Austin Butler, the beloved actor who just killed it playing “Elvis,” recently talked about the dramatic events in his life just after filming the award-winning biographical film. M
The 31-year-old said portraying the legend, Elvis Presley, was the “greatest ride” of his life. But there was a cost as well.
Butler had a health scare at the end of filming. He was scheduled to start work on another project immediately but wound up in the hospital.
“I had a week of downtime, where I actually ended up in the hospital. I didn’t get sick the entire time I filmed, but the day that I finished, I ended up in the emergency room. So I spent a week in bed and then I went to this other job,” he said after the SAG Awards on Sunday night.
He had discussed this previously during an interview in 2022 with GQ, The actor remembered waking up at 4 am in the morning with “excruciating pain” and being “rushed to hospital.”
“My body just started shutting down the day after I finished ‘Elvis,’” he explained.
Butler had gotten sick with a virus that mimicked the symptoms of an appendicitis.
This was not the only health issue he faced while he was portraying the King of Rock and Roll, either. While working to sound just like Elvis, he lost his voice while performing the hit, “Never Been to Spain.” He explained that it took so many takes that he had to go on vocal rest for a couple of days.
Butler was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role at the SAG Awards but did not take home the prize. He did win the Golden Globe for Best Actor in January and the BAFTA for Best Actor in February.
The 2022 movie has been nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor. That’s great news for Butler. Let’s just hope his health holds strong so that he can go on to collect all of the awards.
