The Greatest Showman

Turning around, the first thing that came into their view was that proud, striking figure.

Renly knew that this was highly inappropriate. Twenty years of good family upbringing in this lifetime trained his gaze to lock onto the newcomer’s eyes. Yet his peripheral vision effortlessly caught the majestic curves of her figure, and he couldn’t help but feel a bit distracted. Nonetheless, Renly maintained his courtesy and smiled as he said, “What a pity. It seems the encore outside wasn’t enough to hold us back.”

It was clear to anyone that the cheers outside weren’t for Renly or the other newcomers, but Renly interpreted it in his own unique way. His self-deprecating humour immediately brought a bright, hearty laugh from the woman in front of him. Her laugh was so exuberant that even James and Rami beside him seemed to tense up.

“I’ve seen your performance. It was impressive,” the woman said, extending her right hand first. Her honey-coloured skin gleamed with a healthy lustre, smooth like silk. “Sofía.”

Renly gentlemanly held her hand with just the front part of his palm, bowed slightly, and gestured toward her hand with his forehead, a respectful greeting. “Renly.” Straightening back up, he politely released her hand and added, “It’s Ms. Vergara’s performance that truly blurs the lines between reality and fiction. Before today, I was feeling rather pleased with myself, but now I see I’ve been far too narrow-minded.”

Standing before him was none other than Sofía Vergara, whose performance as a Colombian with a distinct accent in ‘Modern Family’ left a deep impression. Yet at this moment, Sofía spoke flawless American English—in fact, with a Los Angeles accent. There was no dissonance, making it impossible to tell she was originally from Colombia. That was precisely why Renly made that comment.

In ‘Modern Family’, the cast was full of hidden talents, including Eric Stonestreet, who was a straight man in real life yet portrayed a gay character so naturally in the show that it looked seamless. When audiences later learned he was straight, it truly shattered their perceptions.

“You’re an interesting guy,” Sofía said with a dazzling smile. Countless people have commented on her “accent joke” over the years. Almost everyone brought it up, with some even asking her to imitate her character’s accent on the spot. Though often without malice, she still found it offensive. However, Renly brought it up in a polite and complimentary manner, which left her in high spirits.

After watching Sofía walk away, James firmly grabbed Renly’s arm, his voice trembling with excitement. “Dude, go for it! Are you seriously not making a move? She’s the hottest sex symbol of the year!”

Rami, whose gaze had lingered on Sofía’s departing figure, turned his head at the comment. “Sofía isn’t Renly’s type. He likes someone like Nicole Kidman.”

Renly patted James on the shoulder. “If you’re serious about making a move, now’s your chance. There are thirty minutes until the award ceremony starts, plenty of time for her to touch up her makeup afterwards.” His confident expression couldn’t hide the teasing undertone. James immediately picked up on it and punched Renly in the arm, making both Renly and Rami burst out laughing.

Unfazed, James adjusted his suit. “I’m going in. Wish me luck!” Without hesitation, he went in Sofía’s direction. Renly and Rami whistled after him, cheering him on.

“I’ll go say hi to a few old friends and introduce you to them,” Rami said, spotting some acquaintances in the distance and raising his hand to wave.

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Unlike Renly, Rami had been navigating Hollywood for a few years and naturally knew many people. He was more than happy to act as a connector for Renly. At events like awards ceremonies, only a small number of people could win awards, but networking opportunities were limitless. Talented individuals could even strike up conversations with top-tier figures like Steven Spielberg, which was why every actor eagerly attended the four major award ceremonies. This was also why the Golden Globes is so popular.

“You go catch up with your friends. I’ll play the fanboy for a bit,” Renly said with a smile. “See you inside.” Without lingering, he took the lead and walked away.

Renly wasn’t joking. He genuinely wanted to meet his idols. Though he had already met Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg before, he hadn’t been overly starstruck. As an actor, his admiration for directors and producers came from a fan’s perspective, but his respect for actors was born out of aspiration and reverence. Especially after his performance in ‘Buried’, he gained a deeper appreciation for how challenging it was to become an outstanding actor.

For Renly tonight’s event was like a comic book fan attending a convention.

