a voice over the speaker interrupted him.

“Flight to Austin, Texas, boarding group one may begin boarding. I repeat, boarding group one may begin boarding for flight to Austin, Texas.”

Javier glanced down at his watch before pulling his ticket out of his back pocket, reading it over with furrowed eyebrows. “I’m group two. I should probably…”

You nodded, a wave of emotion suddenly rocking you once more. The tears were streaming now, down your face. You tried to wipe them away, put they just kept coming.

He took a step closer to you. “Why the tears, ángel?”

You sniffled, wiping your nose, doing the best you could to collect yourself. Maybe that was a good thing, as it allowed this newfound pet name to go completely over your head. The voice that came out of your mouth was nasally and cracked. “I am going to have to do so much paperwork.”

He smiled; you could tell even from behind your tears. His golden skin crinkled under his eyes, and he pulled you forward by the waist for a short hug. A really short hug – barely four seconds – before he stepped away and leaned down, gathering a bag in each hand.

“I’ll…I guess I’ll see you.”

You kept looking at him. You couldn’t seem to stop. Neither could he.

He opened his mouth, once again about to say something, when the speaker went off again.

“First call for boarding group 2 for flight to Austin, Texas. I repeat, first call for boarding group 2 for flight to Austin, Texas.”

He didn’t move an inch. There were so many things you were wishing to say in that moment.

Don’t go. Please, don’t leave me here.

I’ll be alone. I’ll be alone, with you away.

I would have done the same thing you did, working with those men.

I understand why you did it, maybe better than anyone else.

I would have done the same thing, in your shoes. A couple times, I almost joined you.

I’ll go with you, and we’ll never go back. Never. Never.

You didn’t say a word, your confidence swirling down and down, deeper and deeper inside of you. Javier licked his lips and turned around, beginning to walk away. Like he did that day at your desk. Like he did however many times you had asked to help him with what he was doing. Like he did whenever the two of you would make eye contact for just a little too long.

At that all too familiar sight, the confidence inverted itself, instead flooding upwards all at once, flooding your brain with a mantra of why the fuck not?

For once, you listened to that voice, and did the same thing Javier had done to you only moments before. You took a long stride forward, grabbed his elbow, and turned him around.

And then, you took his face in your hands, and you kissed him.

Kiss was a stretch – it was more like a quick peck, barely even felt by either party. But it was something, something that got him as close to you as you had always wanted him to be – his breath fanning your face, his chest pressed against yours, a mix of coffee and mint on your lips, which you quickly licked away. Oddly enough, it steadied your heart, calmed you down instantly.

Because you had that now. That memory. Something more than passing glances and quick hugs. A part of you, in that moment, didn’t even care what his reaction was, because that feeling alone was enough for you to live with.

The rest of you, however, short circuited at the fact that he may not have wanted that at all, and you had completely violated him in the middle of a fucking airport.

You looked up into his wide eyes for barely a second before backing away from him, the beginnings of a million sorrys forming on your tongue.

That was until the bags slipped from his hands, landing on the harsh carpeting with a thud. He then rushed forward, using one hand to frame your face, and the other on the nape of your neck to tip your head back.

There was no time for your brain to accept this as fact before he brought your lips to his own, his kiss nothing less than searing, and nothing more than perfect.

You reciprocated as soon as you were able, wrapping your arms around his back to steady yourself. The feeling of his lips upon yours was better than you had ever imagined, better than you had ever fantasized about while he sat in your peripheral vision during meetings. His lips were soft, buttery, and so was his facial hair. It tickled your nose just so, which only heightened when he tilted your head further, licking the inside of your mouth. You moved your fingers to his hair in response, tugging him so harshly into you you stumbled backwards.

It was hot and sweaty, messy and desperate, and neither of you were letting up. Not even to breathe. His hands moving down to your waist felt too good, his chest against yours too real, his hair between your fingers too addictive, his soft groan every time your tongues clashed too vivid, and your lips molding together too perfect.

You were speaking to each other, in a way. Both of your bodies reciprocated every move, grabbing and twisting and pulling, both saying the same thing over and over and over again.

I’m going to miss you so fucking much.

Small eruptions of gold began to spawn behind your eyes, ones of pure pleasure, disbelief, and dizziness. His hands turned greedy now, encompassing the span of your back like it was nothing. The hairs on his face began to burn you, the feel of his warm mouth consuming you.

It was too much, too much too much too much, but it was so fucking good –

“Final call for boarding group two for flight to Austin, Texas. I repeat, final call for boarding group two for flight to Austin, Texas.”

It was like a switch flipped in both of your brains at once, propelling the both of you off of each other instantly. He didn’t make eye contact, not even for a second – just wiped his mouth quickly, fetching both bags, and turning from you, walking towards his gate.

He disappeared within the crowd, and you did the same. Turning back towards the entrance, pushing your way through the half-awake travelers, headed god knew where for god knew what.

Your lips still thumped, and so did your heart, so much so that you didn’t really know if you could feel your feet.

There were so many thoughts you could have been having, so much intricacy to the situation, that your brain did the only thing it could – it shut it all down, completely. If it hadn’t, you worried you wouldn’t have been able to pull from him in the first place.

It wasn’t until you made it back to your apartment and set your keys down on your nightstand that the thoughts started flooding in. There were too many to dissect, too rapid to make sense of, but one outweighed them all.

Had he looked back?

In your still hazy brain, that cemented every other question you had, calmed the steady stabbing that had begun to ache inside your skull. You fell asleep, the sun now high in the sky, illuminating your room into a kind of gold. It was a nice change, after a week of grey weather, but you were too gone to the world to notice.

The last thought you had before you escaped to slumber, and the first that you had the second you returned, was all the same: had Javier Peña looked back?

***

He had. Many, many times.

Tag list: (if you would like to be added or were somehow missed, please feel free to let me know :))

@lovesbiggerthanpride @paintlavillered @xocalliexo @c4psicle @joelsflannel @thesmutslut @untitledarea @daphne-turner @queerponcho @ririi-3

[brokenwhiteboylover]

I have no one to share this with, but the Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie reunion at the Golden Globes was definitely the highlight of my week and it makes me truly and genuinely so happy 😭

[a34trgv2]

Why It Worked: Inside Out

Introduction: Inside Out is an animated coming-of-age film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed and co-written by Pete Docter, with the screenplay being co written by Meg LaFauve and Josh Cooley, the film stars Amy Poehler, Phyliss Smith, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Bill Hader, Kaitlyn Dias, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan and Richard Kind as Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, Fear, Riley, her parents Bill and Jill, and Bing Bong respectively. Released on June 19, 2015, the film was a major box office success grossing $858.8 million on a budget of $175 million. It also received critical acclaim from critics and audiences alike. According to Rotten Tomatoes, out of the 384 reviews aggregated, 98% gave a positive review with an average rating of 8.9/10. It also received numerous awards, including an Oscar for Best Animated Feature, several Outstanding Achievement Awards at the Annies, a Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature, and a Critic's Choice Movie Award for Best Animated Feature. It is often seen as a culturally significant film for mental health and the importance of expressing one's emotions. I saw this film for my birthday back in 2015 and I loved it right out of the gate. After multiple rewatches over the years, I stand by my personal opinion that this is a masterpiece of animation and visual storytelling. I'm overjoyed to talk about this film now that it finally has a sequel out.

The Plot: This film has 2 stories that are interconnected to one another, taking place in the mind of an 11 year old girl. On the outside, it's a bout a kid moving to a new city and being overwhelmed by the sudden changes happening all at once. On the inside, it's about Joy and Sadness trekking through Riley's mind, while along the way understanding each other's importance. Together, they create a very unique and engaging plot about growing up and learning to express yourself. The film brilliantly cuts between Riley, Joy and Sadness' journey, and what's happening at HQ to organically show what Riley's feeling and how her actions have psychological consequences. In addition to having powerful gut punching drama, it's also a very funny film with plenty of slapstick, goofy gags, and impressive word play that always gets me to belly laugh. Michael Giacchino also provides an enchanting, dreamlike score with great use of the piano and brass sections. The true highlight of the story is, of course, Pixar's masterfully crafted and innovative animation. The film makes Riley's mind so vibrant and expansive with Dream Productions and Imagination Land being major highlights. The outside world also looks very well done with the people looking very appealing, San Francisco looking grimy yet lived in, and Riley's old home in Minnesota looking very welcoming and colorful. Speaking of color, the use of colors in this film is nothing short of excellent from the radiant colors of Riley's memories, to Riley's clothes reflecting her current state of mind throughout the film. I also love how they use black and gray to represent faded memories and lack of emotion. If there's one word to describe Inside Out's story and animation, it's colorful.

