British actress Samantha Morton revealed she has not worked for a year following her critically acclaimed role as the sorceress Circe in Christopher Nolan’s epic feature The Odyssey, pointing to industry ageism and shifting political dynamics for middle-aged women in Hollywood.
The Reality of a Yearlong Lull After The Odyssey
Despite delivering a standout performance that has generated awards buzz since the film’s release last month, 49-year-old actress Samantha Morton revealed she had been out of work for a full year following the production of Christopher Nolan’s ancient Greek epic.
Speaking on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, the Bafta-winning and Oscar-nominated actress addressed the gap in her resume despite representation from powerful industry insiders.
“I haven’t worked for a year since making The Odyssey, you know, and I’ve got really good agents and a manager, but at the end of the day, I’m 49. I do believe I’m a good actor, [but] there are other good actors out there. Do you know what I mean? So, the politics of the industry has changed massively.”
Samantha Morton, Actor
While her portrayal of Circe, a witch and goddess on the island of Aeaea opposite Matt Damon’s Odysseus, has captured public attention, Morton admitted that maintaining a steady career remains unpredictable.
Industry Politics and the Middle-Age Gap
Morton’s public remarks highlight discussions regarding ageism in film and television casting. The British actress pointed out that the industry politics have changed massively, attributing her dry spell directly to her age despite having really good agents and a manager.
Reflecting on the realities of the business, Morton noted when asked what the recent critical acclaim has meant to her: Hope and faith. That I suppose if you keep at it, and you keep producing good work, and that the right people see it, then maybe you can carry on working.
Yet, she remains confident about her longevity, expressing a belief that she will keep working until she is in her 80s or whatever.
Collaborating With Christopher Nolan and Past Rejections
Landing the role in The Odyssey, which wrapped filming in August 2025, fulfilled a long-held ambition for Morton, who admitted she cried upon learning Christopher Nolan wanted to meet with her. Having previously missed out on a chance to be in his 2006 film, The Prestige, she viewed joining the cast of the star-studded epic as a major career milestone.
But it’s more that for me, I got to work with Christopher Nolan in my lifetime. That’s it. I’m happy now,
Morton said.
That journey into major blockbusters contrasts with earlier industry hurdles, including her experience on Spike Jonze’s 2013 film Her, which revolved around Theodor Twombly, played by Joaquin Phoenix, who develops a relationship with the voice assistant. Morton originally read Samantha’s lines on set with Phoenix as an English version of the AI, but filmmakers replaced her voice with Scarlett Johansson’s voice in post-production.
“I have to say, I think my version of Samantha was very… she’s English. It was just very, very different. And I think Scarlett Johansson has a beautiful voice. She’s incredibly evocative.”
Samantha Morton, Actor
Morton recalled she was sad, adding, It does hurt when you’re fired from something or before it. I don’t know. What I’d h[ave]…
Grounding and Family Critiques
Grew up in Nottinghamshire care homes and various foster care placements throughout the 1980s—with a birth mother who suffered with mental health issues, an abusive alcoholic birth father, and a stepfather jailed for attempted murder—Morton maintains a grounded perspective on cinematic competition. In an interview with The Sunday Times, she revealed that she has learned not to be “a bighead” thanks to her childhood in foster care.
I just think Circe is a gift. But competition in art is a strange thing, isn’t it,
she said, adding: You can’t be a bighead. I’m only as good as the other good person.
Morton also revealed her foster mother’s candid review of the Christopher Nolan epic, with her former guardian preferring Anne Hathaway’s turn as Odysseus’ wife Penelope over Morton’s sorceress.
Related reading
