Zendaya Was So Cold on First Day of ‘The Odyssey’ Filming That Her ‘Mouth Was Frozen’ and She Couldn’t Say Her Lines; Nolan Calls Her ‘Always Perfect’
Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- Zendaya told the 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast that on her first day shooting 'The Odyssey' in Iceland, her 'mouth was frozen' and lines came out as 'blah blah blah,' admitting she 'psyched myself out' trying to memorize dialogue.
- The role marks Zendaya's first film with Christopher Nolan; she plays Greek goddess Athena and called the experience 'nerve-racking' despite the freezing conditions.
- Nolan told Fandango Zendaya was 'always perfect' on set and noted she was the only actor to whom he gave that designation, joking he 'felt guilty' hearing others complain.
- Nolan told Elle he cast Zendaya as Athena for her 'iconic' grace, calling her 'a true movie star, but also an incredible actor' despite the 'tall order' of playing a literal goddess.
- Tom Holland, who plays Odysseus' son Telemachus, had his own first-day crisis, telling Fandango he thought Nolan hated him because the director kept cutting camera — until he learned IMAX cameras cap a single take at three minutes.
- 'The Odyssey' opens in theaters July 17 from Universal Pictures.
Why it matters: The anecdote reframes Zendaya and Tom Holland as nervous first-day newcomers on a shoot where IMAX cameras cap takes at three minutes and Icelandic cold physically locks actors' mouths — yet Nolan still singled out Zendaya as the only actor he called 'perfect,' with the film opening July 17 from Universal.