Cast and Characters: This is an outstanding cast they brought on board for this film. Shout outs to the film's casting directors Natalie Lyon and Kevin Reher for picking out some excellent actors. Amy Poehler was phenomenal as Joy, perfectly capturing her bubbly and eccentric personality while also naturally showing her vulnerability and frustrations. Phyliss Smith sound perfectly dower and soft spoken as Sadness, yet at the same time making her sound so innocent and relatable. Lewis Black was the best match for Anger, making him sound crusty, cynical, and having a short fuse. Mindy Kaling brought in the right amount of sass and pettiness as Disgust and her comradery with the other emotions was brilliant. Bill Hader did a great job making Fear funny and relatable as a character. Kaitlyn Dias also deserve major props for her vocal performance as Riley, making her sound like a soft spoken but fun kid who goes through a great character arc in the film. Lastly, Richard Kind was the absolute surprise standout of the cast as Bing Bong as not only did he do a great job making him funny, but also made him relatable, selfless, a bit of an airhead, but also really resourceful. The cast did such a great job bringing these characters to life, with all of them being iconic and memorable in their own way.

Where It Falters: Outside of maybe adding another scene or 2 with Riley's life in Minnesota, I wouldn't change a thing with this film. It's one of those films where the only nitpick I have is I wanted more. Fortunately, that's remedied with the existence of the 2024 sequel. Coming out a couple years sooner wouldn't have been so bad either, but like I always say, quality>quantity.

Conclusion: There are a select few movies I consider to be a masterpiece. Inside Out is most certainly one of those movies. With outstanding writing, iconic characters, wonderful voice acting, masterfully crafted animation, and an enchanting score, it has more than earned its cultural significance. I cannot recommend this film enough, especially for those who struggle with expressing themselves such as yours truly. I promise this film will speak to you as it has for me after all these years. Thanks so much for reading and I'll see you soon ;)

[mrs-stans]

Sebastian Stan on How ‘The Apprentice’ and ‘A Different Man’ Tackle Comfort, Curiosity, and Confronting Our Fears

By Brandon Lewis

It’s an embarrassment of riches to have two transformative, awards-worthy roles in one career. But what does it mean when you have two in the same season?

Sebastian Stan finds himself this year in rarified company, including the likes of Kate Winslet, Sigourney Weaver, and Jamie Foxx, with two acclaimed lead performances in The Apprentice and A Different Man. Both films have been received warmly so far: Stan just received Best Actor nominations for both films at the Golden Globes, winning for A Different Man, while The Apprentice landed on the BAFTAs longlist in six categories, including Best Film. The industry reception is remarkable, given both films’ uphill climb with their production and distribution. A Different Man was shot in 24 days in New York at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and was delayed because of last year’s Hollywood strikes. Meanwhile, the Apprentice struggled to secure U.S. distribution after its buzzy Cannes premiere due to legal threats from Donald Trump and general hesitancy about how it tackled his early days. With all the hurdles, it would stand to reason that there is some vindication in seeing the fruits of labor pay off.

“It’s surreal,” Stan told me about winning the Golden Globe and his films’ positive overall reception. “You never really know the outcomes of any film when you go and make it. You’re always just hoping it’s going to turn out well. When you get into this wild time, that is the fall, when you’ve got so many films coming out and major studios contending, you just don’t know if your movie will even cut through. So, getting to the Globes, you can’t help but feel grateful because this is the win. It’s an amazing moment getting both of them seen.”

The Apprentice and A Different Man aren’t just linked by their complex but rewarding awards season journeys. Stan found key similarities between the 45th president of the United States and Edward Lemuel, a fledgling actor with neurofibromatosis who undergoes an experimental treatment to reverse his condition, only to find himself playing a fictionalized version of himself in an off-Broadway play.

Stan explained, “[Donald and Edward] are two different forms of narcissism, of extreme narcissism. When I think of narcissism, I think of denying and suppressing who we really are and inventing another person. When the distance between your true self and this other invented version grows because you’re suppressing and lying about yourself, you have to create a bigger and bigger lie. It starts to have consequences that affect you and everyone around you. I always saw both films as a denial of reality and a loss of humanity.”

In The Apprentice, Stan plays a younger version of Trump, reared by infamous lawyer Roy Cohn (played by Golden Globe and SAG nominee Jeremy Strong) to become one of the dominant cultural forces of 1970s and 1980s New York. The film, directed by Ali Abbassi, showcases Trump at his most timid and insecure, a far cry from the bloviating tabloid fixture who would upend domestic and global politics thirty years later. Under Cohn’s tutelage, Trump would evolve into an overwhelming force that no one, not Cohn, his wife Ivana (Maria Bakalova), or the financial and political realities of the 80s, could contain, let alone control.

Stan describes the story of Donald Trump as an abandonment of empathy and morals in pursuit of transactional goals and the proliferation of the lie at the center of one’s narcissism. But what is Trump’s lie? “What I see in Trump is a very broken, pained, paranoid, insecure little boy,” Stan answered. “And I don’t say that to simply go, ‘He’s human, and you should feel bad for him.’ I say that to highlight the flaws that might get in the way of this person having power or moral authority. I don’t know if that’s a person I would necessarily trust.”

When it came to playing Trump, Stan drew inspiration from multiple sources, including scores of footage that helped him understand the mannerisms and visual markers that have shaped people’s perception of Trump as a businessman and a politician. He also drew inspiration from his childhood, split between Eastern Europe and the United States. He was born in Constanța, Romania, in 1982, back when the country was a socialist state, part of the Eastern Bloc. Following the Revolutions of 1989, when most communist and socialist governments fell to a wave of liberal democracy, he and his mother, Georgeta Orlovschi, moved to Vienna, where she worked as a pianist. They moved to New York when he was 12 to pursue the American Dream.

For Stan, playing Trump allowed him to unpack what pursuing the American Dream meant. “When I came to America, my mom said to me, ‘We’re here now, and I’ve sacrificed my life, and you’ve got to make something of yourself because you have this opportunity that so many kids are not going to have.’ I hear that, and it drives me, but I also feel this burden of responsibility and pressure of ‘What if I fail?’ I find with many people…you see them accumulating more things, and it’s never enough. There’s always something else. To me, The Apprentice is part of this ideology and the American Dream. When is it enough, and what does it do to a person? I think my journey through Vienna and coming here and trying to understand what it means to be an American influenced me 100% with that part and probably what drove me to do it.”

The key challenge of playing Donald Trump, of course, is playing a man who has subsumed every section of culture, especially in the last decade. He has been caricatured, parodied, and defied countless times, not to mention the nonfictional portrayals of him that are a constant presence on cable news, broadcast networks, and social media platforms. It should be an insurmountable task, but Stan succeeds in bringing this titanic figure back to Earth, teasing out subtle nuances and traits that break through the overwhelming idea of Trump and focusing on the man himself, warts and all.

“I really wanted to try and find out who this person was,” Stan said. “Going back in time and looking at some of the early footage, I saw a vulnerability and insecurity there that I didn’t know existed, that seemed buried deep underneath this bravado. I wanted to know more about that and how he became what he became. What scared me the most was, knowing that he’s so well known and in our faces everywhere, that it would be near-impossible to get anyone to even spend two hours trying to figure out who this guy was.”

Knowing that his performance would be measured against caricatures and impressions, Stan lasered in on elevating the earliest elements of the Trump persona. “What helped was that, in his earlier years, he was less,” Stan explained. “There was a lot less of what you see now, these things that have built over time. His voice didn’t sound like it does now; his mannerisms weren’t as specific. The challenge and the fear was knowing that if I did a little too much too soon, I would lose everybody, and I would just be thrown in there as another kind of impression.”

Stan’s embrace of Trump’s vulnerability and insecurity is most acutely realized in one of the film’s standout scenes: Trump grieving the loss of his brother, Fred Jr., in his bathroom. In a prior interview with Maria Bakalova, she revealed that the scene was shorter on the page. However, Abbassi kept the camera on them and let Stan and Bakalova continue in the bedroom, improvising the rest of the scene.

“In the script, the moment was him alone in the bathroom and breaking down, and then Maria walks in and finds him, and he quickly cleans himself up and says, ‘Nothing happened.’,” Stan explained. “We shot it a couple of times, and there was this take where, in the moment, I froze, and that was the truth of the scene. She walked in, and I knew we were not shooting the scene we were supposed to. But we stayed in it and explored what happened and, fortunately, Abbassi kept rolling, and it carried us into the bedroom, and we got in bed, and she put her hand on my hand, and [all that emotion] started to happen in the moment.”

Stan continued, “That was an experience that’s so reflective of my process. You can go home at night and do all this preparation and envision things going a certain way, but nine times out of ten, they don’t go that way. You surrender to the director, the other actors, and the moment. The beauty of acting and what I love about it is that, if you stay open, there’s a way it can go where you didn’t see it that ends up being closer to the truth, and want it always to be as close to the truth as possible.”

