Samantha Morton Discusses Her Intense 'The Odyssey' Performance as Circe
The two-time Oscar nominee details her casting process and interpretation of the witch goddess, a role that earned crew applause on set.
“I went, 'I'm making this movie, and this is the character here on this page. This is what I have.'”
- Director
- Christopher Nolan
- Starring
- Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland
- Release
- 2026
- Genre
- Adventure, Action, Fantasy
- Where to Watch
- Theaters
Samantha Morton discusses her role as Circe in Christopher Nolan's film The Odyssey, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
She portrays the witch goddess in a pivotal sequence where Circe welcomes Odysseus's men, senses their desperation, and turns them into pigs. Morton delivers a monologue that lays out the dangerous path for Odysseus to return home.
How did she get the part?
Morton says she received a call that Nolan wanted to meet her, which made her cry. She did not know the project at the time. When she got the script, she was moved by how contemporary it felt and offered her own interpretation of Circe. "When I got the role, I was just so excited to deliver for Chris and [producer] Emma [Thomas] to inhabit what my instinct was," she told THR.
What was her approach to the character?
The actress bought Madeline Miller's book Circe for research but stopped herself from reading it. She wanted to avoid being influenced by other interpretations. "I went, 'I'm making this movie, and this is the character here on this page. This is what I have,'" Morton said. Her instinct was that Circe felt contemporary and like "every woman." She aimed to bring herself into the role and own it.
Director Christopher Nolan praised her work, telling The Los Angeles Times earlier this month, "There are no limitations on her performance." He noted that after one of her takes, the crew gave her a round of applause, an occurrence he compared to Heath Ledger's performance in The Dark Knight.
The Odyssey, starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, is scheduled for a theatrical release in July 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who else stars in The Odyssey?
According to the film's cast listing, the epic features Matt Damon as Odysseus, Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, Lupita Nyong'o as Helen/Clytemnestra, Charlize Theron as Calypso, Zendaya as Athena, Benny Safdie as Agamemnon, Jon Bernthal as Menelaus, and John Leguizamo as Eumaeus.
What is the plot of The Odyssey?
The film follows Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, on his perilous journey home after the Trojan War, confronting gods, monsters, and trials that test his cunning and humanity.
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