Inside Austin Butler’s Astonishing Elvis Transformation: Meet the Unsung Hero Who Made It Happen

In the world of entertainment, the magic of transformation often falls upon the capable shoulders of Polly Bennett. With a stellar track record of turning actors into iconic music legends, she has become the go-to movement coach for the stars. Her most recent triumph was seen on the BAFTA Awards stage, where Austin Butler, portraying Elvis Presley, took home the Best Actor award. However, what

stole the spotlight alongside Butler was Bennett herself, the woman who had spent months crafting his transformation into The King.

Polly Bennett, a British movement director and choreographer based in London, has an impressive resume that includes work on the London 2012 Olympics and collaboration with renowned actors like Steve Coogan and John C Reilly. Yet, it was her pivotal role in Rami Malek’s Oscar-winning portrayal of Freddie Mercury that catapulted her into the limelight. This year, Bennett completed her “musical icon trilogy” by guiding British actress Naomi Ackie’s transformation into Whitney Houston for “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”

The pressure on actors to portray beloved icons is immense, as they are constantly scrutinized and compared to the real legends they portray. Bennett acknowledges this challenge, especially when working on the transformation of Austin Butler into Elvis Presley. She remarks, “People have such an affiliation for Elvis; people know him, people know the performances, so it didn’t slide past either of us that it was quite a big deal.”

Bennett’s method involves delving deep into the essence of the artists, going beyond imitation to embody the spirit of the legends. For Austin Butler’s portrayal of Elvis, this meant learning the subtleties of Presley’s movements, understanding his musical roots, and even exploring his upbringing to grasp the roots of his iconic style. Bennett’s dedication and expertise shine through in her ability to help actors like Butler and Malek not merely replicate but truly inhabit the personas of music legends, and in doing so, she plays an integral role in their path to awards and accolades.