Seeking the truth is equally central to A Different Man, which premiered at Sundance last January and has steadily built acclaim throughout the year, including the Silver Bear for Stan for Best Leading Performance at the Berlin Film Festival. The first half sees Stan as Edward, wearing prosthetic makeup designed by Mike Marino to approximate neurofibromatosis. As Edward, Stan assumes a physicality that appears to be in constant apology for taking up space in the world and making others around him uncomfortable. The psychological block behind that physicality keeps him isolated, even as he forms a friendship with Ingrid (Renate Reinsve), his next-door neighbor and budding playwright. While Edward is cured of the neurofibromatosis and assumes the identity of Guy, Stan retains subtle, detailed whispers of that ungainly, apologetic physicality, cluing audiences into what Edward hasn’t gained from his transformation: self-esteem and self-acceptance.

“Our muscles hold memory,” Stan explained. “There are certain things, like trauma, that will always be there. Edward changes his physical appearance, but he’s never confronted any of the things about himself that he feels most in pain about on an internal level.” Stan accessed the emotions to conceive and convey that pain by wearing the prosthetic makeup out in New York City during breaks in shooting. “When I was walking around, I noticed that everything in me was so self-conscious. I felt people walk by me, and some would look, some would ignore me, but everything in my body was telling me to go into myself and just get through the street and to my destination as quickly as possible. So, as a result, I was walking a certain way, and I felt powerlessness, and I realized that was not going away for Edward. When he’s not conscious of it, he’s falling back right back into who he was because there was no growth there for him. I think, as Guy, he ends up going down this path that he thinks will supply him with all these things that he’s watched other people have for years, but it’s actually made his life quite boring.”

A Different Man confronts that dissonance head-on with the arrival of Adam Pearson’s Oswald. Oswald similarly has neurofibromatosis but lacks Edward’s (now Guy’s) self-hatred. He has a dazzling personality that is more than enough to capture everyone’s attention, including Ingrid (Edward’s lover and director). One day, they go to a karaoke bar, and after casually flirting with a server, Oswald gets on stage to perform. Edward watches in a potent mixture of shock, fascination, and rank devastation as the audience is enraptured, not by Oswald’s condition but by his warmth and confidence. Stan doesn’t say a word but conveys a lifetime of crippling heartbreak and self-disgust that sets Edward on the path of self-destruction that defines the gonzo final act. It is one of the year’s most affecting scenes.

Recalling the karaoke scene, Stan shared insight into Edward’s headspace in that gripping moment. “I think it’s the first time that Edward is confronted with this reality and denial of self in a very real way. I think he’s fascinated, curious, and looking for validation. He’s hoping that other people will judge Osward the way he’s judging Oswald in that moment because, by judging Oswald, it helps keep his lie alive. I think it’s fear and fascination and that he’s no longer able to run from what he’s been denying, which is that, ‘Oh, this could’ve been me. I could’ve owned myself, and I would’ve been fine.’ He’s dealing with that, and from that point on, it starts to grow until the end of the movie.”

Stan’s partnership with Pearson was key to realizing Edward’s journey. “I felt that whatever I was going to do was always going to be, or would have to be in lockstep with Adam. I was really in service to him and Aaron.” The two quickly got on the same page about what they hoped to accomplish with the film, with Pearson as a “lighthouse” to understand what it’s like living with a disability. “There was a lot of conversation around how he grew up, his childhood, his experiences, even what he encounters daily online. [There’s been such a] loss of humanity, sensitivity, and empathy online, how we attack other people and do it anonymously. The fact that Adam can go out there every day and outwit these people and has had to do that for so much of his life is inspiring and brave. I wanted to understand how someone gets to that.”

Edward and Donald Trump are the latest additions to a collection of roles that Stan has curated in his career that explore the darkness that resides in people, ranging from TJ Hammond in the TV series Political Animals to Bucky Barnes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. According to Stan, it’s been by design. “I think I’ve been curious about gravitating to things that feel complex or I don’t understand right away. I think sometimes, when we have discomfort with certain films, that can translate into ignoring something altogether. And one of those things, to me, is that we are not perfect people. We’re all susceptible to going in very different ways. We all walk around with some version of an angel and devil on each shoulder. Every day is a decision we make to go out in the world and either hurt somebody or help somebody.”

Stan continued, “I think what I’m supposed to do as an actor is keep exploring humanity and how diverse it is. So I love when there are roles that feel closer to the truth that it’s not always just black and white, or a good guy and a bad guy. It’s complex. What’s interesting to me is just how big that scope is in terms of being a human.”

In that vein, The Apprentice and A Different Man collectively serve as the thesis statement of Stan’s career thus far, shining a bright light on the messy complexities of man, told through wildly opposite but uniquely linked perspectives. What ultimately links them is what audiences are willing and unwilling to confront about their interactions with the world around them, whether political ideology or social stigmas. Stan hopes that people watching either or both films come to understand their limitations, whatever they are, and embrace curiosity and empathy.

“I still feel like there is a discomfort around these subject matters that I think confront us on a level that we’re afraid to go to,” Stan said. “I think that sometimes people are curious but are afraid of being curious, and, as a result, they’d rather look the other way and not confront anything. I was lucky enough to be in two complicated films that are confronting people in certain ways. Some people got it, and others are not ready for that yet, but I’d rather be on that side than on the safe side. I hope that, with these two films, people don’t turn the other way.”

A Different Man and The Apprentice are both available VOD on Amazon and other platforms.

[deeplyshalllow]

I've debated where to put this. I really wanted to post this as my own thing, but I was like, screw that, people will come after me, I will leave it in your inbox first <3 That seems to be where all the unhingedness ends up being anyway these days, doesn't it?

So hear me out: I think Wicked PR and Awards campaign did "Dancing Through Life" and Fiyero dirty so far, and I think it has to do about about what's in those contracts… I would like to preface this with two things:

I think every cast and crew member on this movie brought their A-game, and I would never dispute any awards or praise coming their way.

I really appreciate the passion and dedication they each brought to the role, and I am grateful for the amazing adaptation we got - so far.

I am not a PR person, so maybe some of my interpretations on this topic are incorrect, if so, please feel free to correct me in the comments

The facts I am working with:

Hollywood and the music industry is an incredibly cutthroat environment, especially for women, even in this day and age.

Cynthia and Ariana both confirmed, that before signing their contracts, they sat down together, to discuss what the other person "needs",and to make sure to phrase their contracts both in a way, that made them both happy.

Ariana would like to leave touring and her pop career on the backburner.

Cynthia has three out of the four awards to be an EGOT winner (that is Emmy, Golden Globe, Oscar, Tony), she is only missing her Oscar.

As of today, only two songs have had a "radio edit" version released, these are "Defying Gravity" and "Popular"

According to reports, there will be two songs added to the second movie, one solo for each of the leading ladies.

Even the DTL bts video features Glinda instead of Fiyero...

So, for my thing(s):

The songs charting

Looking at TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, "Dancing Through Life" seems to be super popular, in terms of people doing the dance, and also the "me and Boq" part. On Spotify, and most streaming platforms, this song a nightmare to listen to, if you just want the song, because lets be real, it's 9 minutes long, so putting it on loop is just not an option for most normies. Plus, if you just want to listen to the song, then you probably won't want to listen to all of the dialogue in it, especially if you are just a regular person, wanting to enjoy the song. This is exactly why "Defying Gravity" got a radio edit version.

I created an edited version of "Dancing Through Life", put it on YouTube, and without me sharing this video all over the place, it already has thousands of views in the matter of days, proving that people want to listen to it, and actually look it up to find an easy-listen version..

Both "Popular" and "Defying Gravity" have been on the Billboard top 100, almost ever since the movie came out. These numbers were hugely helped by those radio edits, that made these songs super loopable.

Yet we see no official radio edit for DTL, despite it probably being up there with these two songs as well. This is arguably the only song in the first movie that would have a good chance of charting, but if you were to cut it, you would have to cut Cynthia out, and leave only some of Ariana's part ("we're perfect together") in.

The awards season aspect of it all

As I highlighted, the awards are very important for both girls, for different reasons.

Ariana is trying to do a career shift to focus more on acting, so for her, any awards for her acting will help that effort greatly.

Cynthia really only needs the Oscar, to complete her EGOT, so awards campaign is very important for her as well.

One way how they can both improve their chances? They needed original songs written for WFG (Wicked: For Good), because the songs in the first movie were simply not eligible for any awards, as any song that was already featured in the musical doesn't count as "Original Song" at the Oscars. So they each got a song, to have equal chances, even though, I would argue that while Glinda is certainly less utilized in act 2 of the play, so therefore a song for her makes sense, Elphaba on the other hand (without seeing the movie, so I am so ready to be proven wrong) didn't really need it as much. It probably would have made more sense to give a solo for Fiyero, seeing as he has long been considered "underdeveloped" by many, and that would have been a good way to show how he changed between the two halves.

