Samantha Morton has opened up about the emotional toll of being unexpectedly replaced in the 2014 Oscar-winning film Her. The 49-year-old actress, currently earning praise for her role as Circe in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, shared her experience on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast.
In 2013, Morton was cast and recorded the voice for the character Samantha in Spike Jonze's critically acclaimed film about a lonely writer's relationship with AI. The movie starred Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Chris Pratt, Rooney Mara, Olivia Wilde, and Bill Hader. However, during post-production, she was replaced by Scarlett Johansson, 41.
Directors' Prerogative and Surprise
Reflecting on the recasting, Morton acknowledged that directors have the final say. 'Well, I have to say that it's every director's prerogative, in regards to the final cut of the film,' she said. She noted that in any job, you're never guaranteed to remain in the final version unless you're the lead.
Despite prior experiences teaching her not to get 'too excited,' she admitted, 'I was surprised and a little bit sad would be an understatement.' She described the time on set with Spike and Joaquin as 'special,' but her version of the character was 'much more English' compared to Johansson's 'very, very different' American take.
The Pain of Being Fired
'I got it, but I was sad… it does hurt when you're fired from something, or before it. What I'd have wished for was another chance in a booth to do an American accent, but I mean, it's Scarlett Johansson, come on,' she concluded.
Morton, who has won a Bafta fellowship and a Golden Globe, also discussed the challenges of ageing in the industry. 'I haven't worked for a year since making The Odyssey, you know, and I've got really good agents and a manager, but at the end of the day, I'm 49,' she told host Josh Horowitz. 'I do believe I'm a good actor, [but] there are other good actors out there. So, the politics of the industry have changed massively.'
Despite this, she remains optimistic, feeling 'confident I will keep working till I'm in my 80s' and expressing gratitude for working on a Christopher Nolan movie.
Personal Grief
Morton also reflected on the recent loss of her older sister, who died aged 53, just 18 months after her biological father's death. Speaking to the Sunday Times, she said: 'I sadly lost my sister on April 22 this year, she was 53. I am still dealing with the coroners and the trauma. I lost my real father 18 months ago. Trauma. So the past is always with me and I'm not saying I'm not going to be all right next week, but every day I wake, say a prayer and say "Please help me".'
