In-depth interview

"Difficult? Oh no, I wouldn't use that word to describe the days after receiving the Golden Raspberry Award." Hugo laughed and shook his head. "Actually, I've said in interviews before that the reason I was willing to step onto the stage to accept the Golden Raspberry Award was to face it head-on. Yes, "Hudson Hawk" is my work. You may not like it, but it's a film I worked hard to create, and the production cost was not insignificant."

Hugo's frankness, mixed with humor, made everyone in the audience laugh. Hugo knew that no matter how much of his past memories remained, he was now Hugo Lancaster, and he had to take responsibility for everything in the past because it was also a part of him. This applied to both family and career.

"So, I think there is an impact and frustration after the Golden Raspberry Award, but not because of the award itself, but because of myself. No one would want to hire an actor like me, without acting skills or attitude," Hugo recalled the situation he faced after crossing over. Although he mustered up the spirit to participate in the audition for "A River Runs Through It", he truly rallied and realized it was an opportunity, experiencing a range of emotions. "Afterward, I realized that acting skills can be honed over time, but if I don't have the right attitude, I won't achieve anything. So, I adjusted my attitude, seeing the Golden Raspberry Award as an opportunity, a fresh start."

"So, that's how you ended up here," Oprah interjected.

Hugo nodded with a smile, spreading his hands to showcase himself. "Yes, that's why I'm here."

"Well, now it seems that you've taken the first step toward a fresh start! Congratulations on being nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor in the drama category at the 50th Golden Globe Awards!" Oprah led the applause, and the audience immediately joined in, accompanied by whistles, bringing a smile to Hugo's face. "This is a significant step, winning dual nominations like Pacino and Nicholson. Compare that to the Golden Raspberry Awards earlier this year. Phew, what a rollercoaster year it has been. How do you feel?"

"I won't place myself next to Pacino and Nicholson because that would be too much pressure," Hugo replied with a faint smile. "You know, they are such outstanding actors, and working with them has taught me a lot. But I still have a long way to go and need to put in a lot of effort."

"Are you saying that being nominated for two Golden Globe Awards doesn't have any special meaning for you? Aren't you happy?" Oprah asked with confusion.

"Oh, of course, I'm definitely happy, overjoyed even," Hugo's smile fully bloomed on his face, with a hint of shyness, eliciting laughter from the audience once again. "It's just that, while the nominations make me happy, I see them as recognition of my hard work, an affirmation that I'm heading in the right direction. Perhaps, I'll continue to strive along this path in the future."

Hugo's words earned a round of applause from the audience.

"So, after becoming famous, what changes have occurred in your life? Are the places you appear filled with screams?" Oprah asked eagerly. Having concluded the discussion about his career, she gradually shifted to explore his personal life, an area she excelled in.

"No, of course not." Hugo shook his head repeatedly. "Actually, there haven't been that many changes in my life. It's just that more people on the street now greet me proactively, and there are gradually more people who can call out my name. Everyone is very friendly and greets me warmly."

"No screaming?"

"No."

"No cheering?"

"No."

"Oh, that's disappointing." Oprah expressed her "disappointment" clearly through her facial expression, which made Hugo burst into laughter.

"Maybe I don't look as attention-grabbing in person as I do on screen," Hugo said with a smile. His slender almond-shaped eyes curved into a sweet arc, and his watery gaze shimmered under the lights.

Seeing Hugo like this, Oprah immediately put on an exaggerated expression of absurdity, then turned to the audience. "Friends, Hugo says he doesn't appear as attention-grabbing in person. Let's tell him the answer."

"Ah! Ah! Ah!" a series of screams responded directly to Oprah's call, causing Hugo to laugh in embarrassment. In reality, the recent changes in Hugo's life were not as significant as imagined. Although he had been surrounded twice, those were just special incidents, and his daily life hadn't changed much.

"So, how did you spend Christmas? Wasn't there any different arrangement from previous years?" After the cheers subsided, Oprah continued her questioning.

Hugo awkwardly shook his head. "No, I spent Christmas alone in Los Angeles this year."

"What? Alone?" Oprah asked with astonishment. "Christmas is a day for family reunion. Why did you stay alone in Los Angeles?"

