Actor John Leguizamo recounted significant challenges he faced while filming Christopher Nolan's upcoming movie, "The Odyssey," detailing how special contact lenses used to portray a blind character, Eumaeus, impaired his vision for extended periods.
Leguizamo, 66, told Entertainment Tonight that he was unable to see for "12 to 14 hours a day" due to the lenses. This made everyday activities difficult, requiring him to be assisted when eating and using the restroom. "I had to be taken to the bathroom, I had to be brought back. I had to be taken to eat. And then when I was alone, I just had to be inside my head because that’s all I had," Leguizamo said, adding with a touch of humor that too much time with his own thoughts is "a dangerous thing."
The actor described his acting approach as "kind of method," aiming to embody his characters' experiences. He recalled experiencing what felt like a "fever dream" while in character and noted that director Christopher Nolan noticed him freezing on set due to the costume and cold weather. Leguizamo stated that Nolan offered him his coat.
This experience comes amidst reports of Nolan's stringent production guidelines for "The Odyssey." Anne Hathaway previously shared that Nolan prohibited cast members from wearing UGG boots, using cell phones, or sitting in chairs to foster an "alternate reality" on set. Robert Pattinson also noted that the cast had to hike for 45 minutes to reach base camp while wearing sandals.
Nolan explained his reasoning for these rules, telling CBS Mornings that small distractions like UGG boots or someone eating chips off-camera can pull actors out of the immersive reality the film aims to create. He emphasized the importance of staying "in the moment" and within the film's world. Nolan also confirmed Pattinson's account of the strenuous hike required at the start of the film, which took place on a mountain with no road access.
"The Odyssey" was filmed in six countries and utilized over 2 million feet of IMAX 70mm film.