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Hollywood star Zendaya has revealed that freezing temperatures on location in Iceland caused her to struggle with her dialogue during her first day of filming Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic, "The Odyssey."
Speaking on a podcast, the Emmy-winning actress explained that the pressure of her first day working with Nolan was compounded by the extreme cold.
“Here’s the thing. I had my lines and I wanted to have them so down. I think I psyched myself out a little bit,” Zendaya said. “It was particularly cold, it was in Iceland. My mouth was just frozen. Oh, there is nothing coming out. My mouth just won’t move. Literally. It just came out like, ‘Blah blah blah.’ So embarrassing.”
Zendaya described the project as a major professional opportunity, noting that she had to quickly "compartmentalize" her excitement about working alongside an established ensemble cast to focus entirely on her performance once production began.
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Despite the initial dialogue difficulties, Nolan later praised the actress, highlighting the grace she brought to her performance as the goddess Athena.
In an interview with Elle, Nolan shared that he specifically sought out Zendaya for the role of Athena due to her "iconic" grace. The director's high praise has further fueled the immense anticipation surrounding the film, which pairs one of Hollywood's most celebrated filmmakers with a high-profile, star-studded ensemble.
"The Odyssey" follows King Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, as he tries to return to Ithaca after the Trojan War. His journey includes encounters with mythical creatures and dangerous obstacles, while his wife Penelope, played by Anne Hathaway, and his son Telemachus, played by Tom Holland, wait for his return.
"The Odyssey" premiered in London on July 6, 2026, ahead of its wide theatrical release in the U.S. and U.K. on July 17.
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