### Chapter 138: Body Language

Julie Andrews: ...

There was a silence, like a stone sinking into the sea.

Anne looked at Anson, and Anson looked at Anne. The two young actors exchanged puzzled glances, completely unsure of what had just happened. Anson hadn't said anything wrong, had he? Could his words have stirred some painful memory in Julie?

After listening intently to Anson's question, Julie didn't answer immediately. Instead, she fell into deep thought. Her gentle and elegant face took on a slight seriousness—not heavy, but enough to slow down time.

Anson remained patient, not interrupting Julie's thoughts. He simply watched her quietly, his eyes signaling his anticipation for a response.

Julie noticed.

Coming back to herself, Julie saw Anson's expectant gaze and smiled faintly.

She opened her mouth as if to speak, then paused, seemingly changing her mind. What she finally said was completely unexpected and had nothing to do with Anson's question.

"Have you ever watched a Broadway or West End performance?"

Anson knew about New York's Broadway and London's West End, the most famous hubs for stage plays. That was common knowledge. But what did this have to do with his question?

Still, Anson wasn't in a hurry.

He knew that Julie had performed on Broadway for many years, and that's where she had first risen to fame. So, if she brought it up, there must be a reason beyond mere small talk.

"No, I haven't," Anson answered honestly.

Julie wasn't surprised. For the younger generation, stage plays had lost much of their allure. Like the West End, Broadway now had to attract tourists to survive. The audiences who truly appreciated stage performances were aging and disappearing, gradually being forgotten.

Julie smiled and gave Anson a sideways glance. "You should go watch one."

Anson didn't reply, but instead gave a quick "OK" gesture.

Julie chuckled softly. "In stage plays, there's a certain distance between you and the audience. They can't always see or hear clearly, so actors need to amplify their performances, using body language to convey emotion."

"You see, in films, when I speak, I minimize my gestures and movements. But on stage, I have to open up my body. Every line needs to be accompanied by some physical expression. Just standing still won't allow the audience to feel the character's emotions or attitude."

As she spoke, Julie illustrated her point with her own gestures, clearly demonstrating the difference between film and stage acting.

"So, on the stage, knowing how to use body language is a fundamental skill—an extremely important one."

"Did you know? Every British actor must perform on stage before they can truly gain recognition."

Suddenly, Julie looked at Anson and posed a question of her own.

Anson quickly caught on. "You're saying that body language is the key to the answer?"

Julie gave him a satisfied nod, as if she were a teacher acknowledging a student's correct answer. "When you stand in front of the camera, body language doesn't lie. How you naturally integrate into a scene, into the context, into the dialogue—it's often invisible, but it forms the foundation of excellent performance."

Anson began to understand, if only vaguely—

People often discussed the differences between American and British actors, or more broadly, American and European actors.

Overall, American actors often came from humble, working-class backgrounds, while British actors were predominantly from academic institutions. Of course, there were exceptions to this, but in the 21st century, reality shows had flourished in North America, making this trend more apparent—it was a phenomenon.

Undoubtedly, the UK also had amateur actors who entered the industry through talent shows or other unconventional means. Not every actor came from a formal academic background, but the cultural atmosphere was undeniably different.

As Julie pointed out, to gain true recognition in British acting circles, there were three criteria:

First, academic training. Even for those who started as amateurs, after entering the industry, many would return to formal education to refine their skills.

Second, performing on the West End stage. No matter how big a British actor became, they would regularly return to the West End to continue honing their craft on stage.

--

**Third, seek breakthroughs.** In a certain sense, breaking one's own inertia and taking on challenging roles is essential. Of course, this requires opportunities and conditions, and not every actor has access to such chances.

Thus, an actor's understanding of their role and their training in fundamental acting skills, as exemplified by European actors represented by those in the UK, indeed differs from American actors.

So, how do basic skills in body language manifest in performance?

Julie didn't explain this point because it's something that can't be conveyed through words alone; it must be experienced, learned, and undergone personally to be fully understood. However, Anson has some thoughts.

Even if you've never eaten pork, at least you've seen a pig run.

Let me give a simple example.

As streaming platforms continue to rise, more and more popular actors are emerging. When watching the web dramas they produce, the overall impression is very direct.

Although their lines, expressions, and eye contact are often criticized, what's more apparent is their full-body movements. When the camera captures their entire bodies, they often don't know how to stand, sit, or walk, leading to an unnatural stiffness that can disrupt the balance of the shot, leaving a lingering sense of affectation and making it difficult for the audience to fully immerse themselves in the experience.

Obviously, this is part of the basic skills.

In fact, it's not just them.

Anson couldn't help but think of Meryl Streep, who has made history with twenty-one Oscar nominations and has won three Academy Awards. She is undoubtedly a legendary actor, and no one would say that Meryl's acting skills are lacking.

But even Meryl has her shortcomings—

Body language.

Meryl is a typical representative of American actors, using the method acting approach to feel the emotions and thoughts of the character and then presenting her interpretation.

Meryl's eye contact, performance, and unparalleled line delivery are indeed admirable, and her nuanced and layered performance in "Sophie's Choice" deserves a place in history. However, her awkwardness in body language is her Achilles' heel. While not stiff, it lacks expressiveness.

So, if you closely observe Meryl's works, you'll find that close-ups and medium shots dominate, while full shots are relatively controlled to avoid highlighting this weakness. Despite holding Emmy, Oscar, and Grammy awards, making her one step away from the rare EGOT status, she has never won a Tony Award.

The EGOT represents the highest honors in four major American fields: the Emmy for television, the Grammy for music, the Oscar for film, and the Tony for stage plays. Anyone who has achieved all four is a true legend.

Meryl is only missing the Tony Award.

This shows that mastering the basics of body language might not be as easy as imagined.

No wonder!

No wonder when Anson watched Julie perform, there was a special feeling, from top to bottom, inside and out—a natural sense of harmony.

At first, he thought it was due to Julie's elegance, a quality unique to her, especially in her portrayal of a queen, which requires a certain poise. That's why he had this feeling.

But now, it seems there's more to it—an acting secret that makes her stand out even without lines or actions, just by standing there.