My theory is, that the only reason for both girls getting a song in the second movie, is for them to get equal chanes of buzz online, and awards chances as well.

We have seen with other movies, that no matter what actual value they provide to "average" folks, the Academy, that votes for the Oscars, much prefers smaller scale drama stories, and their actors, so the song category is where WFG has the most chances.

So... what do you think?

I feel like you've said most of what needs to be said in this excellent comment, but I agree. It seems weird that so much attention has been put on our two leads when so many of the cast are so strong. Not that Cynthia and Ari don't deserve it, but the others do too!

[middleearthpixie]

I'll See You in My Dreams ~ Prologue

A/N: This is the sequel to my 2022 story, Where I Belong. I had no plans to write a follow up to that, since it seemed Noelle and Thorin’s story was told as far as it could go. But then, a few weeks ago, I found myself wondering what would happen if Thorin somehow came back to Noelle’s place and time? What if their story wasn’t quite finished? Anyway, here is, I hope, what will be the answer to those questions. And if you’re unfamiliar with Noelle and Thorin, here is where their story began… 

Summary: Noelle James knows soul mates exist, the trouble is, she just can’t seem to find hers. Especially since hers seemed to have existed only in the world of cinema and The Hobbit movies. No one believes she actually spent time in Tolkien’s Middle Earth and even fewer believe Thorin Oakenshield existed in her world, either. 

So when she finds herself unexpectedly alone on yet another Christmas, she has no way of knowing exactly what the universe has in store for her this time.The trouble is, this man claiming to be Thorin can’t possibly be him, for he died at the hands of Azog the Defiler at Ravenhill. She saw him die with her own eyes.

So, it can’t be him.

Or can it?

Pairing: Thorin x ofc Noelle James

Warnings: None

Rating: T

Word Count: 1.3k

I’ll see you in my dreams 

When all our summers have come to an end

I’ll see you in my dreams,

We’ll meet and live and laugh again

I’ll see you in my dreams, up around the riverbed

For death is not the end…

Prologue

Erebor

Thorin hadn’t realized he was humming until Thalia shot him a quizzical look, to which he replied, “What?”

“You’re doing it again.”

He bit back a sigh, setting down his fork. “I apologize. I’ve had a long day and have much on my mind. And for some reason, I cannot seem to pry the tune from my head.”

“But that song is like none I’ve ever heard.” Her forehead wrinkled, her thick, dark brows furrowing as she did so. In the flickering golden candlelight, that expression made her face, normally so round and full of laughter, look almost craggy and wizened. It wasn't the first time he’d thought so, but for some reason, it had troubled him far more often of late.

He shared supper with her every evening in her flat and until recently, it had been a highlight of his day. They got on well and she made him smile, and little by little, it seemed only natural that he should begin thinking about taking a wife. Taking her as his wife.

He hadn’t broached the subject yet, though, as the timing just never seemed quite right. Then the blasted song began echoing inside his skull. There were no lyrics at first, only the melody. But, lately, as he hummed, hints of words had begun forming in his brain.

But where had he heard any of it, for it sounded like no music he knew.

“Are you certain? I thought we heard it at Yule?”

She shook her head, the wooden beads in her beard clacking. “I know I’ve never heard it. Might you at least sing me some of it?”

He shook his head. “I recall no words, but only the music.” He reached for his napkin, dabbed at his lips, and then pushed back his chair to rise. “My apologies, Thalia. I think it would be best if I took my leave now.”

Her lips curved downward in a hint of a pout and the motion smoothed the furrows in her forehead as if an invisible filament connected them. “Have you found fault with my cooking?”

“No, of course not. It just as I said, I’ve much on my mind and I fear I’m not good company as a result.”

She rose, skirting the table to catch him by the wrist. “Perhaps a walk might clear your thoughts.”

“Thank you, but no. I think only sleep will help this time.” He patted her hand, then pulled free to strides toward the door. “I will see you come tomorrow, then.”

“Yes, of course.”

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

He stepped out of her flat, pulling the door softly closed behind him. Flames danced behind globes of frosted glass in sconces mounted high along the labradorite stone walls that were slowly being polished back to their former glory.

Erebor. For so long, Thorin could only dream of reclaiming his home, of rightfully claiming his throne within those stone walls. Now that he had, it wasn't quite the dream come true he’d once imagined. No, he’d spent nearly six months recuperating from the wounds he’d received at Ravenhill, at hands of the pale orc Azog the Defiler, and when he’d done that?

The real work had begun.

It was a two-steps-forward-one-step-back process, but over the last six months, he could at least now see the signs of renovation, especially in the main levels of the kingdom. The lower levels, aside from the forges, still needed much in the way of work, but as he made his way up to the Great Hall, cracked, damaged, and sooty stone gave way to solid walls polished to an almost-mirror like finish. 

But he didn't stop at the Great Hall. Nor did he make his way up to the ramparts, where he’d preferred to go when he needed to think and clear his head. 

No this time, he went outside, nodding at the guard in the gatehouse as he left the warmth of the fortress to step into the darkness of the winter night. Snow drifted, blew this way and that, swirling wildly about him as he followed the narrow slate pathway away from Erebor. The pathway became a flight of cut-stone stairs, worn and crumbling in places, that led up behind his kingdom, toward a different fortress. One he did not often venture to without good reason. 

Ravenhill was not high on the list of his favorite places. In fact, he avoided it as much as possible. But for some reason, he felt drawn there this evening. The tune that had been playing in his head for the last few days grew louder now. And not only that, but the words that had been but fragments were fragments no more. Instead, they became words he knew, yet didn't know at all. 

Well, it ain’t no secret, I’ve been 'round a time or two. Well, I don’t know, baby, maybe you been around, too. Well, there’s another dance, honey. All you gotta do is say yes, and if you’re rough and ready for love, honey, I’m tougher than the rest.

The voice singing them in his head did not belong to him. It was raspier than his and not nearly as deep. And while he didn't know whose voice it was, he knew he would know the name, should he ever hear it.

Or perhaps he was just going mad again. 

Snow blew harder now, but he didn't really feel the cold. Didn't notice the flakes sweeping his nose, getting caught in his beard, in his hair. All he knew was the voice in his head grew louder as he neared the river. 

A vision swept before his eyes. A woman. With a long tangle of red hair. In his arms.

Well, it ain’t no secret, I’ve been 'round a time or two. Well, I don’t know, baby, maybe you been around, too. Well, there’s another dance, honey. All you gotta do is say yes, and if you’re rough and ready for love, honey, I’m tougher than the rest.

He closed his eyes against the rising voice inside his head. 

The voice grew louder still. 

A dull thud jarred through him as he dropped to his knees alongside the rushing river. 

The music swelled.

“Leave me in peace… Mahal…” he gritted, his hands pressing against his ears as if that would somehow block the sounds. 

It blocked nothing. It didn't even quiet them. Instead, the voice grew louder. 

Well, it ain’t no secret, I’ve been 'round a time or two. Well, I don’t know, baby, maybe you been around, too. Well, there’s another dance, honey. All you gotta do is say yes, and if you’re rough and ready for love, honey, I’m tougher than the rest.

Nausea swelled. Bile rose into the back of his throat. He gagged. He coughed.

The blackness came out of nowhere, roaring in his ears like that of Smaug the terrible just before he broke through Erebor’s front façade to torch Esgaroth to cinders. It filled his ears. It pressed into him from all sides. 

And with a final gulp, it swallowed him whole. 

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[insanityclause]

When Tom Hiddleston landed his career-changing role in Marvel’s Thor back in April 2009, he never dreamed he would be playing the character for nearly 15 years. To be fair, no one did—except maybe Marvel’s mastermind Kevin Feige, who had begun laying the cinematic groundwork for a multi-billion dollar franchise. At the time, Hiddleston happily threw himself into extensive research and prep to play the duplicitous brother of Thor (Chris Hemsworth).  “I was cast in April 2009, and I had about eight months to build the character from the ground up,” Hiddleston says on this week’s Little Gold Men. “So that was a deep dive into everything Loki from any comic book, any Norse myth, any saga, everything—from the whole run of Marvel comics to the ancient Scandinavian stories, and how he pops up in The Ring cycle for Wagner, and Jim Carrey is wearing the mask of Loki in The Mask.” Hiddleston was trying to discover “this sense of, what's Loki's impact on human imagination and culture? And then synthesizing all of that into the story we’re telling. That was such a delightful period of discovery and curiosity.”

Hiddleston’s scene-stealing portrayal made him an instant fan favorite, laying a formidable foundation for a character who went on to appear in six more films and the stand-alone series Loki. The two-season series threw the character into a new dimension and timeline, stripped him of all his creature comforts, and gave the actor new challenges to tackle.

