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What is the story about?
The Odyssey cast is loaded with heavyweights, but only one actor received the kind of reaction Christopher Nolan hadn't seen since Heath Ledger in his
previous directorial, The Dark Knight. As the buzz builds around the legendary filmmaker's take on Homer's legendary epic, Nolan has identified one performance that left an indelible mark, not just on him, but on everyone behind the camera. According to him, it was Samantha Morton, who plays the enchantress Circe, who got a reaction he had only seen once before in his career. The movie also stars Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron.
Nolan on Samantha Morton
Christopher Nolan told the Los Angeles Times that Morton's relatively brief appearance is one of the film's defining elements. "This was a massive film and she is someone who comes in and changes the dynamic," Nolan said. "In a weird way the film lived or died on that character. She was the pivot."
Talking about Morton, the Oscar-nominated director said that her performances always have an extraordinary emotional and intellectual depth. "I've always admired Samantha’s work, she brings so much depth of thinking about her role, there are no limitations on her performance."
Rare reaction on set
Nolan also shared an odd moment during shooting of The Odyssey that demonstrated the impact of Morton's acting. The director said that the production team instinctively clapped for her when she finished one of her scenes, a rare occurrence on a film set.
The moment immediately brought Nolan and producer Emma Thomas back to a similar unforgettable performance. "Emma remembered the last time that happened was with Heath Ledger on The Dark Knight," he shared.
Ledger's take on the Joker still ranks among the most celebrated performances in film history, with the actor earning a posthumous Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for the film's 2008 release. Nolan's making such a comparison drives home how profound an impression Morton made during production.
Samantha Morton's career
Samantha Morton has been one of the industry's finest performers for a long time. She received Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress for Sweet and Lowdown (1999) and Best Actress for In America (2003).
Her eclectic filmography also includes acclaimed turns in Minority Report, Jane Eyre, Synecdoche, New York, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and The Walking Dead.
About The Odyssey
In the Nolan movie, Matt Damon plays the title role of Odysseus. In Homer's original poem, Circe is a major player in Odysseus' decade-long return home after the Trojan War, and it seems Nolan is convinced her scenes will be some of the most memorable in the film.
"These are mythological figures, iconic in some ways," Nolan said of his casting process. "I wanted to cast it big, get the finest bunch of actors," he added about getting hold of some of the best actors.
The Odyssey is set to hit theatres on July 17.
