Elliot Page described his participation in Odyseus, the recent film by Christopher Nolan, as a ‘cathartic’ and ‘full circle’ experience during his appearance on the On Film podcast with Kevin McCarthy. The film has surpassed $1.500 million in global box office.
In the interview, Page discussed the creation of Sinon, a character with a brief appearance on screen, whose scene in Hades became a key connection point with the audience. The sequence was seen as a significant emotional element, and Page emphasized the importance of leaving a lasting impact despite his short duration in the story. ‘People want to talk about the scene in Hades. It moves them and makes them think about something in their own lives,’ he noted.
The actor commented that one of the major challenges of the role was to create a character who, with only a few minutes of presence, could leave an impact on the overall narrative. Upon reading the script, Page realized the emotional complexity of Sinon, which increased the pressure for every moment of his performance to be effective in the film.
Regarding the scene in Hades, Page recalled that the first segments of Sinon were filmed in Morocco before the official start of shooting, in an early session alongside Nolan and Hoyte van Hoytema, the cinematographer. Although the filming was meticulous, he ensured he sought to convey a sense of vulnerability and tension even in moments of silence.
The sequence in Iceland in Hades concentrated much of the acting and technical effort. For the dialogue, the team used a mirror system that allowed Page to maintain eye contact with Matt Damon during the IMAX shots. ‘Without that mirror, I don’t know if I would have been able to achieve such a powerful take,’ Page stated, who also described Damon as a ‘generous’ partner in this emotional scene.
Page explained that he sought to create a difference in Sinon’s physical appearance between two key moments: the lightness of the young person accepting a difficult mission and the emotional weight of the betrayed character. He reiterated that ‘getting to know myself more and embodying myself more allows me, curiously, to let go more’ compared to previous roles.
The first segment of Sinon’s filming, where he runs towards the Trojan horse and is injured, was one of the first to be shot, and the work with wires and a proper harness was described by Page as complex but satisfying. The action was designed by stunt coordinator George Cottle, praised by Page for his handling of the environment during the physically challenging scenes.
Unlike other productions, Page highlighted that in Odyseus, no voice recordings were done in post-production, according to Nolan’s preference for direct sound. This working style, compared to Inception (2010), is characterized by a consistent method of directing in which each shoot, although using different equipment, maintains its own logical flow.
Referring to his training, Page mentioned Samantha Morton as a key influence and highlighted films from his youth, such as Jurassic Park (1993) and 28 Days Later (2002), as formative experiences in his acting career. He also praised Emma Thomas, the film’s producer, as a stable presence on set.
When asked about his future projects, Page indicated that he currently has no confirmed work following the release of Odyseus, although he hopes to find challenging roles in the future, linking his current career with a sense of greater personal freedom.
Source: www.infobae.com
