Mia Goth plays Melantho in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Best known for her acclaimed performances in Pearl, X, Infinity Pool, and MaXXXine, Goth joins Nolan’s epic adaptation in a supporting role. While Melantho is not one of the poem’s central figures, she plays an important part in the events unfolding inside Odysseus’ palace during his long absence.
In Homer’s The Odyssey, Melantho is one of Penelope’s maids, but unlike the household’s loyal servants, she betrays her queen by supporting the suitors who have taken over the palace. She becomes the lover of Eurymachus and openly mocks the disguised Odysseus when he finally returns to Ithaca. Her disloyalty makes her one of the clearest examples of the corruption that has spread throughout the kingdom while its rightful king has been away, and her actions ultimately carry severe consequences once Odysseus reclaims his home.
Goth has built a career playing psychologically complex and unpredictable (and sometimes psychotic) characters, making her an intriguing choice for Melantho. Although the role may not feature as prominently as Odysseus, Penelope, or the suitors, Nolan could expand the character to further explore the divisions within Ithaca during Odysseus’ absence. With Goth’s ability to command attention in every scene, Melantho has the potential to become one of the film’s most memorable supporting characters.
