Austin Butler starring in the Elvis Presley biopic was the role of a lifetime for the 31-year-old.
So much so, that the Elvis voice has seemed to stick. Media and fans have noticed that Butler has yet to abandon the iconic singer’s southern drawl.
In the press room, following Butler’s win for actor in a drama motion picture at the Golden Globes, he was asked about his voice. He responded, “I don’t think I sound like him still, but I guess I must because I hear it a lot.”
“I often liken it to when somebody lives in another country for a long time,” Butler said. “I had three years where [Elvis] was my only focus in life, so I’m sure there’s just pieces of my DNA that will always be linked in that way.”
Baz Luhrmann tapped Butler for the role over three years ago. Upon finding Butler, Luhrmann told Deadline in July 2019, “I knew unequivocally that I had found someone who could embody the spirit of one of the world’s most iconic musical figures.”
Butler approached the role using method acting, where he fully engaged himself in Elvis’ life in order to authentically play the singer. That level of prepping for the role took years. “During Elvis, I didn’t see my family for about three years,” Butler told Variety. “I was prepping with Baz, and then I went to Australia. I had months where I wouldn’t talk to anybody. And when I did, the only thing I was ever thinking about was Elvis. I was speaking in his voice the whole time.”
In addition to his Golden Globes nod and win, Butler has also been nominated for best actor at the Critic’s Choice Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards—and looks good for an Oscar nom as well.
Elvis is available to watch on HBO Max.
