by Austin Butler is opening up once again about the trials and tribulations of preparing for the role of Elvis Presley.
Austin played the lead figure in Baz Lurhmann’s hit film, which was released earlier this year. His performance received tons of critical acclaim, with many predicting that the actor will be in the running for an Oscar nomination next year.
But it turns out that the amazing project took a lot from Austin, who sat down with Janelle Monáe to variety Actors on actors series to reveal the lengths he went to perfect his portrayal of the late singer.
To the surprise of many observers on the internet, Austin told Janelle that while preparing for and filming Elvishe did not see his family for approximately three years.
“During Elvis, I did not see my family for about three years,” he revealed solemnly. Janelle replied, “Oh no.”
“I was in New York preparing with Baz, and then I went to Australia. I had months where I didn’t talk to anyone,” Austin continued.
“During #Elvis, I didn’t see my family for about three years,” Austin Butler tells Janelle Monáe. “I had months where I didn’t talk to anyone, and when I did, all I thought about was Elvis.” https://t.co/wNhSd0YD6e
“When I did, all I was thinking about was Elvis,” he said.
And Austin later added that when he finally spoke to his family again, he couldn’t shake Elvis’s southern accent. “I was speaking in his voice the whole time,” he said.
Unsurprisingly, many Twitter users were shocked by Austin’s revelation, discussing how seriously some Hollywood actors take the method of acting as a process.
“It’s never that serious, I promise you. this is so unimpressive to me like if you need to do ALL of this then,” wrote one person.
It’s never that serious, I promise you. this is so unimpressive to me like if you need to do ALL of this then https://t.co/8ZXKYssFo8
“Method actors are so insufferable… like you don’t just clock you in and out sir,” said another.
Method actors are so insufferable… like I don’t just walk in and out sir https://t.co/T7ijnkN6qv
“Method acting has done irreversible damage to Hollywood actors,” added a third user.
But Austin, stuck in character as Elvis for so long, is to be expected given how much he put into preparing for the role.
Speaking to British GQ in May, the actor revealed that after refusing to fly back to Los Angeles from Australia when COVID-19 protocols hampered the film’s production, he turned his apartment into a “detective scene” while filming. further investigation possible. about the real life of Elvis Presley.
“You can lose touch with who you really are. And I definitely had that when I was done. Elvis – without knowing who I was,” he said.
Additionally, Austin revealed that he was “rushed to the hospital” as soon as the project ended, after his body began to “shut down” when he contracted a virus that simulates appendicitis.
“The next day I woke up at four in the morning in excruciating pain and was rushed to the hospital,” he said. “My body started shutting down the day after I finished Elvis.”
And despite all this, Austin’s experience in the Elvis The film’s director, Baz, only made the scenario more difficult.
While Austin has repeatedly praised Baz for his leadership on the project, the actor also recalled going home “in tears” after being humiliated by him on his first day in the recording studio.
“When I was on my first day in the recording studio, Baz wanted me to get as close to acting as possible,” Austin told VMAN in July. “He had all the executives and everyone from RCA, who were back in the offices, and he took them to the recording studio and said, ‘I want everyone to sit in front of Austin,’ and he told them to cut me off.”
“Then they would make fun of me and stuff while I was singing,” she said, adding that she “went home crying” that night.
But Austin made it clear that he ultimately found the process helpful, saying, “When we were filming this moment when Elvis first came onstage and the audience was heckling him, I knew how he felt.”
