Zendaya reveals how husband Tom Holland helped her secure 'The Odyssey' role

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Zendaya revealed she secretly peeked at 'The Odyssey' screenplay after her husband, Tom Holland, was cast in Christopher Nolan's epic, giving her an early look before officially joining the film.

She later recalled her surprise after Nolan unexpectedly offered her the role of Athena alongside Holland's Telemachus. Holland and Zendaya tied the knot in a private ceremony earlier this year, keeping the exact date of their wedding undisclosed.

Zendaya secretly read Tom Holland's script

Speaking to Justin Sylvester during the Live from E! stream at 'The Odyssey' premiere on July 14, Zendaya admitted she "kind of cheated a little bit" before being cast because Holland already had the script at home.

"Tom had the script at home before I got the call," she said. "So, I did a little peeky peek."

The actress described Nolan's adaptation of Homer's epic poem as "extraordinary" and "so moving," praising the filmmaker's vision for the project, which also stars Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron, and Lupita Nyong'o and arrives in theaters on July 17.

"You would think a piece of literature like this is almost impossible to adapt," Zendaya said. "But if there's anyone who can do it, it's Mr Nolan."

Before she was cast, Zendaya had already spoken about Holland landing the role of Telemachus, Odysseus' son. In an interview with Access Hollywood published on July 6, she recalled the couple's reaction when he got the call.

"He got the call [and] we freaked out," she said, adding, "It was very exciting. My heart was so full for him." 

Zendaya also admitted she planned to rely on Holland for details about working with Nolan.

"I was like, 'I'm gonna be calling you.' Like, 'What was it like?' Trying to hear all the things, I was just so excited and definitely peeking over his shoulder while he was reading because as a fan, I'm curious and I wanted to [know] what is Nolan gonna do next."

Christopher Nolan surprised Zendaya with Athena role

After Holland's initial meetings with Nolan, the actor returned home with unexpected news for Zendaya.

"He came back from another meeting [with Christopher] and he was like, 'Read this again, but now read it with this character in mind,'" she recalled.

Zendaya said, "I was incredibly grateful that I just even got to be a part of it, too. I didn't see that coming." Speaking alongside co-star Robert Pattinson in a recent Access Hollywood interview, Holland also revealed that Nolan first asked for his permission before approaching Zendaya about playing Athena.

"It was such a gift because I know how much she's admired Chris. 'Interstellar' is her favorite movie," Holland said. According to Holland, the couple first read 'The Odyssey' screenplay together after he was cast in 2024. 

During a meeting with Nolan, the director carefully raised the idea of casting Zendaya.

"Do you mind if I ask you a question, and please don't be offended by my asking,'" Holland recalled Nolan saying. "I thought he was going to ask if we could put lifts in my shoes or something."

Instead, Nolan asked, "'Would you be offended if I asked Zendaya to play Athena?'"

Holland said he immediately supported the idea. "I said, 'I would be honored, that's amazing. I'm sure she would love to.' And then I asked him, 'Do you want me to tell her?' And he said, 'Yeah.'"