Hugo suddenly regretted it. He realized he was too honest. Whatever Oprah asked, he answered without any wit. He didn't want to disclose his family matters in front of the media and let everyone speculate. "I just didn't plan to go back this year, so I enjoyed a thoroughly relaxing Christmas alone." Hugo tried to play it down, but his usual honesty made his attempt at concealment appear weak.

As an experienced talk show host, Oprah naturally sensed an opportunity. This was the chance she had been patiently laying the groundwork for. Now, she could approach it from two angles. One was to inquire about Hugo's family relationships, as it seemed there might be some inside information to explore. However, many celebrities didn't like exposing their family members to the spotlight, mainly because their families were ordinary people with their own lives. After much hesitation, Oprah decided to stick to her original plan and continue with her questioning.

"I thought you should have someone accompanying you." Oprah hinted with implications. Hugo's thoughts were still focused on his father, and he didn't immediately react, looking at Oprah with confusion. Oprah had to remind him again, "Not long ago, you and Uma appeared together at the premiere of "A Few Good Men", and you openly admitted that you are dating now. Didn't you have any special activities planned for Christmas?"

This was Oprah's original plan - gossip. Hugo remembered that there were indeed many questions about Uma on the list he received yesterday. Unexpectedly, Hugo felt relieved. Talking about gossip was a relief for him compared to family matters.

"She went home to New York for Christmas," Hugo's smile reappeared on his face. "No, we didn't have any special plans."

"That's a pity," Oprah sighed. "So, how is your relationship with Uma going? Is everything still good?" Since the premiere, rumors about Hugo and Uma had always been the focus, but recently the paparazzi hadn't captured any explosive photos, so the rumors had been building up without exploding.

"It's going well, everything is fine," Hugo pursed his lips. "You know, I've been busy with promotions lately, and I haven't had much free time, so we haven't seen each other for a while. But... everything is fine, and if I have the opportunity, I will still ask her out."

Thinking of Uma's surprise after the Rock Night at home not long ago, Hugo's smile became sweeter. Both his career and love life were going smoothly. It had truly been a miraculous year.

"How did you and Uma develop? I mean, at the premiere of "Final Analysis" earlier this year, she kissed you, but you both denied any romantic involvement and insisted you were just friends," Oprah began trying to dig out more from the situation. "But at the end of the year, suddenly things changed."

"Haha..." Hugo chuckled lightly. "At the premiere of "Final Analysis", we were indeed just friends. That kiss was Uma's prank. But later, we met a few more times, and every conversation sparked something. So we thought, maybe it's a good idea to go on a formal date."

"So, who suggested the first date?" Oprah immediately interrupted Hugo's words and seized the topic.

"Uma," Hugo admitted decisively. The several turning points between them were all initiated by Uma. That was a fact, and Hugo had no intention of denying it. But as soon as he said that, whistles erupted in the audience, making Hugo feel a bit embarrassed. "In terms of relationships, I'm a rather passive person. I don't think it's a good habit."

"Of course, a gentleman should never keep a lady waiting. You have to take the initiative," Oprah said quickly. "But now you have a chance. Since you missed Christmas, do you have any special plans for the New Year?" Oprah saw that Hugo didn't reject this topic and didn't mind talking about it further, so she went all out and continued to inquire. "You know, girls always look forward to special activities. It's an excellent opportunity for you to show your gentlemanly demeanor."

Hugo was a bit flustered by this series of questions and could only use a smile to cover it up. "New Year... yes, I should come up with something, but please allow me to keep it a secret." Seeing that Oprah intended to continue probing, Hugo knew he couldn't just stay on the defensive. So he quickly took the initiative and asked, "Actually, I've always been curious. Why do women attach such importance to certain anniversaries? I mean, like February 14th, it's just an ordinary day, but why is it necessary to give roses on that day after assigning it the meaning of Valentine's Day?"

"Oh, Hugo, I didn't expect you to be a bad guy," Oprah suddenly became excited, exclaiming repeatedly. "Anniversaries are important because they signify the value placed on a relationship. Maybe February 14th is not a particularly special day, but it's an opportunity for you to show your care for your girlfriend or date," Oprah looked at Hugo specifically, reminding him that he and Uma were still publicly referred to as "dating partners". "The day itself may not be special, but it becomes special because of your relationship."