Harry Styles has been one of the world's most famous faces for the past seven years, but it seems to have completely passed by Dunkirk director Christopher Nolan.
The Dark Knight trilogy filmmaker cast the One Direction star for a supporting role in the upcoming World War II epic, though claimed he didn't know what a big deal the singer was beforehand.
"I don't think I was that aware really of how famous Harry was," Nolan told The AP.
"I mean, my daughter had talked about him. My kids talked about him, but I wasn't really that aware of it. So the truth is, I cast Harry because he fit the part wonderfully and truly earned a seat at the table."
Hmm, would an entertainment industry figure as massive as Nolan really not know who the singer was? Perhaps he has a movie to sell *ahem*.
Harry's fellow star Mark Rylance also revealed he was unaware of the 1D star, and that his only association was through his daughter.
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"She was just more excited than anything I've ever done because I was going to be acting with Harry Styles," the Oscar-winner said. "I went up in her estimation. I won the Harry!"
Fionn Whitehead, who plays one of the leads in Dunkirk, recently told Digital Spy that fans were putting "too much emphasis" on Hazza's role in the movie.
"He's great, he's a good actor and a lovely guy," he said. "I think the hysteria – [perhaps] it should have been expected when you take a figure like that and give him a short back and sides and put him in a uniform.
"I think it's got a bit silly really. The meaning has got lost somewhere along the way and people have stopped realising there's an amazing cast – including Harry – but there's, you know, the creme de la creme of actors.
"I think the focus should not be Harry Styles doing a movie, it should be on the piece in general or his ability to act. And he's great."
Dunkirk arrives in cinemas on July 21 in the US and UK.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
