Austin Butler has finally admitted that his unnerving Memphis accent was donned for the Elvis movie, in an interview on Friday’s episode of The Graham Norton Show.
The 31-year-old actor, who adopted a southern accent after playing Elvis in the 2022 biopic, baffled fans at the Golden Globes by continuing to speak in the singer’s famous voice.
Previously, Austin’s voice coach, Irene Bartlett, defended him by saying ABC’s Gold Coast the ‘accent is genuine’ and ‘could stay forever’.
And now the star has admitted to host Graham Norton that she’s still trying to get rid of the accent, nearly two years after the movie ended.
Explaining why he still sounds like Elvis, Austin said, “I’m getting rid of the accent, but I’ve probably damaged my vocal cords from all that singing.” One song took 40 takes!’
‘I’m getting rid of the accent’: Austin Butler FINALLY admitted that the Memphis accent he used for the Elvis biopic was put on while talking to Graham Norton on Friday’s episode of his talk show.
In the movie: The actor, 31, who also adopted a southern accent AFTER playing Elvis in the 2022 biopic, mystified fans at the Golden Globes by continuing to speak in the singer’s famous voice
His voice coach explained earlier this month: “What you saw in that Golden Globes speech, that’s him. He is genuine, he is not fake.
“I’m sorry people say that, you know, he’s still acting [but] has actually taken [the voice of Presley] on board,” he said, adding that the change could be permanent: “I don’t know how long it will last, or if it’s going to be there forever.”
But when last week at AARP The Magazine’s 21st Annual Adult Movie Awards, Austin sounded like a regular guy from Southern California, and DailyMail.com was there to listen.
When he talked about how amazing it was to work with pioneering director Baz, he spoke like most actors who live in Los Angeles.
Speaking to Graham Norton about his Oscar nomination, Austin added: “It’s been a whirlwind and it’s amazing because when you’re making a movie you never know how it’s going to be received.
“With this one, there were so many ways it could go wrong, so to be received the way it has meant a lot to me.”
Butler was thrilled when he picked up the Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama award for his work in the 2022 film Elvis, but the focus quickly shifted to his incredibly different-sounding voice.
Austin compared his accent to someone living in another country while speaking to reporters in the winners’ room after his big win.
Hard work: The actor, who adopted a southern drawl after playing Elvis in the 2022 biopic, told the audience he’s still trying to get rid of the accent
Confused: Austin’s voice coach previously told ABC’s Gold Coast that “the accent could stick around forever” after baffling fans at the Golden Globes (pictured from event last month)
I don’t even think about it. I don’t think it sounds like him yet, but I guess I haven’t noticed because I listen to him a lot.
“I think I often compare it to when someone lives in another country for a long time, and I had three years where that was my only focus in life, so I’m sure there are just parts of my DNA that will always be linked. that way.
Austin was so dedicated to perfecting his role as Elvis in the famed biopic released last summer that he didn’t see his family for three years as he prepared for the film in Australia.
Fun: Elsewhere on the show, Austin taught Ashley Banjo some Elvis-esque dance moves.
Guests: Also joined by Michelle Yeoh and Jack Lowden (L-R Michelle, Austin, Jack and Ashley)
Production on Elvis was postponed in March 2020 when one of its stars, Tom Hanks, was diagnosed with COVID-19 and hospitalized.
When the pandemic began, Elvis’s set was closed indefinitely. Butler turned down an invitation for a ride back to his Los Angeles home, instead using the lockdown as an opportunity to immerse himself in all things Elvis.
butler said Variety that during this time, Elvis would not only be the ‘only thing’ he would think about, but would also speak with his voice because ‘this is what it takes’.
The Graham Norton Show, BBC One, Friday, February 3 at 10:40 p.m. Also Available on BBC iPlayer.
On stage: guests enjoyed a performance by Mimi Webb
Coming up: The Graham Norton Show, BBC One, Friday 3rd February at 10:40pm. Also available on BBC iPlayer