Misia Butler talked about her time as Caeneus on Netflix Chaos helped him assert himself as a trans man.
Inside the world ChaosCaeneus was once a female Amazon, but always knew they were a boy. In the end, his mother helps send him away from the camp, whose people would kill him as he is.
Unfortunately, Caeneus was tracked down and murdered by the Amazons, considering his sex-change to be mere heresy.
(What is Veros Kaos on Netflix? Meaning explained)
Misia Butler: Being a powerful trans man and taking on the story of Caeneus
In an exclusive interview with The Direct’s Russ Milheim, Netflix’s Caeneus star Misia Butler Chaosshared how her newly reinvented trans character empowered her.
When asked how he relates to the story of Caeneus, Butler explained the role “talked about (his) ability to be an empowered trans man:”
“I remember when I was a kid learning about it in school, and I had a certain teacher who I thought knew what he was doing. He gave me this translation of an ancient text, and this very character was in it. The text was told he wasn’t good enough because he was born a woman and he’s not supposed to fight men, and then he defeats them all really easily. And I just felt like a really empowered story because it spoke to my ability to be an empowered trans man, basically.”
In the original Greek mythology, Caeneus was once a girl named Caenis. After having sex with Poseidon (or raping, according to the narrative), they were gifted with being turned into a man and by giving invulnerable.
In Chaos, the roots of the story are there, but they have changed a lot.
As for the original myth, which is quite different, Butler admitted that they are “crazy familiar it” maybe even “a bit stiff:”
“I was crazy into it. I think I was talking about myths, I kind of go into it because it was something that I had been obsessed with for a long time. In fact, I’m going to research it specifically. The myth was something that I’ve always been obsessed with it was amazing because it might as well have notified it.”
Then the actor wondered why Chaos’ Caeneus is so ingenious and perfect for the story they were telling:
“I think Charlie is just so complex. We’re using all these different myths, and I think that’s what’s satisfying for myth lovers like me and also for people who don’t really know the myths but have heard a little bit about Medusa or, you know, Hades … but also other myths like Caeneus that they haven’t heard of. And I think weaving in the story of Canaeus with the Amazons, which I think is a pretty familiar myth, just brings out more nuance in both myths and more exploration of the themes they bring. “
Almost all of Caeneus’ scenes take place in the underworld. There’s nothing really over the top about the area’s design – in fact, it’s quite understated in its black and white simplicity.
Butler praised the use of the program “a lot of practical effects:”
“It had a lot of practical implications. And I think it translates really well. Obviously there weren’t three-headed dogs, but there were dogs that were then painted with two other heads. With The Frame, we were involved in this. an incredible location somewhere in central Spain with this huge lake. We looked just this part of the lake knowing that The Frame was there and that we were going through it.”
The actor admitted that when they explored The Nothing later in the series, that was it “slightly greener screen:”
“And then obviously with the later stuff like The Nothing and things, it was a little bit more green screen. But it was, yeah, mostly practical, which I enjoyed. It felt like a more comprehensive immersion for us actors. .”
One of Butler’s fun and practical effects was walking on water as Caeneus guided people through The Frame.
“It was literally just a stage in the middle of a lake.” Butler explained:
“It was literally just a stage in the middle of a lake. Practically. It took me quite a while for me and Aurora to shoot the scene where Riddy runs first into the lake. And you know, he was incredible. He was in the middle of a mental breakdown as Riddy, and he was wearing a very small white dress and she was just soaked to the bone and somehow managed to keep her head up and that’s always an amazing feat for her.”
He made sure to clarify that there were “a few men in wetsuits” who were “We held onto our feet every time we got close (to the rim).”
Another big element in Caeneus’ story is how he becomes romantically entangled with Aurora Perrineau’s Riddy, better known as Eurydice in Greek mythology.
Many know the iconic love story between Eurydice and Orpheus, but their story unfolds very differently Chaos. In fact, Caeneus is a key factor in helping Riddy realize how estranged she has been from her former lover.
In the original myth “we don’t understand (Riddy’s) point of view” what is its lack Chaos takes and works:
“I think what Charlie (Covell) did with the Eurydice story is incredible, which just gives her a sense of autonomy as a character. I think it’s such an iconic love story, but we always only get Orpheus’ point of view, and we don’t. I don’t understand the point of view of the woman who goes to the underworld for whatever reason and pulls back and then back again, and I think just doing her story allowed us to historically explore the types of romantic tropes that we’re going on.”
Explaining what he loves most about their love story Chaos so is Riddy “finds himself in love” someone who isn’t “great classic hero” but rather “a person who listens:”
“What I love so much about Canaeus and Riddy’s story is that the person she finds herself falling in love with isn’t some big classic hero who does all these legs to get to the underworld for her. It’s someone who listens and someone who respects her opinions and who allows her to be the person she wants to be, and I felt really special to be a part of that.”
On how the show has helped her grow as a performer, Butler noted that the experience has affected her “immeasurably:”
“Just immeasurable. There are so many ways that I feel much more aware of the process and the exploration of the characters. I thought Charlie’s writing was incredible. They were so great to work with and work with. Both directors were so different, but they were so facilitating.”
Butler hopes he can continue “maintain a level of confidence” while working on other projects:
“And for the actor, they just gave so much room to dive into those moments, like I just mentioned, to find the depth of emotion and even the lightness and levity. I think they pushed me in a way that I felt. I needed to be encouraged, and they trusted me in a way that gave me a lot of confidence and I hope I can keep this confidence going forward.
Chaos now streaming on Netflix.
