Austin Butler spoke to 'People' at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and revealed the health issues he experienced from his iconic role in Baz Luhrmann's biopic 'Elvis.'

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Austin Butler Reveals New Info on Health During Elvis Filming

Austin Butler spoke to 'People' at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and revealed the health issues he experienced from his iconic role in Baz Luhrmann's biopic 'Elvis.'
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Austin Butler spoke to People at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and revealed the health issues he experienced from his role in Baz Luhrmann’s biopic Elvis.

Butler has been in the spotlight for some time, starring in iconic series such as iCarly and Hannah Montana. However, he has recently risen to stardom in his role in Elvis. Butler received a nomination for Best Actor at this year’s Oscars and has won Best Actor at the Golden Globes and BAFTAs. The overall film is up for eight Oscars.

In addition, Butler has been open about the intense process of embodying Elvis. In an interview with People, the actor shared: “I didn’t get sick the entire time I filmed [Elvis] but the day I finished, I ended up in the emergency room.”

Butler also recalled losing his voice while shooting the Elvis cover of the song, “Never Been to Spain.” Butler explained, “We did so many takes. And at a certain point, I just lost my voice.” To recover, the actor shared that he went on vocal rest and was thankfully able to return to the set.

Despite these complications, Butler made it clear that embodying Elvis was “the greatest ride of [his] life.” The actor put a determined spin on his setbacks, sharing that he just “work[s] through it.”

Some fans feel Butler’s take on the role went too far, noting the change in his speaking voice. Although the internet has made countless jokes about the vocal change, the star seems to be taking them in stride.

During his SNL monologue, he addressed the change in his voice, poking fun at critics. Butler joked that he had evidence to prove he has always sounded the same. An old interview clip proceeded to roll, in which the star’s voice was hilariously pitched high.

Butler’s Elvis transformation has sparked discussion about the practice of method acting. Some fans feel that as long as the performer is maintaining their health and being respectful, there is no problem. However, others feel it is unnecessary and even a bit embarrassing. 

Fans are glad Butler recovered from the health problems he faced as a result of the biopic. No matter what your stance is on method acting, it is undeniable that Butler’s embodiment of Elvis captivated the nation. To watch Butler’s stellar performance, stream Elvis on HBO Max.