*FOURTH WING x CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE/reality/cute*
We finished wrapping up filming for 'Children of Blood and Bone', and now months later we are ready to attend our first fan meeting and promotion event for the season.
I was so excited wearing this beautiful silhouette made by a Malian tailor. The quality cotton dress is black with small blue printed flowers. The above-the-knee length dress was long-sleeved and fitted in the top. The tailor created unique wrapping styles with the fabric that made my upper body look great! From my waist down the dress pleated and was flowy. Paired with a simple black heel with straps wrapping around my ankle and a few African gold accessories, I looked like an African princess like my character Amari. My hair is in exquisite cornrows made by a talented Senegalese braider. The cornrows were braided into a high ponytail, with the length of the hair hitting midway of my back. The ponytail is accessorized by a piece of my dress. Simple makeup to finish the look and I'm ready to face my fans.
All four of us main characters in the film were ready to go on stage for Q&A and meeting the fans. As we begin to step on the stage, I try to give a model facial expression and slowly strut the stage, until I randomly break into a cute little African dance that makes the audiences scream and laugh. I turn fully to face the audience and give them a big genuine smile. It truly was a gift to have fans that like all that you do even if it's random.
We get through our fun Q&A session and head backstage. One our reps come up to us tells us that the cast for Fourth Wing are in another room, as their session is start in an hour and that one of the cast would love to meet us. We all look at each other and nod, agreeing that we should. Personally. I wanted to meet them too and get to see the cast who are portraying characters of one of my favorite books. I was especially curious to see the man who plays Xaden Riorson, who, if you have read the book, knows that he is described to be simply put "hot"!
We approach the door and I'm in the front so I knock first then slowly open it, sneaking my head in first before revealing my whole self. I smile widely as all the cast members look up me in shock. I shortly laugh and open the door fully, and said, "Hii!". The rest of my cast file in. And what I assume the girl who is playing Imogen jumps up and gives me hug. She says, "I'm. A. Fan.!" And squeals. I thank her and formally introduce myself. I don't like to assume that everyone knows me as one of the youngest black women to be 2x Oscar winner with few other rewards under my belt. If anything, the title is humbling.
We all make our hellos and hugs. The casting did amazing, I can instantly tell who plays who, like they are spot on. Like the girl playing Violet, is just absolutely gorgeous.
But, my heart makes a leap when I finally make eye contact with the man who plays Xaden Riorson. Yup, the casting directors did their job well. Damn, I thought, he was finnee. His eyes were a natural golden brown, an awing contrast with his tawny brown skin. I realize I haven't said a word or moved. "Hi, I'm s/o", I say as I reach out to him for a hug. I'm at a lost for words, I start to feel embarrassed. In my industry, I am surrounded by beautiful men of all calibers all the time, but why does he make me feel a little nervous and quiet. "I know, it's nice to meet you", he says with his deep, velvety voice. I softly smile back and respond, "me too". All being said without breaking eye contact. I unwillingly break away from him, I didn't even realize I was still holding onto to his one arm. I give him one last look, then greet the person next to him, who I can tell plays Liam.
The man playing Liam is cute, I give him a slight sad smile knowing what his character in the book, and now this film will befall to. It seems like he knows that look all too well and begins to laugh. I laugh as well and tell him, "I should know better as actress to feel bad for an actor playing a fantasy character who has a horrible outcome. But it's hard to separate the two. "Yeah, well, knowing the lovely character I play, everyone who has read the book, gives me the same look. Haha. Your sympathies have been accepted, cause I'll be out of a job after this!", he replies. Omg. I laughed out loud.
We all chat for a bit, admiring and complimenting each other and wishing each other luck for our movie success. We knew their time to get ready for their own Q&A was approaching. As I was walking away, the man playing Xaden slightly touched my arm and said, "By the way, you look beautiful. Truly. Like an African Princess. " I blink once, then smile shyly, feeling a blush rising on my caramel brown cheeks, and reply, "Thank you, and you are...". "And that's all. There's no need to compliment me back, I just wanted to let you know. " I smiled back and nodded in understanding. Just take the compliment and go, I tell myself. I also hoped this wasn't the last time I'll see him again. Just from our short moment, I felt that instant chemistry and the stomach churning feeling that alerts me that I like him already. Am I somewhat transferring my feels for a character to a real person. Ugh. Obviously, he isn't Xaden Riorson and doesn't have the same personality. Just the looks. Ugh, I hate falling in love with book charaters, like as an actress like me who has played many roles, should definitely know better than to do that. Before we actually leave, we decided to take a group photo. I somehow end up standing right next to the man playing Xaden Riorson.
***WOW. She was stunning. I thought as I watched the girl who plays Amari in Children of Blood and Bone walk across the stage with her other cast mates for their Q&A session. She obviously had a cute personality and wasn't afraid to do a little dance, that only made the audience scream even louder. I kept my facial expressions neutral, but I was impressed by her presence, even though I wasn't in the same room as her. I notice my other Fourth Wing cast mates watching the screen as well. My castmate who plays Violet says, "wow. How is that whole cast just beautiful!". Other hummed in agreement.
It was inspiring to see that cast of seasoned actors as I finally just landed a lead role to play Xaden Riorson for the Fourth Wing film. I'm yet to find out if it was my potentially resembling look to the description of the character, my acting skills, or both that landed me this once in a lifetime role. I hope it's the latter.
Moments later, I heard a knock on the door, and there was that beautiful girl with that cheeky smile peaking through the room. Everyone reacts, except me, I stay quiet because I was speechless, especially the moment she fully walked into the room. She exudes a calm confidence that I just found it to be sexy. And her look was just perfect, her dress was made for her. I took a mental note of how kind she was to everyone as she greeted with a hug and humbly introduced herself, even though we all know who she is.
She now approaches me and we lock eyes. I smile and I give her a half-armed hug. Again, she is even more beautiful up-close with her chocolate brown eyes, not losing contact with mine and her smile that makes me smile back. She also smelled great. "Hi, I'm s/o", she says in a soft, slightly deep, toned voice. "I know, it's nice to meet you", I reply. Is that really all I can say? We still hold each other's arms for a moment. Is she feeling what I'm feeling? A connection that I'm suddenly feeling. She then replies, "me too", and unfortunately breaks away and turns to my cast mate who plays Liam. I hear her laugh and see that they are having a short conversation. She laughs again but louder to whatever he said, and I instantly felt jealous. Why couldn't I have done that? I look away from them.
Looks like it's time for to get ready for our session. As she's about to walk past me to leave, I tap her elbow and said, "By the way, you look beautiful. Truly. Like an African Princess". She blinks once and I'm relieved when she shyly smiles back and thanks me. I knew she was about to give me a compliment back, but I interrupted her to not. In that moment, I just wanted to tell her genuinely how beautiful she was. I hope it wasn't the last time I was going to see her.