“In successive iterations, [my approach] has been, how do I keep it interesting?” he says. “I genuinely say this to myself and to others: ‘We're not reheating yesterday's meal in the microwave. We're cooking up something new.’ It's trying to find new ingredients or new challenges for the character, for us as actors, so that it feels like the same person is growing. Because that's what human beings do. They don't stay the same, they grow. Sometimes they regress, but there's always movement.”

Hiddleston has gone on to star in a wide array of projects outside the Marvel universe, of course, from his Emmy-nominated, Golden Globe-winning work in The Night Manager to Jim Jarmusch’s acclaimed romantic vampire drama Only Lovers Left Alive and Steven Spielberg’s epic War Horse. But he’s definitely spent the most time with the God of Mischief. And though no official announcement has been made, the final episode of Loki season two strongly indicates the closing of a formative chapter.

The actor and executive producer stopped by Little Gold Men for a thoughtful discussion about the gift of developing and playing a single character for so long, the surreal fun of working with drama school classmates turned costars Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Wunmi Mosaku, and getting to come up with the character's last line (for now). Listen below, where you can also read excerpts from the conversation.

Vanity Fair: Did the series version of Loki feel a little more stripped down, or did you have the same kind of mindset playing him as you did in the films? Tom Hiddleston: Yes. I think it was stripped down literally in the sense of taking away the costume, but stripped down spiritually and in his soul. I thought [the concept] was such a brilliant idea, and it wasn't mine. It was [executive producers] Michael Waldron and Kevin Wright, and the great and the good at Marvel Studios. I thought for any character, if you were presented with your life and watching a kind of highlight reel of it, what would it add up to? Would it be satisfying? Would it be meaningful? Would it be amusing? Would it be disappointing? And I thought to do that with Loki especially, as it's the journey of a life that the audience is familiar with, but he hasn't seen it. I just thought it was a brilliant conceit. And then I leaned into this idea of the leopard being challenged to change his spots. Because you'd have to if your life ended up in murder by Thanos and humiliation. You'd want to try something new.

And that was really fun, developing a story which was actually very philosophical. It asks the question of Loki, as I hope it asks the question of all of us: Are we in control of the course of our lives? Do we have any free will, and can we break free from any kind of predetermination? It seemed like a great question, and a fun way to ask it.

You’re also an executive producer on the series. How did you take on that role? What did you get to do?

Honestly, it was such an honor and I loved it. I loved the extra imagining and problem solving. I was invited into the writer's room really early, season one, even earlier on season two. And to borrow the words from Lin Manuel Miranda, to be in the room where it happens, and to sit around the table and break story and crunch through the great creative ‘what if’ questions—what if Loki did this? What if Mobius [Owen Wilson] did that? What if they couldn't find Sylvie? What if the TVA ran on an energy source, and it wasn't energy, it was time?

Can you take any credit for bringing Ke Huy Kwan or your RADA buddies Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Wunmi Mosaku on board? I love that that was a little bit of a through-line, that you all got to work together.

Well, when their names came up, Gugu and Wunmi particularly, I was able to say, those guys are great. And Ke was just an amazing idea because actually, [his character] Ouroboros was coming to life on the page. Somebody suggested Ke, and Everything Everywhere All At Once had just come out. And I was like, genius: somebody call him now before we lose him. He was so joyful and optimistic and happy to be there, so honored to be there. He'd wanted to be in a Marvel project his whole life, I think, and, and he brought everything and more to that character.

The day he landed, he came from the airport straight to the studio, probably thinking, ‘I'll just say hello and go back to my digs.’ And Owen and I were actually rehearsing the scene before Mobius and Loki meet OB for the first time. And he came in and he listened. And then we got to the bit where we were like, ‘You're in the next bit. Do you want to do it?’ He said ‘Okay!’ And he stayed and rehearsed for three hours. I think he felt completely crazy having just [traveled] across the continents, but it was so brilliant. And the chemistry was so immediate between the three of us, and so funny. We all love Ke.

Thinking about your journey with this character and all the places he has taken you, has there been a surreal aspect to it? I think about you being in drama school with Gugu and Wunmi—now you're getting paid to play.

It's a wonderful question, and I'm never unaware of the great gift that this job is. Especially because it happens all the time,: I go out into the world and I meet young people or children, and they're so amazed that they’re meeting Loki. I'm obviously not Loki, but the response is so immediate and so emotional and so joyful. What a gift. It's the best job in the world. And I never dreamed back then that I would be part of something with such reach and for so long. It just is the most unlikely, surprising, delightful thing. And we—Wunmi and Gugu I've known for a long time. It is amazing to look and go, ‘Can you believe we're here, we're doing this?’ It is exciting too, because it feels right in some way and they're great actors. They are brilliant.

Do you get recognized as the character, or are people starting to recognize you for your other work?

Oh, it's always different. I went to a friend's birthday party the other day—a friend and his wife, both turning the same age. They got a taco stand. I went to get my taco and the guys were like, ‘Only Lovers Left Alive, man. Love that film.’ And I said, ‘Thank you very much. That's very kind.’ Some people say The Night Manager. Some people stop me in the street and go, ‘It's you! You're the dancer.’ And they're referring to some talk show, some bit of dancing I did on a talk show from like a thousand years ago, which really tickles me.

Speaking of dancing, I wanted to bring up your physicality. With the most recent season of Loki in particular and that time slip, did you have to have massages and stretch after? Because it seems like such a jarring movement.

It's jerky, yes. I had to put my body under a kind of relentless physical stress. But I think it pays off in the way it's presented. In terms of movement and physicality, it comes from my own admiration for other performers when I sense that there is a really, alive and visceral physicality in the performance. Some of people are great actors, very cerebral, very intelligent, but sometimes not always fully embodied. And I love the actors who are giving me a sense that the whole body is occupying whichever space that is. They could be on a horse, they could be driving a car, they could have just run in through the jungle. I don't know, it could be anything, but a real sense of physicality is always something I admire in other actors.

One of my favorite things in doing a little research about your work on this season was that you got to craft Loki’s last lin,e and it also maybe came from going on a run. Can you talk about that? Well, first on running, I love it and it is a big part of my life. And a big part of my creative life. Running outside, in space, in the world with only your own legs to carry you and your own breath to fuel you, I find incredibly freeing. And it's where I do some of my best thinking and dreaming and imagining. Things bubble up from inside you. So I often run at the beginning of a day, very early and with an awareness of what's coming, what the scenes of the day are. Sometimes things will bubble up. And maybe that's just extra oxygen in the brain, who knows? 

But to the point about that last line: one of the things I kept trying to guide our team back to was that the whole series, both seasons, was really about finding purpose, or re-finding, re-defining, re-discovering a sense of purpose. And I think a primal need in all of us, is that we need our lives to mean something. So I kept coming back to this line from The Avengers, ‘I am Loki of Asgard and I am burdened with glorious purpose.’ And we kept thinking, well, if Loki has a second chance, he gets to redefine his purpose or re-imagine it. I went for a run and was listening to some film scores, and it was a beautiful day. I was thinking about the journey of playing this character and where it started, and all the people that I have had the great good fortune to work with and become friends with—that completely unique kind of soul-sharing relationship where you make something together. And I remembered the end of the first Thor film, and how emotional that felt and. I just suddenly thought, that's what he should say—but it should mean something completely different. Loki's last line in Thor, directed by Kenneth Branagh, is, ‘I could have done it, Father. I could have done it for you, for all of us.’ And of course his effort to gain his father's pride has been misguided and ill thought-out. And then at the end of Loki season 2, 14 years later, he turns to Mobius and Sylvie and says, ‘I know what I want I know what kind of god I need to be. For you. For all of us.’ It felt very resonant somehow. I hope the audience picked up on that.

Are you able to just say goodbye when it's wrap time, or do you have any sort of meditative, formal way of saying goodbye to a project or a character?

That's such a good question. I think it's a very honest, immediate feeling of relief, which they say is the most intense human emotion. You'd think it was anger or grief or something, but actually relief is—the way relief kind of washes through you, and a sense of finality that some finish line has been crossed and there are no more miles to run. And for me anyway, huge amounts of energy have been stored inside myself which had been poured out over time—over maybe 20 weeks or however many months. 

I love that feeling of completeness. The great joy of what I do for a living is that it involves very intense, very close working with a team. And the pride that you can feel with your teammates, with your crew, with your cast—you just hang around and say goodbye, but it never really is goodbye. And there's just a sense of, like, “that'll do, pig,” you know? Yeah: that'll do, pig.

[thenextdawn-backup]

Yours Again

Word count: 4.7K

Summary: you’re invited at golden globes both as a nominee and to present but there you’ll meet your ex, Jenna. How will it go and what will happen?

