The Greatest Showman #1366 - Cannes Best Actor

Habits are a curious thing. Over time, life becomes routine, and what once amazed us eventually feels ordinary. But, as much as habit can dull the spark of surprise, it also holds significant value, giving rise to phenomena like the "brand effect," where influence is built upon established norms and recognition.

Today, people have grown accustomed to it.

Accustomed to Renly's excellence. His strength. His professionalism. His uniqueness.

Once again, Renly stands at the top, accepting one of the most prestigious honors in the world, and yet, no one seems to notice that he is still under the age of 24. To the world, Renly is the embodiment of perfection—talented, dedicated, and exceptionally skilled. His age and background fade into the background, overshadowed by the sheer power of his abilities.

As Alf-Hall once noted, people watch Renly because of "Renly"; and they recognize the Halls because of "the Renly-Hall" brand.

The world has experienced many changes.

When Renly stepped onto the stage once more, the audience erupted in applause. Even Joel and Ethan Coen stood, giving a heartfelt standing ovation. There was no room for doubt, envy, or rejection in the Lumière Hall. Instead, the air was filled with excitement, astonishment, and admiration. This moment, this recognition—it was all Renly's, and it was deserved.

Surrounded by light and applause, Renly couldn't hide his surprise.

To be honest, in this moment, he hoped even more for Drunken Country Ballads to win the Palme d'Or. Among the three major European film festivals, individual actor honors pale in comparison to the collective achievement of a film. Being part of a Palme d'Or-winning project was a different kind of reward—one he eagerly anticipated.

But tonight's first trophy for Drunken Country Ballads came too early.

Once his initial excitement calmed, a soft smile crept across Renly's face, and a sense of profound happiness filled his chest. "Thank you," he said in fluent French, instantly winning the affection of the French audience. "Sorry, Joel, Ethan, I was the first one on stage."

The remark, lighthearted and playful, hinted at the fact that Drunken Country Ballads had likely missed out on the Palme d'Or. After all, the jury had chosen to honor the actor, not the director or the film itself.

This French-style humor made the crowd chuckle, and even the jury members sitting nearby couldn't help but laugh.

Renly glanced down at the trophy and certificate in his hands.

Inside a blue velvet gift box sat a palm-sized amber trophy, encased in transparent glass and adorned with a small golden palm leaf. The design mirrored the Grand Prize Palm trophy, albeit smaller and lighter, reflecting its significance in scale.

Also included was an ivory-white medal scroll, emphasizing the personal nature of the award.

The weight of the box was palpable. Not the mental pressure of the moment, but the tangible physical weight, heavier than Renly had expected. It was even weightier than the Berlin Silver Bear trophy. He gently placed the box on the podium to display it to the audience.

Although his hands were free, the mood remained heavy with emotion.

This wasn't his first time accepting an award, but the thrill, the butterflies in his stomach, the rush of joy—they never felt any less powerful.

Just recently, Renly had received his first Olivier Award in London, rekindling his passion for performing. Now, in Cannes, he truly realized that he was an actor who would never change. He was still deeply in love with his craft.

Perhaps, from the outside, it seemed like Renly had already won everything. And, in a way, he had:

From the Olivier Award to the Cannes Best Actor title, he had hit new career milestones in less than a month. Now, only the Tony Award remained in his path to EGOT status; only Venice stood between him and full recognition from the major European film festivals. The Golden Globe was his next goal. At just twenty-four, he had already conquered TV, film, music, and theater. He had reached the pinnacle of success, shining brighter than ever, leaving an indelible mark on the world.

Renly knew the weight of the Cannes Best Actor title, and the exhilaration it brought was overwhelming. He understood the immense significance of this award—this trophy was the ultimate proof of his dedication and talent. But a trophy alone couldn't capture the depth of his joy, the fire burning within him.

It wasn't just about being an actor.

It was about realizing his dream, chasing his true calling, and pursuing it with unwavering determination. Renly's short life had already been a blaze of brilliance, breaking free from the constraints of time and reality, living fully in every moment, embodying the essence of "life as beautiful as summer flowers."

He had never felt more alive. He had never felt more real.

Renly was not just a symbol. He was a living, breathing testament to the potential of life—exploring, pushing boundaries, and making his mark in ways that only he could. His name, his brand, was something that existed solely because of his unique vision, his passion, his unyielding commitment.

Thank God, he was an actor.

As countless thoughts surged through his mind—memories of filming, the hard work of preparation, the joy of peer recognition, the dreams he had yet to fulfill—everything gradually settled into a peaceful smile.

Renly knew that, when it came to Drunken Country Ballads and his career, his gratitude was not solely for the awards, but for the fellow dreamers who had accompanied him along the way. They were the ones who had reminded him that he was never alone, that persistence mattered, that the journey was more important than the outcome.

Life, after all, was a journey with infinite possibilities. Giving up, retreating into the safety of the known, would seal off those possibilities forever. Renly had chosen not to stop, to keep moving forward, to embrace the uncertainty and fight for his dreams.

"In the beginning, when Joel and Ethan approached me, I admired their courage," Renly continued with a smile, speaking in fluent French. "They dared to tell a story no one cared about. They weren't worried about failing or losing money."

His lighthearted joke made the reporters laugh.

Renly went on, "Like LeVine Davis, we know this is a choice with no exit, no hope, but still, we choose to persist, to hope that, in the darkness, someone will hear our cry. Even if it's just one person, that's enough to keep us going."

He shifted the focus away from himself, offering all credit to the Coen brothers and the viewers who had embraced Drunken Country Ballads.

"For me, this is a story about persistence," he said, his words flowing through the microphone. At that moment, Emily in the media center fell silent. She had expected a story about giving up.

"Life isn't easy," Renly continued. "Choosing to compromise, to give up, is not shameful. It's part of human nature. Without compromise, we might have already gone extinct." His tone remained light and humorous, earning applause from the French reporters.

"But the question is," Renly added, "when everyone else compromises, who will continue to fight? When the world ends, and only Noah's Ark remains, who will build it? We all hope it's not another Titanic."

Laughter erupted throughout the hall. What had started as a heartfelt acceptance speech had become an engaging performance in itself, full of wit and sincerity.

Renly concluded, "So, thank you, Joel and Ethan. Thank you, George Slender, Andy Rodgers, Paul Walker, Ryan Gosling, Heather Cross, Arthur, and Edie. And thank you, Si, for being here with me. I hope this won't be my last time at Cannes—it would be so sad if it were. Thank you all!"

In an instant, more than half of the audience stood, clapping and cheering, their admiration for Renly unwavering. Not only was his award well-deserved, but his words had also struck a chord with everyone in the room.

At Cannes, filmmakers gather to bask in the spotlight, to seek praise and recognition. But, as Renly's speech reminded them, they also yearn for something deeper—an audience that truly listens to their message, that understands the heart of the story.

After finishing, Renly took a step back, preparing to leave the stage. As he turned, he noticed the jury standing up in applause, with Steven taking the lead. He nodded and greeted Li An, who was waiting nearby, but in his moment of excitement, he realized—

He had forgotten the trophy on the podium.