Imperfection

From a young age, as a little girl, you learn about love through the movies you watch. We were exposed to Cinderella, where the poor village girl finds her prince charming. We watch romcoms, where the nerd manages to end up with the captain of the football team. We constantly see average girls like us on tv screens getting the unconditional love we all long for one day. A happily ever after.     I got to live that life. I got to lose my glass slipper on the steps of a ballroom and find my prince. I got to drop my textbooks in a crowded hallway and get help from the football captain. I got to kiss a frog that just so happened to transform into a handsome prince. I got the happily ever after.       But, it never lasts. The director calls out cut, everyone walks off the set and they dismantle it until you couldn't even imagine that you were just riding off into the sunset there. The happily ever after takes on a new shape called reality and it hits you in the face with the fact that no matter how good of an actress you are, none of this is real.      The reality of it is, I live in a world of flashing lights, stars, high fashion. I walk the streets and crowds of people storm around me asking for my picture or autograph. I spend my days on sets making movies that are going to sell out box offices and doing interviews on some of the most famous talk shows. Then, I go home and get to slip into bed with one of America's most famous actors. If you happen to walk past a magazine stand, my face will be plastered on 90% of those glossy magazine covers.      "America's sweetheart" they say in big letters.      "The girl that has it all."      "The girl with the perfect life."     Happily ever after.