Zendaya has spoken about the unexpected joy of sharing the screen with husband Tom Holland in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, saying she never imagined she would be cast alongside him in the filmmaker's ambitious epic.
Recalling how the opportunity unfolded, the actor told Extra that she was initially thrilled simply because Holland had landed a role in the film. "I remember when he got the call, I was absolutely over the moon—so excited, so proud," she said, adding that it never crossed her mind that she would soon receive an offer herself.
"I never thought a second call would be coming to our home," Zendaya said, describing the experience as "so special." The actor said working with Holland on a Nolan film was something she had only dreamed of. "To be able to share something like that and watch him work in this context... it's the dream. It's absolutely the dream," she added.
Zendaya had previously shared a similar anecdote on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast, revealing that Holland asked her to revisit the script after his meeting with Nolan. According to her, he encouraged her to read the portions featuring Athena more carefully, which left her stunned. "I was like, 'Shut up! You're joking!'" she recalled, calling the moment "pretty cool."
Holland, who portrays Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, also recently reflected on the moment in an interview with Access Hollywood. He said being able to tell Zendaya about the role was a gift because he knew how deeply she admired Nolan, adding that Interstellar remains her favourite film by the director.
The actor also revealed that Nolan had first sought his opinion before approaching Zendaya. According to Holland, the filmmaker asked whether he would mind if she were offered the role of Athena. Holland said he was puzzled by the question and immediately responded that he had no reason to be offended. Nolan then suggested that he be the one to break the news to her.
Describing the moment, Holland said he simply asked Zendaya to read the script once more, paying close attention to Athena's character. He recalled watching "the little corners of her mouth" curl into a smile as she realised what he meant, calling it an unforgettable moment.