Warnings: angst if you squint

Pairing: Jenna Ortega X Fem!Reader

———

You had never expected to be nominated and competing for the golden globe that would be given to the best actress of the year but, here you were. Surely you weren’t expecting to win either, you had no hopes of that. Your career had yet to reach its high, and you had a long way to go, considering you haven’t been acting for long and your works haven’t fully been acknowledged yet. People were slowly starting to see you more often though, and your recent show where you had been protagonist, was the one that made you get a nomination. You wouldn’t have gone to the golden globes if it weren’t for this nomination, considering that Jenna would be there. She had been nominated in two categories. Best actress and best comedy show, and it was obvious to you that she would win both of them, giving you zero chances of winning the best actress award.

You and Jenna had broken up a couple years ago and it was the worst heartbreak of your life, you lost over 10kgs because of that heartbreak. She was too busy, putting work before you, getting too close to other people. You didn’t deserve that, so the two of you broke up and you pursued your own career, which inevitably led to this. You enjoyed having your own reputation, and for once it was good to be recognized for your works instead of being known as “Jenna’s girlfriend” or worse, “Jenna’s Ex”. People knew the two of you had broken up but no one ever knew why, and after two years finally people had started to bypass this detail of your life. Still, you would have refused going if they didn’t call you to present for the best comedy show nomination, so you had to go. You showed up wearing this dress which wasn’t the most expensive or the prettiest, but it would do for the night.

Everyone was told that they could bring a person with them, a “plus one” that would be there to keep you company, but you didn’t have one so you showed up alone, with the only company of your stylists and body guards. They were really good people, and you loved being around them. As soon as you arrived, paparazzis came your way and started taking pictures and videos of you, while you kept walking inside the place, going to the place where you could actually pose for the pictures. Soon you got there and your stylists fixed your hair - which was tied in a high wavy ponytail - and dress quickly for the pictures. Your makeup matched the dark green of your dress, especially the eye shadow. Eyeliner and mascara completing the look as well as some highlighter on your cheekbones and nose. You looked gorgeous, to say the least.

You started posing for the pictures, both staying serious and smiling. You were confident with yourself so these things, came to you very naturally. “(Y/N) over here!” “(Y/N) smile for the camera!” These sentences were echoing throughout the place, other actors turning to look at you. It was your first golden globes you attended, some actors didn’t know you, some others did. But you had definitely made an entrance and people wanted to see more and more of you. Soon enough though, you had to go because you had to go present for the category and as you turned around to check the stylist fixing your dress, you saw her. Jenna was posing, paparazzi there the same numbers as your own. She looked gorgeous, you hadn’t seen her in forever but she had cut her hair, now keeping them in a shoulder-length. She was wearing this probably gucci dress in a rose gold color, with a really long veil behind her.

Your jaw nearly dropped. She looked even more beautiful than the day you two broke up. You were still kids relatively, both being 18 but now you were both 20 and had definitely matured, you wondered if it would be a good chance, to get back in contact with her and try have a relationship again. Though on the other hand, you two haven’t talked ever since and you didn’t know if it would be a great idea. Your stylists saw you were staring, and knowing your situation with Jenna they grabbed your attentions and led you to where you were supposed to present, even though you had to wait a bit more for everyone to join the salon, as you waited backstage.

About 30 minutes passed and finally you could walk on stage. Lights turned on and as you walked in with a smile on your face people started cheering for you, unexpectedly. Until it was just the paparazzi, you could understand. But now it was the other actors too. You were slowly realizing how famous your new show had made you and to be honest, you liked it. As soon as you arrived in front of the microphone, you adjusted it for your height as you smiled at the public. “Hello everyone. As you know tonight we’re presenting the nominations for the best comedy show and best actress of the year, we’ve got many actresses competing for those awards that I’m personally a very big fan of and I’m really honored tonight to be here and present for the best comedy show. We’ll get to it in a minute, the time to get the envelope” you gave out one of your smiles and people applauded to you and waited.

Only when you walked on stage did Jenna see you. She totally wasn’t expecting to see you there, even if she knew you were a nominee for the best actress of the year award, she thought you wouldn’t come, knowing you. She was there with her best friend Percy, who you knew as well. Jenna was still in love with you, but back two years ago she had too much work to think about a relationship and she didn’t realize it until she saw how hurt it made you, that hurt to break up with her. She understood your points of view, but still, it hurt, even if she knew it was her fault. “She looks beautiful, doesn’t she?” Percy asked, seeing that her friend Jenna’s jaw had dropped looking at you. Of course he knew everything. “Yeah, she does..” Jenna said, not taking her eyes off of you.

You soon got the envelope and soon talked into the microphone again. “Okay, we’re back with the envelope” people applauded once again, before a deep silence fell into the room, everyone hoping to receive the awaited award. “And the golden globe for the best comedy show goes to…” of course you had to create suspense as you opened the envelope. “Jenna Ortega!” You said with a small smile. Of course it had to be her, she was getting so much recognition recently as well as you, because of her new show dropping, Wednesday. The room exploded with applauses and cheers as your ex girlfriend walked on stage, a huge smile on her face as she held her dress up as not to trip. Even with your past, you had to smile and set it aside. You took the award and handed it to her “congratulations” you said as you both leaned in for a hug, it was just a polite hug, yet you felt like you had been longing for it forever.

She gave a short speech to which you didn’t listen, too busy thinking about the hug you two had just shared. It probably meant nothing to her, but you needed it and now that you had it, you wanted more, but you couldn’t. You made your way to your table which you hadn’t even tried to find yet, but being alone, you hoped it wasn’t the table with Jenna. Then you went back on your words because the table ended up being the same one your other ex girlfriend Amber was in, and as if it couldn’t get any worse, your seat was right next to her. You sat down without acknowledging her. “How’s it feel to be this famous?” The girl asked you with that provocative tone of yours you so badly hated. “Not now, Amber. I’m trying to figure out if I won an award” you said and tried to ignore her, listening to the woman presenting. You didn’t know her, but it probably was another actress.

“You broke up with me, you broke up with Jenna… have you tried thinking that maybe the problem is you?” God this woman had always been on your nerves but what she said had you thinking. Was it really your fault? Were you too needy? “Amber, shut the fuck up. Will you?” You said harshly, and maybe even a little bit too loud because some other people in the room close to your table turned to look at you, Jenna included as she was in the table next to yours, but you ignored them. The girl looked at you with a shocked face. “Thank you.” You said and moved your attentions back to the woman presenting. “And the Golden Globe to the best actress of the year goes to…” your heart was beating so fast, fingers crossed in hope to win it, even though on one hand you knew that there were better actresses than you.

“(Y/N) (L/N)!” The room erupted in cheers, applauses and happy screams as shock took place on your face. A huge smile appeared on it as you covered your mouth with your hand and stood up, looking around. You walked on stage, lights on you and paparazzi taking pictures of you as you took the award in your hands and stood in front of the microphone. “Hey again” you said with a bright smile, your eyes were slightly teary from the emotions. “I had a speech prepared in case I ever won an award, but I seem to have forgotten it” people laughed as well as you. “I had never expected to win an award, especially not this one. My works haven’t been getting recognized much until just recently, and I’m finally getting a reputation for my own name and it feels really good. It has always been a dream of mine to have such a reputation and now that I have it, it doesn’t feel real. Thank you so much” everyone started applauding again and you looked around, noticing Jenna smiling - a big smile indeed - at you and applauding. The look in her eyes almost telling you ‘I’m proud of you’ .

You smiled back at her looking directly in her eyes and then walked off stage, award in hand as you made your way back to your table. When you walked there, People you knew and people you don’t congratulating to you. When you sat down Amber didn’t dare to look at you, and you figured out that she was competing for that same award and she was mad you took it instead of her. “(Y/N)” you turned around at the mention of your name, to where the familiar voice was coming from. You saw Jenna smile at you again. “Congratulations. I knew you’d make it” she said and you slightly smile back, the desire of kissing her right then and there kicking out but you knew you couldn’t. “Thank you” you said and paid attention to the rest of the ceremony.

When the ceremony had finished and you left the salon, you were met by your stylists who you were really close with and they hugged you tightly, congratulating to you as they also told you how proud they were of you, having been following you ever since the start of your career they were family now. You explained them how you met Amber, how you were the one to give Jenna the award and how she congratulated to you and useless to say, they were as shocked as you were. “(Y/N), you know this means she still likes you, right?” One of your stylists, Jamie said, whispering as to not be heads by paparazzi. “No, she doesn’t. I’m sure you’re mistaken” you tried to convince yourself of it, even though deep down you wanted to believe that she still liked you. “I swear! When you won the award they always recorded her and she was looking at you with heart eyes! If that isn’t love I don’t known what is.”

