Austin Butler didn't see his family for three years while dedicating himself to 'Elvis'

“I had months where I wouldn’t talk to anybody.

And when I did, the only thing I was ever thinking about was Elvis.”

The actor sat down with actress and singer Janelle Monae to discuss working on Baz Luhrmann’sElvisforVariety’sActors on Actorsseries.

“I was prepping with Baz, and then I went to Australia.

I had months where I wouldn’t talk to anybody.

And when I did, the only thing I was ever thinking about was Elvis.”

“I was speaking in his voice the whole time,” Butler added.

“So then I’d talk to my sister, and she’s gotta listen to that.”

“You had to say, ‘This is who I am.

This is what it takes,'” Monae said, showing her support for his method.

Butler has been racking up accolades for his turn in the film, including aGolden Globe nominationon Monday.

A self-taught musician, Butler also did his own singing for the demanding drama.

Ultimately, my face is different.

I had this false expectation in the beginning that I could make my face identical to his.

Ultimately, I realized that doesn’t serve the story or me at all.

It’s about his spirit.

It’s about merging our two souls."

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