Of course, Tom Hanks was also an extraordinary actor. As one of only two actors in history to win back-to-back Oscars for Best Actor, his skills were beyond question. But Renly’s target tonight was someone else. Ṟ

From afar, Renly spotted the idol he revered. Excitement surged within him, and he could deeply empathize with the feelings of the fans gathered outside the venue. It felt like a thousand butterflies flapped their wings in his chest, and his blood rushed to his head. Rational thought became irrelevant as the uncontrollable excitement coursed through his body. From his past life to this one, from lifeless monotony to spring’s bloom, life’s meaning radiated in dazzling colours at this moment.

As the person next to his idol walked away, Renly quickly stepped forward and extended his hand. “Mr. Pacino, I truly, truly admire your work. You’re the epitome of what makes an actor great!”

Al Pacino looked at the youthful, vibrant face before him, pursed his lips slightly, and gave a small nod. “Thank you.” He calmly shook the other’s right hand—a situation like this was far too normal for him. Perhaps he encountered a few fanboys or fangirls every single day. “So, which one of my works is your favourite?”

“’Heat’,” Renly answered, catching Al slightly off guard. “Then ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ and ‘Carlito’s Way’.”

Al had originally been about to let go of the handshake but paused mid-motion upon hearing the response, his expression showing a hint of surprise. “That’s an interesting answer. Why?”

For Al, the ‘Godfather’ series was undoubtedly the most widely recognized among his works, followed by ‘Scent of a Woman’, which earned him the Oscar for Best Actor. Industry insiders also held ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ in high regard. However, ‘Heat’ and ‘Carlito’s Way’ were less frequently mentioned, making Renly’s response particularly intriguing.

“I could feel it—you were trying to blend representational acting with method acting. That’s not an easy feat. Sometimes, in ‘Heat’, one can glimpse shades of ‘The Godfather’, but it’s clear you were making a concerted effort to push boundaries and breakthrough. That’s truly rare in acting,” Renly explained excitedly. His words flowed effortlessly, almost without thought—classic behaviour of a fan meeting their idol. Yet his sincerity and genuine admiration shone through.

In truth, Renly’s favourite Al’s performance of was in ‘Danny Collins’ (2015). The film itself was relatively unremarkable, but Al’s acting exuded a refined simplicity and effortless grace. His continuous effort to blend two distinct acting styles was deeply admirable.

Now, Al was genuinely intrigued. The nuances of combining and evolving acting techniques were so subtle—often as delicate as a glance or a gesture. Only fellow actors who deeply studied their craft could perceive it, something almost impossible to articulate. Yet the results were strikingly different.

Al studied the unfamiliar face before him carefully. Hollywood saw an influx of new talent every year—if not ten thousand, then at least several thousand. He didn’t have the time to identify or remember every face, especially in an Emmy Awards setting, where most attendees were strangers to him. But now, he realized he recognized this one.

“You… You’re that guy…” Al said, feeling a sense of familiarity but unable to immediately recall the name.

“Renly Hall.” At this moment, Renly introduced himself for the first time. It wasn’t intentional—his excitement had simply made him forget the basic etiquette of social introductions. “I was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.”

Despite the self-promoting tone, Renly spoke with confidence—neither overly proud nor excessively humble. This made Al’s eyes light up. “Oh, so it’s you.” He chuckled.

As a fellow nominee in the same category, Al didn’t pay much attention to such matters, but the media had asked him about it enough times that he had some awareness. Now, the vague image in his mind began to clarify. “You’re from the British Academy, aren’t you?” Al could detect the London accent in Renly’s voice. More importantly, the analytical depth of his comments on acting was not something typically seen in young American actors.

“I hope that’s a good thing,” Renly replied with a lighthearted laugh, confirming Al’s assumption.

Al laughed again. “We’ll find out.” His meaningful response was open to interpretation. “Is this your first nomination?” It was clear that Al’s understanding of Renly was limited to what he’d overheard. Renly affirmed without providing further details.

“Well, then, you should make sure to enjoy tonight’s ceremony.”

“Oh, I already am. That’s exactly why I’m standing here,” Renly said, gesturing toward his own feet. Al immediately caught the joke and broke into hearty laughter. “My next plan is to introduce myself to Julianna Margulies.”

Julianna Margulies, known for her roles in ‘ER’ and ‘The Good Wife’, as well as her extensive experience on Broadway, was a true powerhouse actress.

Al’s eyes lit up with appreciation. “Good choice!”

T/N – Al Pacino, such an Renly type of actor to be a fan of haha.

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