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Barry Keoghan says the shocking grave scene in 'Saltburn' was tamer in the original script: 'He wasn't written to do that'

Dec 17, 2023, 22:18 IST
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Barry Keoghan as Oliver Quick in "Saltburn."Courtesy of Prime - © Amazon Content Services LLC
  • Warning: Major spoilers ahead for "Saltburn," which was released in theaters in November.
  • Barry Keoghan has revealed the graveyard scene was improvised on the day of filming.
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Barry Keoghan has revealed that one of the most talked about scenes in "Saltburn" did not actually appear in the film's original script and was improvised on the day of shooting.

In an interview with Variety, the Irish actor was asked about how he felt shooting some of the shocking scenes in the film, in which he plays a social-climbing Oxford University student, Oliver Quick.

As those who have seen it know, the film has no shortage of moments that will make audiences squirm in their seat, including the now-viral bathtub scene.

"I'll do anything once that moves the story forward and if there's a right reason for it creatively," Keoghan said. "I'm not going to do something because it's out there or for the 'wow' factor."

Jacob Elordi and Barry Keoghan as Felix and Oliver in "Saltburn."MGM / Amazon Studios

The grave scene, which appears towards the end of the movie, sees Oliver (Keoghan) visit Felix's (Jacob Elordi) grave plot. He lies on top of it sobbing, before slowly undressing. Once fully nude, he begins to thrust into the ground.

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"On paper, he wasn't written to do that," Keoghan said. "But I wanted to see what actually happened, where I would take it. I wanted to be confused and let my body lead the way. What am I doing? How can I get closer?"

"It's trying to find that new level of obsession. Trying to level up on the obsession," he added. "It's quite sad because he didn't even know what to do. He's a lost boy who's confused and doesn't know what he's chasing."

Barry Keoghan as Oliver in "Saltburn."MGM / Amazon Studios

The film's director Emerald Fennell, who spoke to Entertainment Weekly last month, said Keoghan's character was initially meant to just kiss and use his fingers to penetrate the grave.

But she said that on the day of shooting the scene, she told the actor: "I don't know, Barry. I think that he would...unzip."

After Fennell planted the "seed," Keoghan asked: "Can I have a closed set? I'd like to try something."

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"Saltburn," which premiered in theaters in November, also stars Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, Carey Mulligan, Archie Madekwe, and Alison Oliver.

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