The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 393

"Is that Matthew Horner?"

Seeing the tall young man standing at the podium, UNHCR High Commissioner Guterres asked Filippo Grandi, "Our Goodwill Ambassador?"

Filippo immediately replied, "That's him."

Guterres nodded. "You can tell just by looking at him that he's a mature and dependable young man."

In the circular conference hall, camera lenses swiveled to follow Matthew, instantly centering him in their frames. The gazes of most attendees did the same, a sea of eyes turning toward the podium.

Many were intensely curious about what a Hollywood star like him could possibly have to say.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, a black man born in Africa, was particularly concerned with the refugee crisis on the continent. As a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, he also hoped for fewer wars and fewer refugees in Africa.

The moment he stepped up to the podium, Matthew made his presence powerfully known.

Of course, being here wasn't just about projecting an image; he had to deliver a compelling speech.

Matthew had a limited education and a scant understanding of complex political situations, but now he had money, and with it, he could do many things—like acquire a speech full of emotion and high-quality rhetoric, perfectly suited for the moment.A speech he had memorized.

He and Helen had even rehearsed every gesture and expression.

Matthew was ready to elevate his performance to new heights at the UN conference.

He stood at the podium, his expression not arrogant, but exceptionally grave, like that of a national leader. His eyes swept across the conference hall, from left to right.

The President of South Africa, the special envoy of the East African Union, the UN Secretary-General, the UNHCR representative, the UNICEF commissioner, diplomats from various countries...

Every single one of these people carried more weight than a Hollywood star.

But at this moment, they were all simply the audience for this high-class performance, people destined to applaud his solo act.

With that thought in mind, Matthew, of course, felt no nerves.

"Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, foreign ministers and envoys, ladies and gentlemen, greetings."

Matthew spoke unhurriedly, his tone even, his voice clear. "It is an honor to stand here and call on everyone to turn their attention to the refugee crisis in Africa."

He got straight to the point, without any preamble: "Because as we stand here, millions of people in Africa do not even have a place to live in peace, their homes destroyed, forced to wander from place to place."

The atmosphere was solemn; not a single voice could be heard other than Matthew's.

"Today in Africa, more than five million people have been forced to flee their homes—more than at any point in the last century. This should deeply trouble us, for it is a crisis of peace and security. Is this wave of human insecurity growing so fast that we are powerless to stop it, let alone reverse it?"

No one answered his question, but Matthew didn't need a response. He continued, "The time has come to be honest about this. The time has come to face the refugee crisis in Africa head-on!"

His voice grew somber. "Think about it. If it were you, holding your child in your arms as the world you knew collapsed around you... If what you were fleeing was horrific war and barbarism, is there any price you would not pay? Any wall too high to climb? Any ocean you would not be willing to cross? Any border you would not dare to breach?"

Matthew's tone suddenly intensified. "We must begin to act! There is no other way!"

Hearing Matthew's powerful declaration, many of the foreign ministers and officials from African nations began to see him in a much more favorable light.

Filippo Grandi watched Matthew on the podium and gave him a satisfied thumbs-up in his mind. He truly is a top-tier Hollywood star, he thought. His acting skills are extraordinary.

He felt that choosing Matthew had been a wise decision.

"For the past year, I've had a team of fifteen people traveling to many corners of Africa to learn about the refugee situation." At Helen's suggestion, Matthew had been sponsoring a medical team in Africa since the previous year, spending over $100,000 annually. "They brought back a great deal of shocking information."

Sorrow etched itself onto Matthew's face. "One of the mothers they met in a refugee camp in Angola could tell you what it's like to have your daughter taken from your family by armed men and forced into sexual slavery!"

"Hala, one of the orphans living in a tent in Eritrea, could tell you what it feels like to take on the responsibility of supporting a family and raising your younger siblings at a tender age, because her mother was killed in the war and her father was abducted and disappeared."

"Motueyti, a doctor from Libya whose wife and three-year-old daughter were shot by militants. He could tell you what it's like to lose the love of your life and your child while trying to protect the ones you love in a war zone."

Hearing Matthew's names and examples, whether from genuine sympathy or simply the gravity of the topic, the faces in the room grew somber, as if a cloud had passed over them, drawn in by Matthew's words.

Matthew continued, "More than five million African refugees have become victims of a conflict they took no part in. Nevertheless, they are dismissed as a burden to be cast aside."

His pace slowed. "Studies have shown that it takes a minimum of thirty years for refugees to return to their homeland. The number of people displaced in Africa today is higher than ever before, with millions lacking adequate food, proper shelter, let alone an education. As things stand, those in despair see no hope of returning home and can only cling to this last hope called the United Nations, even at the risk of their own lives."

Standing at the podium, Matthew advocated for the refugees, and since this was a performance, he was determined to give it his all.

"That is why I stand here today—to be their voice. Because this is the place where all nations and all people are meant to be free and equal!"

Applause erupted without warning, growing louder and louder, as if everyone in the room endorsed Matthew's point of view.

Waiting for the applause to subside, Matthew continued, "The purpose of the United Nations is to prevent and resolve conflicts, to unite peoples, to find diplomatic solutions, and to save lives. But we have failed to do so in the conflicts that have erupted in many African countries, where the responsibility for the conflict lies with the warring parties. But the crisis has been exacerbated by deep divisions within the international community—divisions the UN Security Council, by failing to effectively carry out its duties, has been unable to prevent."

This topic veered too deeply into politics, so Matthew only touched on it lightly before pulling back. "It is time to be honest, to speak frankly about the critical issues that are festering. Because all is not well in our world; the world is not united enough! We must change, and we must change now! The most important thing we must do today is confront this refugee crisis! We must never forget why it is so crucial to grant refugees the basic human right to asylum!"

****

Not far from the Sandton International Convention Centre, Charlize Theron was in her luxurious apartment, watching a live broadcast of the conference.

Watching Matthew's powerful performance at the podium and hearing his appeal, she had to admit that the man's acting talent was truly impressive—his skills now definitely surpassed her own.

"After this meeting, video of this speech will go viral..." Charlize murmured in a low voice. "This guy is going to get showered with praise by the media."

She shook her head; when it came to putting on a show, Matthew was definitely in a class of his own.

Matthew's voice sounded again from the television: "Even if we are not strong enough, even if we recognize how vulnerable we are, the United Nations is still seen today as a place where people can seek refuge."

Matthew's speech was drawing to a close. "If today, in the eyes of the men and women fleeing across Africa, the UN still represents a glimmer of hope, a sanctuary of peace, then that is something to be proud of, not something to fear."

Matthew felt he was keeping the momentum at its peak; this was, without a doubt, the best performance of his Hollywood career.

But his words were not over yet. "Despite all the differences among the various UN member states, we still enjoy prosperity and stability! We have the opportunity to help those who are fleeing from war, terror, and oppression! I know many will say, 'That's all well and good, but we can't help everyone.'"

He paused after that sentence, waiting as people exchanged glances before continuing, "Yes, that's true, we cannot help all the poor people in the world. But let's be honest: the number of African refugees who have lost their homes today is unprecedented, but they still represent a tiny percentage compared to those of us who enjoy wealthy and stable lives!"

In conclusion, Matthew declared, "The refugee crisis is profound, and the path to resolving it is long. We can show the courage of humanity, move forward, and demonstrate the values we believe in... we still have a long way to go, but when the people of the future read this chapter of history, I hope they will see that we stood shoulder to shoulder and offered help to those who needed it!"

As he finished, the conference center erupted in thunderous applause that went on for a long time.