Zendaya reveals embarrassing first day on Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' set

Zendaya says freezing Iceland weather left her unable to deliver lines on her first day filming 'The Odyssey'

Zendaya has revealed that the freezing conditions on the set of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey made her first day of filming far more challenging than expected.

The actress, who portrays the Greek goddess Athena in the upcoming epic, said the extreme Iceland weather left her unable to properly deliver her dialogue.

Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Zendaya admitted she had carefully prepared for her scenes but struggled once filming began. She explained that the cold temperatures caused her mouth to freeze, making it difficult to speak her lines clearly. Despite the setback, the Emmy-winning actress said she remained focused on doing her best while working alongside a cast she deeply admired.

Zendaya described joining Nolan's latest film as both exciting and intimidating, noting that collaborating with the acclaimed director and an accomplished ensemble cast was a valuable experience. She added that she had to set aside her nerves and concentrate on the work, even as she felt overwhelmed by the opportunity.

Christopher Nolan later praised Zendaya's performance during an interview with Fandango, describing her as "always perfect" throughout production. The filmmaker previously explained that he cast the actress as Athena because of her grace and screen presence, saying she possessed the qualities needed to portray a goddess on screen.

Zendaya was not the only cast member to experience first-day nerves. Co-star Tom Holland recently revealed that he mistakenly believed Nolan was unhappy with his performance after the director repeatedly called for cuts during filming. Holland later learned the interruptions were due to the three-minute recording limit of IMAX cameras rather than any issue with his acting.

The Odyssey, starring Matt Damon, Zendaya, Tom Holland and an ensemble cast, is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on July 17 through Universal Pictures.