Here’s how Homer portrays Helen of Troy in The Odyssey and why Christopher Nolan’s casting of Lupita Nyong’o is so great.
‘The Odyssey’ helped Matt Damon feel at ease during key scenes
Matt Damon says the strong support he received from Christopher Nolan and the crew on the set of The Odyssey helped him tackle key scenes with confidence.
Spoiler alert! We discuss important details about the plot of “The Odyssey” (currently in theaters). If you haven’t seen it yet and don’t want to know what happens, please stop reading.
If you were to cast a face that could launch a thousand ships, you can’t go wrong with Lupita Nyong’o.
The Oscar winner has a dual role in Christopher Nolan’s three-hour epic The Odyssey, playing Helen of Troy, the most gorgeous woman in the world, and her twin sister Clytemnestra.
There’s no denying that Nyong’o is incredibly beautiful. Not only is she an ambassador for Lancôme and Chanel, but she’s also been credited for her beauty in Beyoncé’s song “Brown Skin Girl.” Nevertheless, her casting as a literal demigoddess sparked an outcry from racist crowds on social media.
Here’s what Homer has to say about the character and why Nolan’s casting of Nyong’o is so genius.
How is Helen of Troy described by Homer?
Helen was the daughter of Queen Leda of Sparta and was seduced by Zeus, who transformed himself into a swan. As a result, Helen hatched from the egg. (Yes, we are serious.)
She married King Menelaus of Sparta (played by Jon Bernthal in the film), but was later kidnapped by the Trojan prince Paris, sparking the Trojan War. Agamemnon (Benny Safdie), Menelaus’ brother and Clytemnestra’s husband, captures the city of Troy and helps bring Helen home.
In the poem The Odyssey, this character is described as “Helen of fair hair,” but in the Iliad, Homer describes her as “Helen, queen of women” and “Helen with white arms.” However, in Homeric Greek, “having white arms” does not necessarily mean having white skin. Instead, it is intended to suggest that someone is of a high status in the upper class and has never spent time outdoors doing manual labor.
Despite these vague descriptions, Helen has been depicted almost exclusively as white in art, television, and film. In the 2003 miniseries Helen of Troy and the 2004 film Troy, the character is depicted with white skin and golden-blond hair (played by Sienna Guillory and Diane Kruger, respectively). Meanwhile, Elizabeth Taylor played Helen in the 1967 horror drama Doctor Faustus, sporting her signature black hair and dark cat eyeliner.
Why Lupita Nyong’o was the only actor to play Helen of Troy
Whether she’s dazzling on the red carpet or lighting up the big screen in films like Black Panther and The Night Is Coming, 43-year-old Nyong’o has always possessed the intelligence and poise befitting Greek royalty. With her breathtaking work in Us and A Quiet Place: Day One, she continues to prove herself as one of the greatest actresses of her generation.
And while Nolan has little opportunity to appear in The Odyssey, he’s interested in Helen of Troy as more than just a character. In one significant change to the story, Nolan inflicts a large scar on Helen’s face, which is never explained, but is lightly joked about by Menelaus.
Through the characters of Odysseus (Matt Damon), Sinon (Elliot Page), and Athena (Zendaya), the filmmaker thoughtfully explores the victims of violence and its far-reaching effects. By giving Helen a noticeable scar, Nolan showed that even the most coveted woman on earth is not immune to humanity’s brutality.
Helen and Clytemnestra are half-sisters in Greek mythology, but Nolan made them identical twins. This is a powerful adjustment and means that Helen’s beauty is still exceptional, but not completely unique. Was it really worth slaughtering thousands of people for this one person?
Beyond her obvious charm, Nyong’o is able to convey the quiet pain and shattering reality of Helen and Clytemnestra. That’s exactly why Nolan was so sensitive when casting her.
“I don’t think there’s anyone else in the world who could play that role,” Bernthal told USA TODAY. “We think of Helen of Troy and her beauty, but it’s about the inner life and how rich it is. She can bring the awkwardness, the shame, the betrayal, the survivor’s guilt and regret and all that. We’re dealing with the effects of war, and that’s what Chris was really trying to express.”
“To be able to bring in an actor like Lupita who can convey so much just by looking, I really felt that in her,” Bernthal added. “I’m so grateful it was her.”
