The Greatest Showman #1051 - Smart Q&A

The atmosphere was electric as Ellen DeGeneres, with her signature blue eyes sparkling with curiosity, leaned in and asked, "So, I mean, have you met Queen Elizabeth?" Her voice was filled with genuine surprise, her lips curving into a slight smile, waiting for Renly's answer.

Renly couldn't help but chuckle, placing his hands on his knees as he responded, "Ha. Of course, but at a distance. I imagine the view was probably worse than the one you get from the audience in front of a TV."

Ellen's question was simple: Had Renly met Queen Elizabeth in person? But Renly's response was clever and evasive, implying he had seen the Queen from a distance, as any ordinary person might during public appearances at Buckingham Palace. A cleverly worded answer that managed to give a positive response while sidestepping the heart of the question.

Ellen immediately caught the subtlety in his reply. Her gaze sharpened, but she maintained her composure, looking out at the audience before lightly tapping her fingers on the armrest. Then, with a slight tilt of her head, she shifted the conversation. "We all know that Renly was born into a prestigious academic background, and his acting skills have left a deep impression on us. But we've never really talked about it, have we?"

A wave of realization passed through the audience as Ellen set the stage for a different kind of revelation. "I mean, you graduated from Eton College, right?"

Renly immediately recognized Ellen's clever approach. Her question was both indirect and smart, but Renly didn't flinch. He smiled and let the silence linger for a moment, a silent acknowledgment of the roundabout way she had gotten there. Ellen shrugged, grinning, as if to say, "I won't win this one."

The exchange of glances between the two of them was more than just playful banter. It was a shared understanding that the audience couldn't help but notice, and it immediately piqued their curiosity. A brief pause followed before Renly answered.

"Yes," he said calmly, his words carrying weight under the intense gaze of the studio audience.

A collective gasp echoed through the room, as it dawned on everyone that Eton College—considered a symbol of the British aristocracy—was no small matter. To many, it was the exclusive domain of the upper class, and now Renly had just revealed his connection to it.

Ellen, eager to dig deeper, pressed further. "And Cambridge? Did you graduate there too?"

Renly nodded simply. "Yes."

The audience let out a collective murmur, the idea of an aristocratic education somehow fitting yet unexpected.

Ellen's curiosity took over, and she followed up with, "I'm curious—why has this never come up before? It's clearly not a secret, right?"

"No, of course not," Renly chuckled, his tone light. "It's just never seemed that interesting. I mean, I can't imagine saying, 'Hey everyone, I graduated from a very old school, and that makes me a good actor.'"

His sarcastic remark made the room burst into laughter, dissolving any lingering tension. Renly continued, "The thing is, did you hear that surprised gasp just now?" He gestured toward the audience, a playful grin on his face. "For me, it was just part of my schooling, but for everyone else, it somehow feels special. It's not like I'm an MIT graduate or like I'm Sheldon Cooper or something."

His humor landed perfectly, and the audience roared with laughter. Ellen smiled too, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth. "Yes, that's exactly it," she said. "It's no big deal, but it begs the question—why hasn't anyone ever talked about it?"

Renly raised an eyebrow. "Maybe I was trying to maintain a bit of mystery?"

Ellen put on an exaggerated expression of mock horror. "Mysticism? It's 2012, not 1992, Mr. Renly Hall. That kind of humor is so last century."

The audience exploded into laughter again, and Ellen took the opportunity to keep the mood light. "Don't make me call in the shirtless handsome men to dance for us, alright?"

Renly shot her a teasing look. "Are you sure about that?"

Ellen, an openly gay host, never had much interest in men, yet for the show, she'd often invite handsome guys to dance, creating a humorous juxtaposition when she feigned disgust. This was one of those moments.

Seeing Ellen's jaw drop, Renly couldn't help but chuckle. Then, he leaned forward, his tone shifting slightly as he took the conversation in another direction. "Have you ever heard about the difference between British and American actors?"

Ellen raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "What do you mean?"

Renly grinned and explained, "When a British actor walks into an audition, they're expected to bring certain things—Shakespeare, stage experience, strong academic credentials, all that. It's all fine until we get into a deeper conversation, like when I had to talk about my background—Eton, Cambridge—and suddenly the room goes cold. It's like… there are ghosts floating around, but not the cute ones from Harry Potter."

Ellen looked genuinely puzzled for a moment before shaking her head. "Wait, you mean your academic background actually caused issues during auditions? You, Renly Hall?"

Renly nodded. "Yes. Take The Pacific War, for instance. It's a unique role, and the character of Eugene Sledge required specific qualities. But after that, in my subsequent auditions, I faced similar challenges."

Ellen, genuinely taken aback, absorbed the weight of Renly's words. She had never expected this angle on his career.

The two continued to discuss the complexities of auditions and the challenges Renly had faced because of his background. Though the topic of Renly's aristocratic roots could have become a scandalous affair, the tone of The Ellen Show remained one of warmth and genuine conversation. The playful banter gave way to deeper reflections on fame, career, and perception.

As the show wrapped, the impact of this episode was undeniable. The program's producers rushed to air the episode the next day, anticipating the surge in interest. Within hours, the episode had set a new viewership record for the year, sparking discussions across social media and news outlets.

Renly's aristocratic background had become a sensation, with many speculating about the influence it had on his career. Even Renly's impeccable fashion choices at various public events—often featured in high-end fashion magazines—were now seen in a new light.

The internet buzzed with speculation: Could Renly be cast as Prince William? Or perhaps James Bond? People were eager to see where this newfound fame would lead.

In the wake of the Ellen Show broadcast, Renly's agent issued an official statement confirming his academic background, and the media frenzy only intensified. What had begun as a light-hearted moment on a talk show had quickly snowballed into a full-fledged public phenomenon.