Travis Scott was 'nervous as f*ck' to act in The Odyssey, but he knew the story—his grandmother made him read it as a kid

Travis Scott has admitted he was "nervous as f*ck" filming his first major acting role in Christopher Nolan's box-office hit The Odyssey, revealing that his grandmother unknowingly prepared him for the moment years earlier by making him read Homer's classic as a child.

The rapper opened up about stepping onto one of Hollywood's biggest sets in a wide-ranging interview with Variety, detailing his experience acting alongside Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson while also announcing a new first-look film deal with Paramount Pictures. Scott recalled filming one of his first scenes atop a wooden table inside an ancient castle on a remote Italian island, where he had to command the attention of a room filled with veteran actors. "I was nervous as f*ck," Scott admitted. "All those actors were there, and I'm standing on the table. It wasn't like Travis rager sh*t... this was some serious sh*t. There's a camera right here in my face. Nolan's right there."

The scene required Scott to recite the Song of Odysseus before launching into a dramatic retelling of the Trojan War. Christopher Nolan later revealed the intimidating setup was intentional. "I threw him into the deep end," the director said. "I said, OK, Travis, jump up on the table and start reciting the Song of Odysseus and hold the attention of the room... I wasn't hiring him as a musician. I wanted somebody on-screen who would be reciting words and holding attention in the room in a very credible way."

Although Scott's appearance may surprise audiences, he revealed he was already familiar with Homer's The Odyssey long before Nolan came calling. Growing up in Houston as Jacques Bermon Webster II, Scott said his grandmother, English professor Bernice Webster, assigned the poem as summer reading. "I did some CliffsNotes bullsh*t," he laughed. "I got a whoopin' because I lied about reading it."

The movie has attracted its fair share of controversy too. Scott's familiarity with Homer's epic stands in stark contrast to some of his co-stars. Lupita Nyong'o previously revealed she "had no idea" what The Odyssey was before being cast, saying the role prompted a "crash course" in Greek mythology as she read the poem for the first time. The film has also generated debate over casting decisions and liberal storytelling choices. 

Scott said he plans to organize a private screening for his extended family, including both of his grandmothers, after the film's release on home video. He co-wrote the end-credits song for The Odyssey alongside Nolan and composer Ludwig Göransson after watching an early cut of the film. "I still need a Grammy," he laughed. "But I would love to take home an Oscar. That'd be cool."