You were about to reply but then you were called to take pictures with the awards and other actors and of course you were called to pose with Jenna. Somehow you felt like you had been set up: you had to award her, your table was right next to hers and now the pictures together… anyway, she was already there and waiting for you, smiling and you soon reached her and also gave her a small smile, though a slightly uncomfortable one. You posed next to her but the photographers invited you to stand closer. You were taller than her even if she was in high heels and yours were shorter, your dresses making a perfect contrast to each other’s. Your dark green dress was in contrast with her rose gold one but at the same time, they looked good together. This served as a metaphor to what your relationship used to be… you and Jenna were so different to one another, yet together you were just perfect.

To get closer without seeming to awkward, Jenna wrapped an arm around your waist and you did the same with her, even though your touch was less confident than hers. You smiled for the picture, award in hand as they took a lot of pictures of the two of you. You were soon finished “(Y/N), can we talk?” Jenna asked after the photographers had left. “Not now Jen, I have some interviews… maybe later” you said, not wanting to dismiss her completely and then went to your interviews. They were all the same, except for this one. “Everyone, meet the best actress of the year!” You were introduced by the woman as you smiled at the camera and said hello. “So, how’s it feel to be best actress of the year?” She asked and moved the microphone towards you. “It’s amazing. It’s a dream to be here in the first place, and to be nominated best actress… it doesn’t feel real. I don’t know what to say, it’s still a shock for me” you laughed nervously

“Tell us a bit about the show that got you this award” she asked and you smiled slightly. “Well it’s a show that talks about this girl going through lots of bad stuff such as grief, loss, car crashes, depression. All the bad stuff no one expects in their life. It was really hard for me to film because you have to show a lot of emotions in very different ways, but I think I did a great job” you said proudly. “You definitely were amazing in there! How do you feel about the reputation you finally got?” Your smile dropped a bit, everyone always asked about your reputation well knowing that at first you were only known as Jenna’s girlfriend. “It feels good, really. Finally I have something I can call my own and I’m really really proud of it” you answered shortly, you hated this question. “And how about being the one to give out the award to the best comedy show actress?” Again, a question somehow regarding Jenna.

“Well being there presenting was definitely an honor, this being my first golden globes I never expected to be called to present. Jenna is a really good actress so she definitely deserved the award” luckily you knew how to respond to answers without making people misunderstand your words. “Well it was nice interviewing you. Thank you for your time and congratulations again” you thanked them as well and then left perhaps to go to another interview. Going on interviews the questions started getting crazier and people hinted to you being back with Amber. Did she tell people something? Did she tell people that the two of you were back together? After hearing this you refused any kind of interviews and went to look for Amber. When you found her, she was having an interview. “I’m sorry, I’ll steal her for a second” you said and moved not too far away, wanting paparazzi to hear what you were going to say.

“Amber, why are you telling people that we are back together?” You asked her angrily, eyes fuming “because, I deserve another chance and I want to try again” she said and you furrowed your brows in anger. “It’s not something you decide on your own! Jesus Amber, Don’t you understand that I do not want to get back with you? Here I thought I was the problem. You’re toxic, and the fact that you tell people we’re together when we’re clearly not says everything. Stop lying to people and make your own life without it affecting mine” you said, your voice tone higher than usual as you wanted paparazzi to record what you were saying so that they wouldn’t make weird articles about the two of you. After this sudden outburst, you headed to where the after party would be taking place. Your stylists had taken your award and let you go to the party, obviously after fixing your hair and make up once again.

At the party, you realized that not bringing your plus one was a bad choice. Everyone was busy talking or having fun while you, on your own, just took your drink and sat down, having occasional talks with the other actors that congratulated to you for your award, and the few that had listened to your conversation with Amber told you how badass you had been. They all knew how Amber was and some even wondered how you could get in a relationship with her. You sat at your table the whole time, sipping on your drink before Jenna came towards you. “Can we talk now? Please?” She asked, her voice soft and eyes pleading. You nodded at her and the two of you went somewhere private - this time were no one would see or hear you - as you waited for her to talk.

“(Y/N), I just wanted to tell you that I’m sorry for… what happened two years ago, you know..” she said and looked down, ashamed. She had recognized her mistakes long ago, only you didn’t know. “Yeah… I’m sorry, too..” you said looking down, though sometimes glancing at her. “Can we just.. start over?” You looked up at her “as friends. Nothing more nothing less. Then see where it takes us” you thought about it for a while. Amber had asked you the same stuff, only she was forcing you to give her another chance, while Jenna left you free choice. You had missed her a lot, and you needed her back in her life to finally be whole again, you knew you needed her. And even though you wished you were more, you knew it had to wait. “I missed you, Jen” you said smiling and she moved in for a hug, which you reciprocated hugging her very tightly obviously being careful not to step on her dress.

“I missed you so much, you have no idea” she replied back as she took your hand and squeezed it gently. “I have no idea but I can imagine… you have no idea how much I missed you too. Like my jaw dropped when I saw you walk in in this beautiful dress” the two of you kept on talking for a while as you went back to the party, also joining Percy who smirked at the two of you. “Okay so, you’re starting of as “friends”” he started, using air quotes. “But we all know that soon enough you’ll be back together, the way you look at each other is flirty enough” he said making the two of you blush. The party continued, you all got a few drinks because the three of you were tipsy, and more pictures of you and Jenna were taken, until it was finally time to leave.

“Do you have a drive back to the hotel?” Jenna asked. The hotel was the same for everyone present there so she knew where you were supposed to go. “Uh my stylist was supposed to take me there but I suppose I’ll send he a text and tell her I’m coming with you” Jenna smiled at you while nodding as you texted her an ‘no need to take me to the hotel, I’m going with Jenna’ to which she replied with a couple 😏 emojis. You smiled at the text and got into the car with Jenna, Percy getting in another car as the two of you headed the hotel, sitting close together in the backseat. The trip was awkward for a while until she spoke up “you know, I’ve been watching all of your works recently… your latest show is amazing, you did really good” she said and you smiled back, looking at her. “I’m obsessed with your new show Wednesday too so, we’re even” you smiled making her giggle, god you had missed that laugh of hers.

The two of you exchanged glances for a while, just looking into each other’s eyes with a small smile. “You know, you’re even prettier than you were two years ago” you said softly, you didn’t mean to say it, you were thinking it but it just came out like that, you blushed and she did the same, but she grabbed your hand and intertwined your fingers with her own. You felt comfortable so you just stayed like that till you got back to your hotel. “Do you want to spend the night in my room? We’re both alone and… I could use the company” you knew where this was going, but you agreed. You were alone too, and you had been alone for a while now, plus you had definitely missed Jenna. You went to your own room just to change into your pyjama and take your dress off, and Jenna did the same.

When you were done you walked back to Jenna’s room, when you knocked it was almost like she was there behind the door because she opened it immediately. “Hey again” you said awkwardly as she smiled and took your hand, pulling you into the room. “You know, this reminds me of when I would sneak you on set” she said smiling as the two of you sat on her bed. That made you smile as well “yeah, it was really fun. I remember that night on The fallout set when Megan got mad because she thought someone unknown had gotten in and then she saw it was me and got mad at us for scaring her” Jenna started laughing pretty loudly as she slowly scooted closer to you “oh my god yes! That’s a core memory of mine” she said happily and then silence filled the room for a while.

“You know I’m glad we decided to start over. I don’t know how long I can go being just friends because I’m still in love with you” you said softly and hesitantly brought a hand up to her face, first moving a strand of hair out of her face and then you gently caressed her cheek with the back of your hand, while she looked at you with nothing but love in her eyes. “(Y/N) we were young… and we didn’t know how to organize our time. I did put my job before you and I regret it every single day, but at the time I didn’t know that it could cause you so much pain and I’m so sorry for that. You only existed in my shadow and it was wrong in so many different ways but I only realized it was wrong when I had already lost you. I’m so proud of the woman you are now, and I’m so glad that you decided to give me a second chance because until now… I wasn’t fully living. I was just surviving. Because my life without you is just surviving and now that you’re back in it, I feel like I can start living again, regardless of what’s between us. I just need you to be in my life” she said and took both your hands, eyes filling with hope.

You squeezed her hand and looked at her, hesitantly raising your hand once again to caress her cheek. She leaned in for the touch and closed her eyes “I love you so much (Y/N)… I’ve never stopped and I feel so bad for hurting you, please, please, please forgive me” she begged and looked at you, getting closer to you. You had to admit you were hesitant. “Don’t get me wrong for what I’m about to say, but in our relationship, you hurt me so much… but still, I’ll do it again. I’d rewind time to be in a relationship with you again because I love you so much. Jenna you have no Idea how much I want to be in a relationship with you again” you said and she looked at you, fearing that you’d refuse her. When her thoughts became too intrusive, you leaned in and kissed her very softly. Hand on her cheek the other pulling her close from her waist as you felt her kiss you back, tears escaping Jenna’s eyes which you felt and wiped away.

