Though she’s only on screen for about ten minutes in The Odyssey, Samantha Morton is now a strong contender for next year’s Best Supporting Actress Oscar. Many believe her performance is the most memorable part of this summer’s hit movie.
British actress Samantha Morton is receiving widespread praise for her captivating performance as Circe in Christopher Nolan’s new film, a big-screen adaptation of Homer’s classic story. Though her role is brief in the three-hour movie, she has quickly become one of the most discussed aspects of it. The film proved to be a massive success during its opening weekend, earning over $200 million globally and reaching number one at the box office in both the US and UK.
If she wins the Oscar next year, she’ll be joining a group of remarkable actors. Judi Dench famously won Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in ‘Shakespeare In Love,’ even though she was only on screen for about five and a half minutes.
An Academy Awards voter believes Samantha Morton is almost guaranteed an Oscar nomination. According to the source, Hollywood is buzzing about her performance in ‘The Odyssey,’ where she captivates audiences in every scene. Even though it’s a smaller role, her powerful and moving performance has made a lasting impression.
‘At this stage I’d be amazed if she isn’t nominated and she’s going to take some beating.’
An award would be a major turning point in Samantha Morton’s career. She’s already been nominated for an Oscar twice – once in 2000 for her performance in Woody Allen’s Sweet and Lowdown, and again in 2004 for In America, which tells the story of an Irish family living in New York. Despite being a highly respected actress in Britain, she was unfortunately told by film producer Harvey Weinstein that she wasn’t considered glamorous enough to be a leading star.
Things might be changing for the actress. Director Christopher Nolan reportedly offered Florence Pugh the role of Circe without requiring an audition, which apparently overwhelmed her and brought her to tears. An insider at Universal Pictures, the studio making the film, downplayed the role, saying that while it isn’t a huge part, ten minutes in a three-hour movie is still significant.
The film almost didn’t feature Samantha – it was a close call. Chris had his heart set on her from the beginning. Though she isn’t as well-known as Anne Hathaway, her performance is captivating – audiences are completely drawn in, and many have been visibly moved to tears by her scenes.
People on social media are enthusiastically praising Ms. Morton’s performance, describing it as captivating and memorable.
Ms. Morton, once a magician’s helper, used skills she learned from that job – particularly quick hand movements and misdirection – to create the effect of Circe transforming men into pigs.
Oh my gosh, you HAVE to understand! Someone at the Academy told me about her performance, and it’s just… incredible. They said you see her completely change, starting as this really vulnerable, frightened woman when the guys show up. But then… then she finds this inner strength, this power, and it’s not just strong, it’s terrifying in the best way! It’s like watching a total transformation, and it’s honestly breathtaking.
Nolan shared that the cast and crew spontaneously applauded after Samantha Morton finished filming her scenes, recalling a similar moment only happened with Heath Ledger after he completed work on ‘The Dark Knight.’ Ledger tragically passed away from an accidental overdose but was honored with an Oscar in 2009 for his iconic portrayal of The Joker.
Oh my god, hearing her talk about becoming Circe… it’s just incredible! She said she basically started acting as soon as she left school at twelve, so she doesn’t have a traditional education. And get this – she hadn’t even read the original story! She went purely off the script, and it totally wrecked her. She was apparently a mess, crying one minute, furious the next. She can’t even fully recall everything now, but she remembers being completely lost in the role, especially during the scenes with the pigs. She really became Circe, you know? It’s just… wow.
Beatrice Straight won an Oscar in 1976 for her role in the film Network, and her winning performance lasted just five minutes and forty seconds – the shortest ever recorded.
2026-07-26 01:34