Elliot Page Reveals the Real Reason ‘The Odyssey’ Role Terrified Him

Christopher Nolan’s long awaited take on Homer’s epic has dominated conversation all summer, pulling in massive numbers and reuniting the director with actors from across his filmography. Among the ensemble, one face stood out for reasons that had nothing to do with box office receipts. Elliot Page’s presence in ‘The Odyssey’ marked his first time working with Nolan since ‘Inception’ sixteen years earlier, when he played Ariadne, notably a name of mythological Greek origin.

That reunion did not come without noise. Page’s casting as a Greek soldier drew backlash from some corners online, including comments from Elon Musk, even as the film’s own collaborators pushed back on the criticism as overblown. The controversy has followed Page since he was cast, even though his actual screen time in the film is fairly limited.

The real story, though, came out this week when Page sat down for the actual explanation. Appearing on Wednesday’s episode of The Daily Show, Page admitted he was rattled going into the shoot, telling host Desi Lydic that the character, known as Sinon, functioned as something like the story’s conscience. Page said the focus of the conversations he had with Nolan centered on Sinon serving as the moral anchor of the film, someone forced to confront the impact of war and violence head on.

Page did not shy away from admitting the nerves were real. He explained that the character he plays was never actually part of the original ‘Odyssey’ text, so his goal was simply capturing the role well in his limited scenes and making Nolan happy. Lydic reassured him he had clearly succeeded, calling his work the heart and soul of the movie, which Page said only made him more nervous heading into filming.

Part of what makes Sinon such an unusual addition is that he is not a Homer creation at all. The character actually originates from Virgil’s Aeneid, where he poses as a captured Greek spy who convinces the Trojans to accept the wooden horse. In Nolan’s version, Sinon instead becomes a figure defined by loyalty and bravery rather than deception, standing in sharp contrast to Robert Pattinson’s cowardly Antinous.

Critics have taken notice of just how much weight Page carries in such a small window of screen time. In its assessment, Empire argued that despite a supporting cast stacked with A listers, Page emerges as the unexpected and unforgettable soul of the picture, delivering a performance the outlet called rageful, righteous, tragic and haunting.

The film itself has become a genuine phenomenon, with reports pointing to a record breaking global rollout for Nolan and a rare A CinemaScore backing up the critical praise. Against that backdrop, Page’s brief but pivotal turn as Sinon has become one of the most talked about elements of the entire production.

For a role that was never supposed to exist in Homer’s original poem, Sinon has clearly left a mark on everyone who has seen ‘The Odyssey.’ What did you think of Elliot Page’s Sinon stealing scenes in a film this stacked with stars?