According to ComicBook, citing a new Empire interview shared by the Christopher Nolan News X account, producer Emma Thomas revealed that Samantha Morton received a standing ovation from the cast and crew after filming one of her scenes, marking a rare moment on one of Nolan’s sets.
Christopher Nolan Says Samantha Morton Delivered the First Standing Ovation Since Heath Ledger
Christopher Nolan’s pictures are often remembered for their ambitious scale and technical precision, but the director has also built a reputation for drawing acclaimed performances from his actors. Now, as anticipation builds for “The Odyssey,” Nolan and producer Emma Thomas have singled out Samantha Morton for a moment that instantly recalls one of the filmmaker’s most celebrated collaborations.
Reflecting on the production, Thomas revealed that Morton’s work as Circe prompted an unusual reaction from everyone on set. “When she finished her scene, she got a round of applause from the cast and crew. That’s something we hadn’t seen since Heath Ledger on The Dark Knight,” she recalled.
Nolan also explained that Morton had been part of his vision for the project from the earliest stages. “Samantha Morton is somebody I had wanted to work with for a very long time,” the filmmaker said, adding that “she was absolutely who I had in mind as soon as I finished the script for Circe and the way we were approaching that character.” He also shared his relief once she joined the cast, saying, “I was thrilled when she said yes.”
Morton arrives at “The Odyssey” with one of the most respected careers in contemporary British cinema. The two-time Academy Award nominee earned Oscar recognition for “Sweet and Lowdown” and “In America,” while also collecting a Golden Globe, multiple BAFTA honors, and acclaim for performances in movies including “Minority Report,” “Control,” “The Whale,” and “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.”
Written and directed by Nolan, “The Odyssey” adapts Homer’s classic epic with Matt Damon leading an ensemble that includes Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Mia Goth, and Morton as the powerful sorceress Circe. The film follows Odysseus on his perilous journey home after the Trojan War and is set to premiere in London on July 6 before opening in theaters on July 17.
