The Most Famous Actor in Hollywood

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Walking down the hotel corridor, Matthew noticed several African guests, some of whom seemed to recognize him and curiously watched him pass by.

He instinctively straightened his bowtie and glanced at the room numbers on the doors to his left, making sure he was in the right place before knocking on a door. It was opened by a woman in her thirties, who peeked out and recognized him immediately.

"Hello, Mr. Horner."

"Miss Theron is waiting for you," she said, stepping aside to let him in.

Matthew nodded with a smile and entered. The room was a luxurious business suite, where Charlize Theron stood in front of a mirror wearing a cream evening gown.

"Hi, Sally," Matthew greeted as he approached Charlize in the reflection of the mirror. Turning around, her face briefly lit up with joy. "What brings you to Munich?"

"I came to see you," Matthew replied, looking her over.

Charlize laughed softly. "It's getting late, let's head down to the banquet hall."

She took his arm, and they left the suite together, heading down to the second floor for a dinner organized by the German Football Association.

"This summer there's the Confederations Cup," Charlize mentioned as they walked. "It's a rehearsal for next year's World Cup. The German hosting experience is crucial for South Africa; our team will stay here to observe."

Matthew nodded as they entered the banquet hall, spotting several familiar faces from online, including the German soccer star Ballack and a Kaiser-like elderly man he couldn't quite name.

Though the venue was filled with celebrities from the sports and entertainment sectors, including Diane Kruger, Matthew chose not to mingle but sat with the South African delegation alongside Charlize. After some polite exchanges introduced by Charlize, he spent most of his time talking to her.

"I'm not planning to work in South Africa or participate in the World Cup, so there's no need to network with these officials," he thought.

"How long is your contract with Mercedes?" Charlize asked curiously.

"Three years," Matthew answered openly. "Mercedes didn't want a longer commitment, and neither Helen nor I wanted to be tied down."

Charlize's voice lowered. "Since the Oscars, I've been endorsing Dior, and it's been going well. They're planning to offer me a ten-year contract."

"It's not just 'going well'," Matthew corrected, having seen data collected by his agency. "Dior's 'J'adore' perfume sales have skyrocketed. If I were them, I'd lock you down long-term too."

He added, "Many in the industry credit your endorsement with revitalizing Dior's 'J'adore'."

Charlize smiled, choosing not to comment.

"You should ask for more in endorsement fees," Matthew advised.

"My agent is still negotiating," she whispered close to his ear. "It should be no less than four million dollars a year."

An annual fee of four million dollars was not excessive, but a long-term contract with Dior was beneficial for maintaining a celebrity's status, even if Dior was considered a second-tier luxury brand. Their 'J'adore' perfume was entry-level in the luxury fragrance market.

Matthew had realized that the career lifespan of female stars was much shorter than that of male stars. To maintain their status, top actresses relied on more than just film roles, as Hollywood produced few true female-led films.

With limited roles available, fierce competition, and rapid changes in Hollywood, male stars might become more desirable with age, but female stars were quickly replaced.

A top actress could find herself overshadowed within a year without significant roles, as younger stars rose quickly.

At this point, top actresses needed strategies to maintain their status when roles were scarce.

Helen Herman had specifically discussed this with Matthew; maintaining status for Hollywood actresses often involved becoming a feminist icon, endorsing luxury brands, or serving as a UN charity ambassador.

It was well-acknowledged in the industry that having a luxury brand endorsement could safeguard one's status.

"Hasn't your agent approached any fashion brands?" Charlize whispered to Matthew. "With your physique and fame, you should be marketable."

"CK was in touch with Helen but eventually chose someone else," Matthew whispered back. "It's all about timing."

Charlize nodded, about to reply when a man approached their table, exchanged a few words with a South African official in English, and took a seat next to them.

"Hello, Mr. Horner," the man greeted, then turned to Charlize. "Hello, Miss Theron."

Matthew turned to see a middle-aged man with short blond hair and a tough demeanor, introducing himself as Uwe Boll, a director.

"Hello," Matthew responded politely, with Charlize also greeting him with a smile.

Uwe Boll, unreserved, pointed at their table and enthusiastically praised, "I

 must thank God for bringing two of the finest actors before me."

Matthew was confused, not knowing Boll and having heard his German-accented English, he glanced at Charlize, who signaled that she didn't know him either.

"Mr. Horner, may I call you Matthew? Ah, Matthew…" Boll continued as if they were old friends, "and Charlize. You both are among the best in film today, skilled and attractive."

Caught off guard by the compliment, especially since neither was known in Hollywood for their acting skills, Matthew decided to cut to the chase. "Director Boll, do you need us for something?"

"Actually, yes," Boll chuckled, his cheeks jiggling. "I'm planning a magical epic and have raised sixty million dollars…"

Hearing the figure, Matthew became cautious; such a budget was rare outside Hollywood.

Charlize, sharing his skepticism, squeezed his hand under the table as a signal.

"I'm looking for leads and thought of you both when I saw you," Boll continued earnestly. "Matthew, Charlize, you're perfect for the roles!"

Matthew asked for more details, prompting Boll to mention "Dungeon Siege," a popular video game he wanted to adapt into a film.

Interest waning at the mention of a game adaptation, Matthew politely declined to discuss further without his agent. Charlize did the same.

"If you're serious, send a formal invitation to my agency," Matthew suggested, giving Boll a way out.

"Absolutely!" Boll misunderstood but promised to send invitations to both.

After Boll left, Charlize inquired about him and learned he was somewhat known in Germany for directing horror films with decent box office returns but poor reviews.

As the banquet ended, Charlize asked if Matthew was interested. He shook his head at the prospect of a game adaptation, and the conversation dropped.

Over the next few days, they toured Munich's landmarks, attracting entertainment journalists. They didn't shy away from the attention, even attending a Bayern Munich soccer game at the Olympic Stadium.

Soon, news of their outings spread back to North America, sparking rumors of a relationship. When they returned to Los Angeles together, paparazzi awaited them at the airport.

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