“You Can't Let the Dress Wear You”: The Odyssey’s Samantha Morton on Channeling Circe Through Style

When it comes to summer blockbusters this year, few can rival the hype building around Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Releasing on July 17, the major Hollywood epic—based on the Greek saga by Homer dating to antiquity—features a stacked cast including (but not limited to) Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Tom Holland, and Charlize Theron.

The early reviews are in, however, and a standout performance comes courtesy of Samantha Morton, who portrays Circe in the film. “What drew me to the project would have been just Christopher Nolan, first of all,” says the English actor, whose Circe is a powerful enchantress who transforms men into swine. “However, I came to be in a room with Christopher Nolan—and not only meet him, but get this part and work with him—has just been incredible. I just wanted to make the most of every moment, so I wasn't really thinking about whether it would be buzzy or not.”

Morton gets ready for the London premiere. Hair by Gareth Bromell and makeup by Mary Wiles.

 Photo: Harry Holm

Morton’s scene-stealing performance in the film is, indeed, buzzy. Serving as a powerful obstacle to Odysseus (Damon’s titular character), Circe is one of the most notable—and dangerous—characters in the entire film, which served as an extremely fun acting challenge for Morton. (After all: Who doesn’t want to play the villain?). “Circe is everything: She’s young, old, wise, vulnerable, strong, fierce, terrifying,” says Morton. “I got to really flex the acting muscles playing with all of those emotions—it’s such a phenomenal role.”

When it came time to cultivate her press tour fashions for the film, meanwhile, it was only natural that Morton also looked to striking designs that evoked a similar sense of strength and dynamism. This month, Morton has been working with stylist Karen Clarkson to channel Circe through all of her high-fashion premiere looks. “We needed to do Circe and the part justice,” says Morton. “She is seductive, dangerous, and she holds so much power.”

Morton gets ready for the London premiere.

 Photo: Harry Holm

Morton’s Bottega Veneta dress.

 Photo: Harry Holm

Morton kicked things off with the London photo call a few days ago. There, the star chose a gunmetal-like McQueen gown from Sean McGirr’s pre-fall 2026 collection. “What I immediately loved about it is the color,” says Morton. “It felt like it was alive. It felt like mercury, like I was wearing real metal.” While being slightly goddess-like, she was also drawn to the garment’s more earthy, organic feel—a more subtle nod to the film. “It was appropriate for this project, because The Odyssey is the most ancient story,” says Morton. “I felt so elegant and feminine yet strong in it.”

Wearing McQueen with her castmates.

 Photo: Harry Holm

Wearing McQueen.

 Photo: Harry Holm

Last night, Morton switched things up with her second press tour look—a commanding, sculptural all-black look from Bottega Veneta. Again, the star was drawn to Louise Trotter’s powerful, sharp pieces, which embed her women with a sense of regality. “Putting that dress on made me feel so, for want of a better word, Circe,” says Morton. “I felt like a warrior in that dress, like I could do anything. It gave me such confidence— and you have to have courage to wear a work of art like this. You can't let the dress wear you.”

Wearing Bottega Veneta. “The pleating has a fluid, almost enhanced movement, and it shifts as I walk,” says Morton. “Yet the leather skirt grounds it. The red pop of color in the earrings was a lovely finishing touch.”

 Photo: Harry Holm

Though dressing for a blockbuster film tour would be a fun dress-up task for any actor, Morton says she has always enjoyed playing around with fashion in such a thoughtful way—even off the clock, and well before she became a star. “I love clothes,” says Morton. “In the past, when I was younger, I would just go to a boutique store and usually buy something vintage; There were such cool places like Kokon To Zai and Hyper Hyper, where I used to find interesting designers like Bernhard Willhelm and Marjan Pejoski.” Now, she gets to inject her passion for dressing up into her day job, too.

And the red carpet fashions don’t stop here. Over the course of the next week, she and her fellow cast members will continue touring to promote the highly anticipated film. What else can we expect from Morton and her stylist, Clarkson? “I love having the conversations around what clothes represent, or what I'm about,” says Morton. “It’s a time to make a statement, make a choice, take a chance, and not be afraid. We can’t be afraid of aging, or the power we possess as women—and that’s what clothes can help us do.”

Wearing Bottega Veneta

As for what diehard The Odyssey fans and readers can be excited to see in the film? Morton is remaining tight-lipped on spoilers—though she gives us some loose teasers around what to look forward to. “I think the most incredible thing is seeing it in IMAX, because it is so unbelievably, overwhelmingly powerful,” says Morton. “The story itself is so beautiful, powerful, poignant, relevant to where we are today in society—but it’s also the greatest love story. It ticks all those boxes.” Consider our tickets bought.

Wearing Bottega Veneta.

 Photo: Harry Holm