Transforming into Elvis Presley landed Austin Butler in the hospital.
“Elvis” star Butler, 31, said that playing the King of Rock ‘n Roll was “the greatest ride of my life” — but it all caught up with him at the end.
“I didn’t get sick the entire time I filmed, but the day that I finished, I ended up in the emergency room,” he told People on the red carpet for the 2023 SAG Awards on Sunday.
Butler revealed that he “spent a week in bed” before going on to another project.
In May 2022, he told British GQ that he “woke up at 4 in the morning with excruciating pain” and was “rushed to hospital,” which was due to a virus he contracted that simulated the symptoms of appendicitis.
“My body just started shutting down the day after I finished ‘Elvis,’” Butler recalled.
But the trip to the emergency room wasn’t the only health challenge he faced while taking portraying Elvis.
He also told People that he lost his now-memorable voice while singing Elvis’ version of “Never Been to Spain.”
“We did so many takes. And at a certain point, I just lost my voice,” Butler explained. “So then I went on vocal rest for a couple days, and I was able to come back.”
Butler has been very committed to Elvis’ voice as he continues to talk like the late singer — with many saying still using the voice is “cringe.”
Voice coach Irene Bartlett, who was hired to work with Butler in 2019, defended his ever-lasting Elvis accent, telling ABC Gold Coast that he spent years building a “connection” with Elvis’ personality and was fully committed to playing the part.
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