{"id":2034885,"date":"2026-07-09T09:52:54","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T06:52:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2034885"},"modified":"2026-07-09T09:52:54","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T06:52:54","slug":"christopher-nolan-likens-samantha-mortons-the-odyssey-performance-to-heath-ledgers-joker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2034885","title":{"rendered":"Christopher Nolan likens Samantha Morton\u2019s \u2018The Odyssey\u2019 performance to Heath Ledger\u2019s Joker"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Samantha-Morton-Odyssey.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2749694\" class=\"post-2749694 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>News<\/span><span>Film News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Christopher Nolan likens Samantha Morton\u2019s \u2018The Odyssey\u2019 performance to Heath Ledger\u2019s Joker<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>&#8220;There are no limitations on her performance&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Victoria Luxford<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-07-09T10:52:54+01:00\">9th July 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span8\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Samantha-Morton-Odyssey-696x442.jpg\" alt=\"The Odyssey\" title=\"Samantha Morton Odyssey\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">Samantha Morton at the premiere of &#8216;The Odyssey&#8217;. CREDIT: Gareth Cattermole\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_83 article-content-row vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Christopher Nolan has revealed that Samantha Morton\u2019s performance in <em>The Odyssey<\/em> earned an ovation that he hadn\u2019t seen since Heath Ledger in <em>The Dark Knight<\/em>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE:<\/strong> \u2018The Odyssey\u2019 could be Christopher Nolan\u2019s biggest blockbuster yet<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The <em>Oppenheimer<\/em> director\u2019s epic arrives on July 17, with Matt Damon starring in the classic story of a king\u2019s treacherous return from war. In a new interview with the <em>LA Times<\/em> he recalled the impact Morton had with her performance as goddess Circe in the movie.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>\u201cThis was a massive film and she is someone who comes in and changes the dynamic,\u201d Nolan explained. \u201cIn some weird way, the film lived or died over that character. She was the fulcrum. I\u2019ve always admired Samantha\u2019s work, she brings so much depth of thinking about her role, there are no limitations on her performance. After one of her takes, the crew gave her a great round of applause. I was talking with Emma [Thomas, Nolan\u2019s producing partner and wife] afterwards and she remembered that the last time that had happened was with Heath Ledger on <em>The Dark Knight<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Dark Knight (2008) - Joker's Magic Trick Scene | Movieclips\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ppOVLojanC8?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p>Released in 2008, <em>The Dark Knight<\/em> is the most beloved of Nolan\u2019s Batman trilogy, with one of the reasons for that being the iconic performance from Heath Ledger as The Joker. The actor died before the film\u2019s release, and received a posthumous Best Supporting Actor award at the 2009 Oscars.<\/p>\n<p>In the same interview, Christopher Nolan discussed why <em>The Odyssey<\/em> used modern English and American accents as opposed to the theatrical delivery normally found in period pieces. \u201cI was maybe being na\u00efve, it might bite me on the ass, but I wanted an earthy narrative,\u201d he explained. \u201cTo me it was a no-brainer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>The Odyssey\u2019s<\/em> London premiere occurred this week, with critics coming away from the movie calling it a \u201ctriumph\u201d. Recently, cast member Tom Holland discussed how a misunderstanding led him to think Nolan hated his performance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Christopher Nolan<\/li>\n<li>Heath Ledger<\/li>\n<li>Matt Damon<\/li>\n<li>Oppenheimer<\/li>\n<li>The Dark Knight<\/li>\n<li>The Odyssey<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_89 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span4 td-is-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-sidebar  tdi_92 td_block_template_2\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap td_flex_block_1 tdi_93 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdc-no-posts td_flex_block\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_93\">\n<div class=\"td-block-title-wrap\">\n<h4 class=\"td-block-title\"><span class=\"td-pulldown-size\">TRENDING<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_93\" class=\"td_block_inner td-mc1-wrap\">\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Little Grandad: the alt-country band speeding towards stardom<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Trueno\u2019s politically charged rap is putting him on the path to global success<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Step right up! 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td-module-title\">The ending\u00a0of\u00a0\u2018I\u2019m\u00a0Not\u00a0Afraid\u2019\u00a0explained\u00a0\u2013 is Felipe rescued?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/article>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Christopher Nolan has revealed that Samantha Morton\u2019s performance in <em>The Odyssey<\/em> earned an ovation that he hadn\u2019t seen since Heath Ledger in <em>The Dark Knight<\/em>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE:<\/strong> \u2018The Odyssey\u2019 could be Christopher Nolan\u2019s biggest blockbuster yet<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The <em>Oppenheimer<\/em> director\u2019s epic arrives on July 17, with Matt Damon starring in the classic story of a king\u2019s treacherous return from war. In a new interview with the <em>LA Times<\/em> he recalled the impact Morton had with her performance as goddess Circe in the movie.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>\u201cThis was a massive film and she is someone who comes in and changes the dynamic,\u201d Nolan explained. \u201cIn some weird way, the film lived or died over that character. She was the fulcrum. I\u2019ve always admired Samantha\u2019s work, she brings so much depth of thinking about her role, there are no limitations on her performance. After one of her takes, the crew gave her a great round of applause. I was talking with Emma [Thomas, Nolan\u2019s producing partner and wife] afterwards and she remembered that the last time that had happened was with Heath Ledger on <em>The Dark Knight<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Dark Knight (2008) - Joker's Magic Trick Scene | Movieclips\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ppOVLojanC8?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p>Released in 2008, <em>The Dark Knight<\/em> is the most beloved of Nolan\u2019s Batman trilogy, with one of the reasons for that being the iconic performance from Heath Ledger as The Joker. The actor died before the film\u2019s release, and received a posthumous Best Supporting Actor award at the 2009 Oscars.<\/p>\n<p>In the same interview, Christopher Nolan discussed why <em>The Odyssey<\/em> used modern English and American accents as opposed to the theatrical delivery normally found in period pieces. \u201cI was maybe being na\u00efve, it might bite me on the ass, but I wanted an earthy narrative,\u201d he explained. \u201cTo me it was a no-brainer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>The Odyssey\u2019s<\/em> London premiere occurred this week, with critics coming away from the movie calling it a \u201ctriumph\u201d. Recently, cast member Tom Holland discussed how a misunderstanding led him to think Nolan hated his performance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/film\/christopher-nolan-likens-samantha-mortons-the-odyssey-performance-to-heath-ledgers-joker-3955909&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Samantha-Morton-Odyssey.jpg&#8221;] NewsFilm News Christopher Nolan likens Samantha Morton\u2019s \u2018The Odyssey\u2019 performance to Heath Ledger\u2019s Joker &#8220;There are no limitations on her performance&#8221; By Victoria Luxford 9th July 2026 Samantha Morton at the premiere of &#8216;The Odyssey&#8217;. CREDIT: Gareth Cattermole\/Getty Images Christopher Nolan has revealed that Samantha Morton\u2019s performance in The Odyssey earned an [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2034885","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2034885","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2034885"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2034885\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2034885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2034885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2034885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}