The actor used the unusual technique in a play and went on to use it in other works of his career
Austin Butler has established itself as a prominent name in Hollywood today. With a career that began in 2005, the 33-year-old actor was catapulted to stardom after playing Elvis Presley in the singer’s biopic, released in 2022. The role earned him a Globeof Gold and an indication to the Oscar.
In a recent interview with Dazed, Butler revealed an unusual curiosity about his acting method. The artist confessed to using smells to help him characterize his characters, as well as other factors.
Initially, he explains:
Everything you add helps you suspend disbelief and find those keys to the person you intend to become. From the music you hear to the smells around you, or the vocal work that changes your breathing pattern, discover how the character walks. They are all elements that help you feel more and more capable of understanding that person.”
Next, Butler went a little deeper into the question of how a smell can help you characterize your characters. He revealed the first time he used the technique.
The first time I used it was in this play in New York called The Iceman Cometh and it was kind of an experiment for me. In rehearsals, I used this essential oil that I smelled while rehearsing the scenes, I used it to evoke certain memories or emotions and I took it with me during the performance of the play. So, every night, before going on stage, I would put this oil on and it was incredible how it awakened my imagination and emotional states.”
Austin Butler’s character in Dune also smelled like him
After interpreting Elvis Presley, Austin Butler was cast to live Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in Dune: Part 2 (2024). His preparation to play the character was no different.
There was a woman in London called Ozzy and I heard some mythical stories about her having created fragrances for Johnny Depp and Jude Lawhaving created different things for different characters. It is capable of bringing together all the smells of things you would never imagine, such as the smell of tar or the smell of asphalt and gunpowder. So, for the Feydthese were some of the smells I worked with.”
The same was done for Vandals Club (2023), his work prior to Dune: Part 2. In this case, it was the smells of “gasoline and motorcycle oil”, as he played a member of a motorcycle club.
Collaborated: Augusto Ikeda.
Source: Rollingstone
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
