Zendaya recalls being 'so nervous' while filming Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey'
Mumbai, July 9
Actress Zendaya has spoken about her working in Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' along with how she found her way into Athena by focusing on her human qualities and her connection to Odysseus.
"I really connected with the emotional component of it," Zendaya said.
She added: "Athena becomes a reflection of the moral struggle that Odysseus is having within himself."
"You realize that the manifestation of this goddess is a kind of tough love, guiding him and bringing him through his journey. In a deeper sense, I think he is haunted by the decisions that he has made and the pain that he has caused. Coming to terms with that is part of fighting to get back to his own family."
Her first days of work were spent shooting the sack of Troy on the film's gigantic immersive set in Morocco.
"I was so nervous," said Zendaya.
"Let's just say it was intense. And that's to say nothing of the world Chris created for us. The sets are so massive and there's so much detail and thought in every costume, set piece. I didn't have to do much acting because I felt I had stepped into Troy."
"But it was exhilarating and almost felt like a dream. It was cold and raining, but I think with the adrenaline, I didn't feel it. Everybody kept asking me, 'Do you want a jacket?' I was so fired up I forgot it was cold."
The Odyssey is an epic fantasy action film written and directed by Christopher Nolan. An adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek epic the Odyssey, the film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the Greek king of Ithaca, and chronicles his long and perilous journey home after the Trojan War and his encounters with mythical beings as he attempts to reunite with his wife, Penelope.
The Odyssey premieres in theatres worldwide on 17 July.
— IANS
Reader Comments
While I appreciate Nolan's ambition, I hope he doesn't overlook Indian audiences. The Odyssey is a universal story, but we have our own rich epic traditions too — Ramayana, Mahabharata. Maybe someday we'll see a Nolan-level adaptation of those? Just a thought. Still, excited for the film!
"It was cold and raining but I didn't feel it" — that's the mark of a true artist lost in her craft. Zendaya seems genuinely moved by this role, and Nolan's immersive sets sound like pure magic. July 17 can't come soon enough! 🏛️
Interesting how Hollywood keeps reimagining Greek myths while Indian epics remain largely untouched by big-budget global cinema. But Zendaya connecting emotionally to Athena — that's the heart of good storytelling. Hope the film does well here too. 💫
Zendaya and Nolan? That's a combo I never knew I needed! Her nervousness is so relatable — even big stars feel it. The fact that she was so immersed she forgot the cold shows how powerful cinema can be. Nolan is a genius. 🔥
I love that Zendaya focused on the human qualities of a goddess — that's something we Indians understand well through our own mythology. Every deity has a human side. This film might be more relatable to us than Hollywood usually thinks. Can't wait to see it in theatres! 🌟
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