Saltburn actor Barry Keoghan shared details about his "crazy" audition with director Steven Spielberg. Though he didn't land the role in Spielberg's 2018 sci-fi film, ‘Ready Player One’, Keoghan recalled the surreal experience of being filmed by Spielberg himself with a camcorder during the audition.
He said, “I remember doing the screen test, and he had a little camcorder in his hand, and I was like, ‘This is insane. Steven Spielberg is filming me doing a scene, on a camcorder.’”
(Warning: Spoilers ahead for 'Saltburn')
Despite not getting the part, Keoghan expressed his desire to work with Spielberg in the future. In another revelation, the actor discussed his reservations about filming the final scene in ‘Saltburn’, where his character orchestrates deaths within the Catton family, becoming the sole inheritor of their estate and celebrating with a unique dance.
Discussing the scene in an interview, Barry Keoghan initially had reservations about being nude. He admitted feeling uneasy at first, but after the first take, he was ready to continue. The actor explained that the comfortable environment created on set allowed him to focus on the story rather than his initial discomfort.
Keoghan expressed that the ending felt completely right, describing it as a statement of ownership and confidence. He felt a sense of freedom, thinking, "I can do what I want in this manor. I can strip to my barest and waltz around because this is mine." Overall, he found the experience enjoyable.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor also shared her reaction to the final scene, mentioning that she wasn't quite prepared for the visual impact.
Barry Keoghan, the main actor in Emerald Fennell's intense Gothic drama’Saltburn’, likely received the highest pay among the cast, which includes stars like Jacob Eloardi, Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, and Archie Madekwe. Since its premiere at the 50th Telluride Film Festival on 31st August 2023, and its release on Amazon Prime Video on 22nd December 2023, ‘Saltburn’ has become one of the most talked-about and unconventional films of the previous year.
At 31 years old, Barry Keoghan has already earned an Academy Award nomination for his supporting role in ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ in 2022. He now has the potential to secure his first Oscar nomination for a leading role in ‘Saltburn’. In the film, Keoghan portrays the memorable character Oliver Quick, a seemingly innocent guest at the Catton family estate, who conceals his true intentions until the right moment, revealing a sinister and manipulative side to his character.
– Farheen Ali
