"Recently, a film has sparked widespread discussion. The story revolves around a case within the military that eventually reached the courtroom due to its complex relationships. There, the prosecution and defense engaged in a heated confrontation. Of course, in the end, justice prevailed." Oprah stood confidently in front of her sofa, addressing the audience with her opening remarks. Each sentence she spoke was met with whistles and cheers from the crowd. Though there were only about 150 spectators, the energy in the studio was electrifying.
"This film, A Few Good Men , reminded us of some of this year's most impactful events, and it also highlighted the intricate relationships between law and the military, as well as law and morality," Oprah said with a smile. "But today, we're not here to analyze the deeper meaning of the movie; instead, we're here to celebrate another achievement it brought us—Hugo Lancaster!"
The audience erupted instantly, the cheers reverberating throughout the studio, giving the illusion of thousands of people shouting. Following the staff's cue, Hugo walked onto the stage from the side, waving to the audience. The studio's energy surged to the edge of chaos—everyone stood, clapping and shouting Hugo's name. The scene reminded Hugo of last night on Yonghuo Street, though this time, it was more controlled. The overwhelming enthusiasm made his blood race and his energy surge, as if he possessed the entire world.
Cheering can truly make one lose themselves.
Today, Hugo wore a white crew-neck T-shirt, a bright red blazer, light blue jeans, and white high-top sneakers—a casual yet striking outfit, different from most of his previous promotional appearances. The red blazer radiated youthful energy, igniting Hugo's vitality from head to toe. In this outfit, he exuded an irresistible charm.
Hugo and Oprah embraced warmly. As Oprah prepared to sit, the audience's cheers continued in relentless waves, rising and falling with Hugo's movements. Hugo laughed heartily at the spectacle, his dazzling smile triggering another wave of uncontrollable screams from the crowd.
Finally, Oprah had to repeat her instructions three times before the audience settled. She looked at Hugo, spreading her hands. "You really shouldn't be laughing—this makes my opening incredibly difficult. This is the hardest crowd control I've faced in my entire career." Her smile prompted laughter and applause from the audience.
Hugo's grin returned, eliciting a few more uncontrollable screams. He quickly lowered his head, rubbing his cheek with his right hand to stifle his laughter. Ironically, this shy gesture triggered another round of screams. Seeing Hugo's perfect profile, the audience couldn't help but be captivated.
"Let's welcome Hugo again! Please, have a seat." Oprah allowed the moment to pass, and the combined claps and screams gradually subsided. Hugo and Oprah finally sat down.
"Do you plan to scream for another hour, or will you let me speak?" Oprah asked, finally restoring order, though low laughter still echoed. "Hugo, is it like this everywhere you go?"
"Oh, no, absolutely not," Hugo said, waving his hands to deny it.
"It must feel incredible, especially after such an exciting year," Oprah said, leaning slightly forward with a serious expression as she eased into the conversation.
"It really is. Thinking back to the Golden Raspberry Awards in January, who could have predicted I'd be sitting here on The Oprah Winfrey Show today? I don't know about you, but I couldn't have imagined it," Hugo said with a broad smile, stirring a gentle murmur in the audience.
"Has anyone ever told you that your smile is truly captivating?" Oprah noticed a small detail and dove into it, even abandoning her planned interview direction.
Hugo paused, "Do you really mean that?" He still felt uneasy looking at himself. Even while watching Scent of a Woman or A Few Good Men, Hugo often felt as if the person on screen was a stranger, not himself. He honestly hadn't thought much about his own appeal.
"Of course. Just look at the audience's reaction," Oprah said, prompting another round of screams. "I mean, your smile has a special quality, like flowers blooming right in front of me. It's impossible not to be charmed."
"I guess that's a good thing, then," Hugo said, feeling slightly embarrassed. He avoided Oprah's gaze, masking his shyness.
"For girls, definitely!" Oprah replied, sparking laughter from the audience. "Hugo, you appeared on the big screen at fifteen in Diner, right? That would make you a child star. Over the past ten years, you've undergone the struggles of growing up in the industry. Have you finally found your path?"