In this moment, it was just the two of you. Your lips, your bodies getting closer together. She had always been so small and would be the perfect fit for your body, you weren’t too big, you were average but she fit perfectly in your arms. The kiss the two of you were sharing was so soft. There was the urge of kissing each other after years, sure, but it was the softest kiss you ever shared with her, you both felt so many emotions, but relief was the main one. Both of you were finally relieved to be with each other again and it felt perfect. Jenna’s left hand moved to your neck and then your shoulder, pulling you closer with the other hand that went through your hair. Eventually the two of you had to pull back, and without saying anything else, you just smiled at each other and went to sleep.

The next morning you were the first to wake up, like it always used to be two years ago. You and Jenna were facing each other and she was still sleeping, you always loved watching her sleep. She looked so pretty and so peaceful, she looked like an angel, your angel. You lightly caressed her cheek to wake her up like your usual, and feeling your soft touch she smiled and moved in closer to you, you wrapped your arms around her. “I missed this…” she whispered. “Good morning sleepyhead” you said and kissed her head, and then you took your phone. Your stylists had sent you a link, which took to a website online. “Jenna Ortega and (Y/N)(L/N) Dating again? Fans are hopeful after a video of the two of them went viral on tik tok. Do we have hopes of seeing them together again?” The title of the article read. You showed Jenna, and you two went on tik tok to see the videos. Useless to say that you were both really embarrassed.

“Looks like we gave them what they wanted without even knowing it. Should we uhm, confirm or deny?” You asked her. She went quiet and then she took her phone, shooting a picture of your legs entangled with hers and posted it on her instagram stories, writing “mine again.” Without tagging you. You smiled at her possessiveness and pulled her closer, “yep, I’m yours again.”

[thegreatimpersonator]

im genuinely thinking y'all don't even know what the joke was and are just joining in on the angry mob, the joke was 'the only difference between the nfl and the golden globes, the golden globes has fewer shots of taylor swift, there's just more to go to'... whats 'misogynistic' about that? for real. the joke is literally saying taylor is the only interesting thing the nfl has going for it? like it's literally saying, in a way, that she's the highlight of the games and the nfl is boring without her like??? hello?

[jhkfan123]

enchanted- tom blyth | ch. 9

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✦ix.

A/N: this chapter is so me when-

2nd A/N: guys i KNOW the oscars aren't directly after the golden globes but pls ignore its for the plot. 😁

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you felt like throwing stuff. just throwing everything in sight. the two of them cannot tell you everything is fine, and then pull a stunt like that. not only did it confuse you, it only fueled the fire of the relationship rumors even more. at this point, you were considering deleting social media altogether. you did not want to deal with it. at this point it made every day worse. it sucked you in like a vacuum, and you couldn't escape what you didn't want to see. no matter how many times you clicked "not interested" on a post, it would not help the amount of rachel and tom content you saw. it wasn't healthy. 

you had the impulse to archive all of your social media posts and just take a break. maybe it would help. help you get away from all the things you didn't want to see. you reminisced on your actors on actors with jenna ortega. everything the two of you had said. maybe it was a good idea. you were feeling impulsive anyways. 

just to be petty, the only posts you archived were the ones that were hunger games related. at least, for now.  why not be petty? they seemed to have lied to you, anyways. 

you felt they were treating you like a child. like you couldn't handle the truth. yes, it would be hard to hear, but it's not like you wouldn't understand. you weren't a little kid. you were an adult. a petty adult? yes. but an adult nonetheless. you wouldn't have been so angry if they hadn't lied. if they had said it to your face, you wouldn't be reacting like this. but you just felt anger. 

you felt like you wanted to break something. break something like he broke your heart. you weren't going to slash his tires or anything, nothing to him. just something to destress. but there was nothing in your house that you could. so you just decided to scream into your pillow. easy solution. then, you continued to archive your posts. every single one that included tom. it was fun. so much fun. you felt a little immature, but it was definitely making you feel better. then you went through you instagram highlights. took them all down. you changed your profile picture, which was originally a picture of you, rachel, josh, tom and hunter, to a solitary picture of you. it felt so good. you knew your social media team would be mad, but who cared. 

then you cried. the situation was giving you major mood swings. angry, sad, angry, sad, really angry, sad. this went on for hours. you rotted in bed. you called your best friend and cried to her for about an hour. you just listened to olivia rodrigo. she seemed to have songs that fit every situation. you listened to get him back! and lacy on repeat. 

then making the bed came on. and then you realized. in 2024, you should not be rotting over a possible dating situation. you should not be crying for hours over a situation that you can easily question. you are the only one who is making you feel like this. you were doing this to yourself. this could easily be solved by talking to them, and even better, you had your final red carpet event of the season, where both of them would be in attendance. this event just so happened to be the oscars. it was very exciting, and even though none of you had been nominated, just going would be an amazing experience.  you had to deal with the truth, and that was, if they are together, there was absolutely nothing you could do about it. you could not go back in time and do something differently. and if they weren't together, great. 

you had to stop being immature, and start being rational. you had to prepare yourself. you glanced up at your door. your stylist had picked out a white dress. there was no way. you scavenged in your dress closet for anything better. 

...

after a lot of slow skincare, a shower, and digging through your closet, you eventually picked out a black, elegant, silky dress with a very high slit. you paired it with a layered pearl choker, and a black garter. the garter was visible, but not totally out there. you put on the highest black heels you owned, did you hair nicely, created your daily bracelet stack, and prepared to leave. you paired your outfit with a black clutch, and made your way out the door. you knew people would be dressed in gowns, and other elegant things, and your dress might now be as big and showy, but you had a point to make. again, it was based on princess diana's revenge dress. you really admired her, and this look made you feel empowered.

when you arrived on the red carpet, you walked with confidence. you had been on a lot of red carpets these past few weeks, so you had developed a strategy. get on, say hi to a few fans, strike a few poses, more fans, and then walk in. so that's what you did. stepping out of the car, there was an immediate reaction to your outfit. it was a mix of shock and surprised gasps, along with cheering. you went over to the crowd and began to say hi to a few people. you took a photo with one young fan who was so adorable. then, you did two short interviews. next it was time to pose. you were going to make sure there were lots of photos. on your way to the carpet, you caught sight of tom. he was maybe 25 feet away from you, posing on a different background. 

However, you accidently made eye contact with him. he looked at you, glanced down at your outfit, then up to your face once more, then down to your outfit, then up to your face. he couldn't seem to get enough of you. he seemed to be shocked at your outfit, which is what you were going for. you didn't know wether to smile at him, or to look away. 

you ended up doing a combination of both, which looked very odd. you had hoped no one caught that on camera. you saw him smile slightly, but then he turned away and posed again. you took the hint and went back to posing again. you had not found rachel yet, or any of your other castmates. still on the red carpet, a security guard gave you a fifteen minute warning to the top of the show. you decided maybe you should go find your seat. at the oscar's there was not as much of a guarantee you would be seated with the members of your movie as other events. the only guarantee was if you were nominated. 

you walked past the coat check, and over to the seating chart. the theater was huge, so finding your seat took a while. you sighed when you found that your seat was next to tom. and tom was next to rachel. on your other side, hunter schafer, and josh. you were glad to know you weren't seated in the middle of them again. you had hunter to talk to if things got weird. 

shuffling through people, you finally approached your seat. you gave hunter a tight hug, she was being so unproblematic in this whole situation, and you were here for it. you sat down in-between hunter and tom, and the second you sat down, your mind blank. you had no idea what to say to the boy next to you. do you ask him now? wait till the party? go outside? don't ask at all? that one was definitely out. you probably wouldn't be able to sleep until you asked. rachel was next to him, and while you smiled at her, you didn't say much. hunter complimented your outfit, and you returned the compliment. you noticed tom listening to the conversation between the two of you. you had a feeling he was going to butt in anytime now, but nothing yet. 

finally, you heard him take a breath, coincidentally at the same time the show started. you heard him say something, but loud music came on, and you couldn't make it out. 

"what?" you asked him to clarify, but he shook his head. well that was going to bug you. you focused on the show, still dying to know what he said. it stuck in your head the entire duration of the ceremony. 

...

the final award was given, and the lights came back on. it was a great show. you knew that you needed to talk to tom. you had to make sure you didn't lose him in the crowd. when everyone was making their way out, you made sure to not lose sight of him. he was walking in front of you, and also much faster. figured, he was much taller than you. 

when you finally caught sight of the exit of the building, you started calling his name. he heard you the second time. he stopped walking, and waited for you to catch up to him. you began walking again, this time with him. you made your way outside, finally, where there was fresh air. you took a deep breath, and pulled him off the driven path. 

"what, y/n?" he asked, seemingly ok with everything.

"tom, i need to talk to you. right now."