Austin Butler recently opened up about a painful experience he endured during his acting career, revealing that he had a shard of glass lodged in his foot for a staggering eight months. The 34-year-old actor faced a series of injuries while filming his latest project, Caught Stealing, and shared his story during an interview with People.
Butler described the toll that his work has taken on his body, stating, “I was covered in bruises constantly. Every day it was something new.” He recounted an incident where he cut his shin while navigating a metal object on set. However, it was the piece of glass in his foot that proved particularly troublesome.
During the press tour for Dune: Part Two, Butler was in Korea when he accidentally stepped on the glass while walking barefoot in a hotel room. He initially misattributed the pain to a nerve issue in his foot and continued to work through the discomfort. “I was hobbling around for eight months,” he recalled, adding, “then right before we were starting to film Caught Stealing, I was just pushing through the pain of running.”
Immersive Preparation for Caught Stealing
In addition to his injury revelations, Butler detailed his unique preparation for his role in Caught Stealing, where he portrays Hank, a former baseball player turned bartender in New York’s East Village. Butler took his commitment to authenticity to another level by spending a night on the film set prior to filming.
He described the experience, stating, “For one night, I had the whole apartment to myself. I played music, I danced around, and I ate Chinese food in there.” This immersive approach allowed him to feel as if he truly lived in the space, further enhancing his performance.
Butler humorously recounted waking up to the crew arriving while he was in his underwear, emphasizing the importance of blurring the lines between the set and reality. “It made it feel like it wasn’t a set anymore,” he explained. He acknowledged the various distractions encountered during a film shoot, from lighting to camera setups, noting that maintaining the illusion of the character’s world is critical for an actor.
As Butler continues to navigate the challenges of his profession, his dedication to his craft remains evident. His willingness to endure physical pain and engage deeply with his characters reflects a commitment that many actors aspire to achieve. The release of Caught Stealing, directed by Darren Aronofsky, promises to showcase Butler’s talents in a new and compelling way.
