The Greatest Showman #815 - Show the Heritage

The press conference proceeded smoothly, with Renly and the rest of the cast having the chance to answer questions. However, many of the questions revolved around Renly, a true superstar's treatment. One such question was posed to Sammy, who had just spoken about the pressures of working with Renly.

"Every time before I go on stage, I read the script over and over, worrying about my lines, whether I understand them correctly, and if my performance is enough. To be honest, even after the show, I still feel a bit nervous around Renly. He's such a perfectionist, and working opposite him means the pressure is constant," Sammy explained earnestly.

The room erupted into laughter. Sammy, taken aback, didn't understand why. She had been serious, describing Renly's perfectionism as a positive force that pushed her to perform better, and yet the reporters were laughing. She thought she had said something wrong but couldn't figure out what it was.

Sammy glanced at Renly, looking for some guidance. His smile grew wider, and he gave her a playful look. "Sami, for the sake of my image, I think that's enough for now," he said, his voice lighthearted.

The room erupted in laughter again, and even Marcia, Tony, and others on stage shared in the moment. Sammy, still confused, looked at Betty, who also seemed bewildered. But when Sammy looked back at Renly, his eyes were filled with warmth and humor, which reassured her. She hadn't said anything wrong.

Still puzzled, Sammy turned to the next reporter—a middle-aged man with curly hair, wearing a white shirt with the top three buttons undone, revealing a mass of silver chest hair. As he stood, he began speaking rapidly in a language Sammy couldn't understand.

Confused, Sammy blinked, not knowing how to respond. The language was unfamiliar, and the rapid-fire words felt like a string of unintelligible sounds. She froze, not sure what to do.

Renly, noticing her distress, leaned toward her and whispered in her ear, pointing to the headphones on the table. "Put those on," he advised gently.

Sammy followed his direction and hurriedly put on the headphones, but there was no sound. She looked at Renly in confusion, and he smiled in a way that told her everything would be okay. Then, she realized the reporters had already started responding, and the question had ended. The man had finished speaking and sat down.

Still unsure of what had happened, Sammy turned to Renly for clarity.

Renly, noticing her bewilderment, explained with a soft chuckle, "The reporter asked his question in Italian. That's why the translator is on standby, but you just need to wear the headphones for simultaneous translation."

Sammy's eyes widened in realization. She'd never seen a simultaneous translation device up close, only heard about them in the news. She was amazed. "He asked how you felt when you first learned you got the role and if your family had any concerns," Renly added with a grin.

Sammy's excitement surged. "It's Renly Hall!" she blurted out, her voice quivering with awe. "I mean, Renly Hall! I just watched Fast & Furious 5—he's so charismatic. I'm thrilled and nervous, and that's all I can think of!"

Although Sammy's answer wasn't fully coherent, she was too excited to care. She hadn't rehearsed her response, and it came out straight from the heart.

The focus shifted back to Renly, who couldn't help but laugh. "So, is this a compensation for earlier, to avoid my revenge?" he teased.

Sammy didn't fully grasp the joke, but the reporters burst into laughter once again. Renly had earlier joked about being a perfectionist on set, so now, with Sammy's enthusiastic praise, it was all part of the fun.

Then, another reporter, who had asked the previous question, stood again. This time, he had some trouble with the translation equipment. Renly, always the gentleman, stood up to help, offering a solution.

"This reporter seems to be having trouble with the translation device," Renly said. "Let me assist him so we can continue the conversation."

Tony, sitting beside him, turned in surprise. "I didn't know you spoke Italian," he remarked.

Renly smiled, "It's simple. I'm British, and Italy's a part of Europe. You're American, so... there's nothing special about it." His playful tone sent a ripple of laughter through the crowd, including Tony, who chuckled.

Renly's comment touched on an interesting point. While Americans are often known for speaking only English, Europeans generally know multiple languages. It was a lighthearted commentary that only added to Renly's charm.

One reporter then asked, "How many languages do you speak?"

Renly's reply was quick and witty. "If it's just 'hello,' I'd say around a dozen or twenty languages," he quipped, sparking another round of laughter.

The reporters had a good time with that, and then another reporter stood and asked a question in Chinese, surprising everyone.

Renly answered with ease, "I've seen a lot of Chinese films, like Tuya's Marriage. It's an incredible work. I've also watched director Wang Quan'an's films like Reunion. His work is powerful."

The crowd was stunned. Renly not only spoke Chinese but had a genuine appreciation for Chinese cinema. The reporters were now even more impressed. They had glimpsed something deeper behind Renly's suave exterior—his intellectual depth and cultural awareness were just as captivating as his acting.

The attention shifted once again. Renly had shown that language was more than just words; it was a window into a person's world, their knowledge, and experiences. For Renly, languages were a testament to his rich cultural heritage. He wasn't just an actor; he was an artist with a global perspective.

The reporters' eyes were full of awe. Here was a 22-year-old actor, already brimming with knowledge and skill. He was truly a treasure waiting to be explored further.

As the press conference continued, the realization was clear: Renly Hall was an actor with a story still unfolding—an actor whose depth and versatility were only just beginning to be discovered.