‘She was always perfect’: Director Christopher Nolan’s rare praise for Zendaya’s performance in The Odyssey prompts heartwarming reaction from Tom Holland

All eyes are on Christopher Nolan’s upcoming magnum opus The Odyssey. The movie, based on the ancient Greek writer Homer’s epic poem about the aftermath of the Trojan War, features an ensemble cast including Zendaya, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, John Leguizamo and Samantha Norton. As the audience await with bated breaths for the epic saga to unfold on the big screens on July 17, candid interviews of The Odyssey cast have been making waves online, with Christopher Nolan's rare praise for Zendaya stealing the spotlight.

As a part of the promotions, Christopher Nolan, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, and Matt Damon, recently appeared on Fandango's Big Ticket interview where the cast spoke about their film, behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the shooting days and how they bonded with each other on the sets.

Zendaya’s ‘perfect’ from Christopher Nolan and Tom Holland’s reaction

During the conversation, host Jacqueline Coley wanted to know whether it was true that Zendaya, who plays the role of Greek goddess Athena in The Odyssey, received a ‘perfect’ compliment from Christopher Nolan himself, a rare praise that kicked off a friendly on-set rivalry among the other members.

Even before Christopher Nolan could answer, Matt Damon, who slips into the shoes of Greek king Odysseus, chimed in admitting that the compliment became ‘a topic of discussion’, to which Tom Holland agreed with a smile. But the interaction turned even more playful when Holland, who is married to Zendaya, added that he is still waiting for his ‘perfect’ compliment from Christopher Nolan, prompting laughs from Damon, Hathaway and Nolan himself.

Christopher Nolan on Zendaya and Anne Hathaway’s reaction

When Jacqueline Coley asked Christopher Nolan to share Zendaya’s ‘perfect’ scene so that audience can look forward to it, the ace director gave an honest answer. He said, ‘I do not even remember which one (scene). She was always perfect’. Nolan’s words led to an enthusiastic ‘wow’ from the other interview attendees.

At the same time, Anne Hathaway, who essays the character of Penelope, the devoted and resilient queen of Ithaca, poked fun at Holland asking him, ‘Do you feel it’, to which the Spiderman actor, portraying Telemachus in The Odyssey replied cheekily, ‘I take a little bit of that’.

More about Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey

Soon after, Christopher Nolan revealed that he felt ‘guilty’ after learning about how The Odyssey cast were playfully complaining about how he offered his rare praise solely to Zendaya but he was quick to point out, ‘Then I realised it is kind of on them, not me’.

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Coming back to The Odyssey, fans will get to see Robert Pattinson as Antinous, one of Penelope's persistent suitors; Jon Bernthal as Menelaus, Benny Safdie as Agamemnon, John Leguizamo as Eumaeus, Himesh Patel as Eurylochus, Lupita Nyong’o in the dual role of Helen of Troy and her sister Clytemnestra, Charlize Theron as the sea enchantress Calypso and Samantha Norton as the mythical Greek enchantress Circe.