The Greatest Showman #1022 - Best Partner

"After winning the Oscars, you chose to go back to the West End of London to concentrate on acting. Now you are back in the limelight, standing in the center of Hollywood. How do you feel about that? I mean, you were so young, and you reached the top of the world overnight, yet you chose to stay out of the limelight and return now. It must be quite an interesting experience."

The question came from Daisy Lucas of Vanity Fair. It was a skillful question, touching on the Oscars—a topic everyone cares about—while gently steering the conversation towards Renly's age.

For experienced journalists, asking questions is a refined art. The simple and aggressive tactics of chasing headlines have no effect on professionals like Renly. The 2008 Oscar-nominated film Conversation with Nixon made this point clear.

"I think that's an interesting question. When you ask it, you imply that the West End and Broadway are forgotten corners," Renly said sharply, capturing the essence of the issue with ease. His answer subtly shifted the conversation to a different perspective.

Then, Renly noticed the slight tension from the reporters. He waved his hand with a chuckle. "I'm not trying to criticize or argue. I just want to say, for the media, the difference between the West End and Hollywood is the attention. But for actors, the difference lies in the stage. A performance in front of the camera and a performance stripped of everything in front of the audience."

"I have to admit, choosing the West End was, in a sense, a way for me to get out of the limelight. I needed some time to cool down and reflect. The Oscars happened too quickly. Maybe it's hard to believe, but the truth is, I was only twenty-two," Renly said, making the reporters chuckle. Even Renly himself smiled at the remark.

In terms of mental maturity, Renly was like a man in his fifties. But in this unfamiliar world of Hollywood, the experiences of this life were what truly mattered, and Renly's words rang true.

"But beyond that, there's a more important reason: I wanted to become a better actor. The West End and Broadway could help me achieve that, so I chose to return," Renly continued sincerely. "And now that I'm back, honestly, I'm starting to miss the West End stage."

"Standing on that stage is very special for actors, and I believe it's the same for the audience. So if there's a chance, I welcome everyone to come to the West End or Broadway to watch the show." Renly shrugged lightly. "I'm not worried about attendance, but I sincerely hope the audience can appreciate the beauty and essence of different art forms."

This marked the first public interview Renly had done since the Oscars. As the youngest Oscar winner in film history, it was also the first time he openly discussed his views on acting and shared his future aspirations.

It was clear that "Crazy in Love" wasn't the pinnacle of Renly's career. After winning an award coveted by many, Renly was still grounded and chasing his dreams with humility. Daisy couldn't help but recall Renly's album Don Quixote.

"Oh, God! Oh, God!"

Suddenly, loud exclamations pierced the air as the red carpet swarmed with energy.

At this point, the red carpet for the premiere was winding down. Renly had been standing for over thirty minutes for an interview. In other words, Renly had arrived an hour ago and still hadn't entered the Chinese Theater. But then, something else happened that drew the attention of everyone nearby—another major guest arrived.

Even Renly, who was being interviewed, couldn't help but look up.

Two figures appeared on the red carpet, and in an instant, Renly's smile froze. He stood still for a moment, his mind swirling with countless questions. Then, his smile blossomed again, and there was a glimmer of understanding in his eyes.

"Jesus Christ!" The reporters couldn't hold back their excitement. They broke from the interview with Renly and rushed to the red carpet, forming a frenzy of activity.

It was Chris Evans.

Chris Evans! The actor behind "Captain America" and the core member of The Avengers! In Marvel's official promotions, Chris was one of the biggest stars after Robert Downey Jr. Captain America was the focal point of Marvel's first phase, so Chris's presence was undeniably significant.

But now, here he was at the Edge of Tomorrow premiere? It was puzzling because he hadn't been present at last week's Snow White and the Huntsman premiere!

The world seemed to have turned upside down. First, Liam Hemsworth, then Andrew Garfield, and now Chris Evans? Even bystanders could sense a brewing conflict between Renly and Chris Hemsworth. But the reporters, always quick to react, were intrigued by the unexpected appearance.

Even more surprising, Chris wasn't alone. He had a female companion by his side!

His girlfriend! In the past decade, Chris had been surrounded by rumors of relationships, but he had only had one confirmed girlfriend—Jessica Biel, whom he had dated before she married Justin Timberlake. Since then, Chris had been linked to several women, including Minka Kelly, but none had made a public appearance together—until now.

For the first time ever, Chris Evans had appeared at the premiere of Edge of Tomorrow with a woman by his side.

Every reporter felt a surge of excitement. After Renly's interview had lasted thirty minutes, there was no hesitation in leaving it behind to follow the latest breaking story. The crowd quickly surrounded Chris, leaving Renly to watch the frenzy unfold from a distance.

Chris had entered the center of attention. Renly couldn't help but laugh at the scene, enjoying the spectacle of the reporters rushing like a flood. The chaos around Chris was almost mesmerizing, and Renly felt as though he were watching a slow-motion replay of a dramatic moment.

The woman standing beside Chris Evans was striking. She wore a long black skirt and studded black boots, paired with a black leather jacket. Her short hair was adorned with a skull hairpin, and her bold smoky makeup radiated a rebellious and wild energy. On her wrist was a bright red flower, adding a pop of color to her outfit—a symbol of fierce femininity.

This was Edith Hall. The true Edith, with no masks, no pretenses. She stood proudly by Chris's side, exuding an air of self-assurance that Renly knew well.

Over the years, Edith had carefully concealed her true self from the world, living up to the expectations of London's upper class. But today, Edith had shed her disguise and revealed her authentic self in public for the first time.

Renly couldn't help but admire her bravery. Today, Edith had taken off her mask, and it was impossible for George and Elizabeth to continue pretending they didn't know the truth. Her appearance at the Edge of Tomorrow premiere, in Hollywood no less, would surely spark a firestorm of rumors.

Renly's eyes met Edith's across the crowd. They exchanged a silent, knowing smile, understanding each other without a word. It was a moment of quiet solidarity.

Edith subtly gestured to Chris, signaling to Renly: "You don't have control over me anymore. That photo doesn't have power over me, and now I have my protector—Captain America."

Renly's lips curled into a small, amused smile. His gaze shifted to Chris, and with a look of subtle disdain, he silently communicated: "Your taste is questionable."

Edith, noticing the look, gritted her teeth, but Renly turned away with a satisfied smirk and walked toward the Chinese Theater, leaving Edith and Chris to face the reporters.

The excitement at the premiere was winding down, but Renly knew this was only the beginning of the real storm.