"A child star? Really?" Hugo looked at Oprah, raising an eyebrow. "I thought only someone like Macaulay Culkin counted as a child star, or kids showing themselves on the big screen in that specific way. I don't consider myself one." His comment sent the entire audience into laughter, even Oprah chuckled. "Seriously, I never considered myself a child star. I've always been an actor. I was younger before, and now I've grown up—that's all."
Hugo had many memories from filming, but he still didn't see himself as a child star. His first film, Diner, featured roles of growing-up characters, not child-specific roles. In his view, only those groomed by places like Disney could truly be called child stars.
"So, you feel that throughout this journey, you haven't changed all that much?" Oprah asked, following up.
"No, of course not. There have been changes," Hugo said earnestly. "For example, when I was fifteen, there was no way I could have played the role of Daniel Keefe—it wouldn't have been convincing at all." His analogy drew a ripple of laughter from the audience. Imagining a fifteen-year-old arguing in court was indeed absurd. "I feel like I'm still exploring my path as an actor. You could call it a transformation, but I'm still in the process of transforming."
"What do you mean? Are you saying you're still searching for your own image as an actor?" Oprah probed further.
Hugo nodded. "Yes. In the past, I just wanted to be a good actor, to perform my roles diligently—it seemed that was all there was to it. Becoming an actor as great as Nicholson or Pacino—that's worth striving for, isn't it?" His words prompted nods across the studio.
"Lately, though, I've been thinking about what kind of actor I want to become in the future," Hugo continued. "You know, some actors have the ability to make audiences laugh, some can embody justice, and others can make every role unforgettable. Every great actor seems to have a defining characteristic, and right now, I have no clear direction. So yes, I'm transforming, and I will keep transforming until I truly understand my inner goal."
"A great actor? I mean, you're saying you'll keep working until you become a great actor," Oprah summarized Hugo's slightly scattered words. Hugo thought for a moment and nodded. Oprah sighed, "That's no easy task. And at the beginning of the year, when you won the Golden Raspberry Award, that must have been a huge blow."
"Not exactly a blow—more like a shock. It woke me up," Hugo said with a double meaning. Without the jolt of the Golden Raspberry Award, perhaps this transformative experience wouldn't have happened.
"Tell me about the Golden Raspberry Awards. Why did you decide to attend and become the first actor ever to show up at the ceremony?" Oprah asked.
"Wow, I guess that title will follow me for life," Hugo chuckled. It wasn't exactly glamorous, but it elicited laughter from the audience. "I don't even know what I was thinking. Maybe I figured, since it had come to this point, I might as well go all out. Better than hiding at home. Many problems don't disappear if you ignore them, and even facing them doesn't guarantee a solution. At least I didn't miss the Razzies, which would've been a real regret." Hugo's ironic remark caused a brief pause in the audience before erupting into laughter.
Hugo continued with a soft laugh, "But I think having the courage to face a problem is a good start. So, when I actually received the Golden Raspberry Award, I cried—I could barely speak. Partly thinking, damn it! But also thinking, okay, maybe this is my lowest point. Since I can't resist, I might as well enjoy it."
The audience roared with laughter again, and even Oprah couldn't help but laugh. This was genuinely how Hugo had felt upon realizing he had won the award, especially when he discovered that the trophy wasn't from the Midi Rock Music Festival. His exclamation of "damn it" was entirely real.
"We have to applaud your courage," Oprah said. "If it were me, I would never dare attend the ceremony. For heaven's sake, I wouldn't even have the courage to look at the newspapers the next day."
Hearing Oprah say that, Hugo felt surprisingly at ease. Perhaps things were just like this: everyone assumed winning a Golden Raspberry was humiliating, but after experiencing it, Hugo actually felt a sense of liberation.
"Then I can hardly imagine how difficult life must have been for you after winning the Golden Raspberry Award," Oprah said, moving to the next topic.
....
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