Austin Butler didn’t see his family for three years while filming Elvis
Austin Butler didn't see his family for three years while making Elvis.
The actor played the iconic singer in the Baz Luhrmann biopic, shutting out the rest of the world - even his nearest and dearest - as he concentrated on nailing the role.
With Butler tipped as a contender for Best Actor at the Oscars for his transformation into the 'Jailhouse Rock' singer, it seems like his extreme measures paid off - but even he reckons he went too far in hindsight.
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Speaking to Janelle Monáe for Variety's Actors on Actors series, Butler opened up about taking method acting to the extreme.
"During Elvis I didn't see my family for about three years," the 31-year-old said.
"I was prepping with Baz [Luhrmann], and then I went to Australia.
"I had months where I wouldn't talk to anybody. And when I did, the only thing I was ever thinking about was Elvis.
"I was speaking in his voice the whole time."
Wow, you'd think cutting off your loved ones like that might leave you feeling all shook up.
Indeed, going forwards, he plans to avoid going to such extremes.
Speaking to E! News Daily Pop in June, he said: "What I'm trying to learn is how to balance real life with when you're giving in to the obsession of a role 'cause I didn't see my family for, it turned out to be three years.
"I didn't see any one of my friends for that entire time. So, it was like the rest of my life, suddenly, I compartmentalised."
Weirdly, just as shooting on the movie finally wrapped and Butler could get back to his normal lifestyle, he was hospitalised.
He was diagnosed with a virus simulating appendicitis symptoms, and was confined to bed for a week.
He told British GQ in May: "The next day I woke up at four in the morning with excruciating pain, and I was rushed to hospital.
"My body just started shutting down the day after I finished Elvis."
Lord almighty, he must have felt his temperature rising.
Hopefully it was all worth it for Butler though, as he was heaped with praise following the release of the film.
In fact, none other than Elvis' daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, said he deserved to be put forward for the Academy Award.
Asked by Extra if the actor deserved an Oscar nom for his work, Presley's only child said: "A thousand percent... I mean, truly. You know, I’m a bit biased, but absolutely, 100 percent... I can look at it objectively as well, sure.
"I think that he did such an incredible job."
Topics: Celebrity, Music, Film and TV
Jake Massey