Dev Patel's Oscar nomination still hasn't "fully sunk in".
Dev Patel
The 26-year-old actor was thrilled to be recognised by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the Best Supporting Actor category for his role in 'Lion' but admits the whole experience has been "quite maddening".
He said: "Hey, that's crazy. My heart races when you say that. That's insane. It still hasn't fully sunk in. It gets to me in waves ...
"I think that can be quite maddening. I want to make sure I remain grateful for the experience. It really did change me as a human being. To shift the focus to awards too quickly would be a real shame."
Dev was thrilled when he found out he had secured the role of Saroo Brierley but admits he had to fight for the part.
Asked how the role had changed him, he shared: "First and foremost, I met Garth [Davis, the director], and made a friend of him. I'll be in his corner for life. He really has impacted the way I think in a big way, and made me embark on a journey of curiosity, and really challenged me.
"People just pigeonhole you in that ['Slumdog Millionaire'] role; they think you have nothing else to offer. He told me point blank he was looking for an actor who will dissolve into the role and be utterly believable. That just made me salivate. I got more excited. I just had to go into the audition room fighting a preconceived notion of myself, which is fine."
Meanwhile, Dev was forced to bulk up for the role and quipped he is "a bit of a Woody Allen" in the gym.
He told the New York Times: "That was a definite order from Garth: Hit the gym and put on some weight. It was a really fun eight months of eating like a glutton, and having fun with this awesome trainer at a gym. More than anything it was about adopting a different physical presence on screen.
"I've never known what it feels like to fill out a T-shirt and a pair of jeans, to walk around feeling bigger. All those nuances and strokes build a character. I enjoy going to the gym. It calms me down, and makes me feel a lot better. But as my trainer says, I'm a bit of a Woody Allen in the gym."
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