Zac Efron has revealed that his role in The Iron Claw was his most “vulnerable” role to date.
The sporting drama follows the Von Erichs, a family of wrestlers who suffer through great trauma and hardship as they rise up the ranks.
Efron stars as Kevin in Sean Durkin’s film, which boasts a stacked cast including Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson and Lily James, and spoke exclusively with Digital Spy about the specific challenges of the role.
What to Read Next
Related: Iron Claw's Jeremy Allen White talks being scared during training
“Overall it was so much fun [filming],” he began. “Everybody just clicked from the get go, there was really no ego, we were all thrown into the world of wrestling with a very elite coach.
“I think all of us were a bit taken for a ride, so naturally we had to link arms and move forward through this process that was uncomfortable and draining at times - [it] left us at our most vulnerable. And that’s really when you get to see people’s true colours.
“It was clear that these guys were just awesome individuals and really fun to work with. So our brotherly bond, it was so natural, it was something we really did not have to force, it never came up once as an issue on set. It’s just something that felt very natural for all of us.”
Durkin, who has previously garnered acclaim for Martha Marcy May Marlene and The Nest, spoke about Efron’s casting, revealing that the star was his personal pick for the role of Kevin.
Related: The Iron Claw's Sean Durkin responds to disappointment over Oscar snub
“I’ve been a fan of his for a long time,” said the director. “I’ve wanted to work with him probably for over ten years - and as we started to move away from writing and thinking about making the film, he was just the first person I wanted to go to.
“He’s just got the heart that Kevin’s got, he’s got this big heart and it needed someone to have that sweetness to play against the physicality and athleticism.”
The Iron Claw is released in UK cinemas on February 9.
You Might Like...
Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
Emily is an experienced freelance entertainment writer and editor, reporting on all things TV, film, soaps and showbiz. An NCTJ-qualified journalist, with a First Class Honours degree in Journalism from the University of Sussex, Emily is a former Deputy News Editor and Evening News Editor at Digital Spy. She has previously worked at Hello magazine, BBC South News and GoodtoKnow.
A small and big-screen obsessive – with subscriptions to every TV and film service under the sun – Emily knows her movie stars from soap stars, and is always clued up on the latest reality show dumping, just-dropped trailer or off-screen spat. She's interviewed a number of celebrities over the years, with highlights including The Masked Singer host Joel Dommett and GMB's Kate Garraway (who "loved" her trousers).
Emily counts Sharon Horgan and Julia Davis as her TV heroes, and is a loyal Wes Anderson fan. LinkedIn
