Zendaya is opening up about her experience working with Christopher Nolan on his epic film The Odyssey. The actress, who plays the Greek goddess Athena in the movie, recently shared some surprising stories from the set. She talked about struggling to speak in freezing Icelandic weather and revealed the special way her husband, Tom Holland, told her she got the part.
The film, which is one of the most anticipated releases of the year, hits theaters on July 17. It brings together a star-studded cast that includes Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, and Lupita Nyong’o. Zendaya’s role as Athena marks her first time working with Nolan, and she admits the experience was both exciting and challenging.
Zendaya Couldn’t Move Her Mouth Due to Freezing Weather in Iceland
During an interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Zendaya explained why she had trouble delivering her lines on the first day of filming. The shoot took place in Iceland, where the temperatures were extremely cold. She said the weather was so harsh that her mouth literally would not move.
“I had my lines and I wanted to have them so down. I psyched myself out a little bit. It was particularly cold. It was in Iceland. My mouth was just frozen. There is nothing coming out. My mouth would not move. Literally. It came out like, ‘Blah blah blah.’ So embarrassing.”
Zendaya said she felt embarrassed by the situation but was still grateful to be there. She added that it was a pleasure to share scenes with people she admires. She explained that she had to focus and lock in, but she was moved and excited to do her best work.
Despite her struggles on the first day, Christopher Nolan praised her performance. He told Fandango that she was “always perfect”. He also explained why he chose her for the role in an interview with Elle magazine.
“I mean, she’s literally playing a goddess; it’s a tall order. She’s a true movie star, but also an incredible actor.”
Tom Holland Was the One Who Told Zendaya About Her Role
Zendaya also revealed that she did not know she was being considered for the film. She found out about her casting through her husband, Tom Holland, who plays Telemachus in the movie. Holland shared the story during an interview with Access Hollywood.
Holland said that during his meeting with Nolan, the director asked him a surprising question. Nolan asked if Holland would be offended if he asked Zendaya to play Athena. Holland recalled that he thought Nolan was going to ask about his height. He quickly agreed and said he would be honored. Nolan then asked Holland to tell Zendaya himself.
When Holland got home, Zendaya asked about the meeting. Instead of telling her directly, he asked her to read the script again, this time focusing on the character of Athena. Zendaya said she was confused at first but then realized what was happening.
“And then he came home and said, ‘I need you to read something.’ And I was like, ‘Is it that thing we were just reading the other night?’ And he was like, ‘But now read it thinking of this character.’ And I was like, ‘Shut up! You’re joking!’ It was pretty cool.”
Holland described the moment she figured it out. He said, “The little corners of her mouth went up. It was amazing”. Zendaya said she was “over the moon” when Holland first got his role in the film. She encouraged him to take it and said they would figure out the schedule. Finding out she was also invited to meet Nolan made the experience even more special.
The Movie Features a Huge Cast and an Epic Story
The Odyssey is based on Homer’s ancient Greek poem. It follows King Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, on his dangerous journey home after the Trojan War. He faces mythical creatures and other challenges as he tries to reunite with his wife, Penelope, played by Anne Hathaway, and his son, Telemachus, played by Tom Holland.
Zendaya’s character, Athena, is the goddess of wisdom and warfare. She serves as a protector and guide to both Odysseus and his son. The role is a major one in the story, as Athena helps shape the fate of the heroes.
The film also features an impressive supporting cast. Robert Pattinson plays the suitor Antinous, Charlize Theron plays Calypso, and Lupita Nyong’o has a dual role as Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra. Other cast members include Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Himesh Patel, Samantha Morton, Elliot Page, Mia Goth, and Bill Irwin.
The World Premiere Took Place in London
The world premiere of The Odyssey was held at the Odeon Lux Leicester Square in London on July 6. Zendaya walked the red carpet in a stunning Schiaparelli couture dress. The outfit was designed to look like it was summoning the goddess Athena to reality. The dress had just been shown at Paris Couture Week hours before the premiere. It was flown to London on a private jet for Zendaya to wear.
Zendaya’s stylist, Law Roach, said the dress was a perfect choice for the event. The braid on top of her head was meant to look like Athena’s helmet. Later in the evening, she changed into a green leaf-patterned silk dress.
Her husband, Tom Holland, also attended the premiere. He wore a dark blue suit and plays the role of Telemachus in the film. The event was a major gathering of Hollywood stars, with almost every cast member present.
The Film Was Shot Entirely With IMAX Cameras
The Odyssey is a landmark film in terms of technology. It was shot entirely using IMAX film cameras. This makes it the first feature film to achieve this milestone. The movie was filmed in multiple countries, including Morocco, Greece, Italy, Iceland, Scotland, and the United States.
The production budget for the film is reported to be $250 million. It is one of the largest-scale projects in Nolan’s career. The film is set to be released in theaters worldwide on July 17.
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July 2026 Is a Big Month for Zendaya and Tom Holland
July is a special month for both Zendaya and Holland. In addition to The Odyssey, they also star together in the upcoming Spider-Man film, Spider-Man: Brand New Day. That movie is scheduled to release on July 30, just two weeks after The Odyssey.
Zendaya is also set to appear in other major films, including Dune: Part Three and Shrek 5. She has a voice role in the animated Shrek 5. The actress continues to be one of the most in-demand performers in Hollywood.
Nolan’s The Odyssey is expected to be one of the biggest movies of the summer. With its all-star cast, epic story, and groundbreaking use of IMAX cameras, it has generated a lot of excitement among fans. The film arrives in theaters on July 17.
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