Austin Butler’s latest transformation doesn’t involve a Memphis accent or slicked-back hair. The actor has traded his usual method preparation for something more grounded: learning to cook properly, with guidance from an unexpected mentor.
From Screen Icon to Kitchen Novice
Butler, currently the face of YSL Beauty’s MYSLF fragrance collection, admits his culinary skills needed work. The 32-year-old actor found himself drawn to cooking after conversations with Jeremy Allen White, the star behind FX’s acclaimed series “The Bear.” White’s dedication to authentically portraying a professional chef apparently struck a chord with Butler, who saw parallels between their approaches to craft.
The connection makes sense given both actors’ reputation for intense preparation. While Butler famously stayed in character as Elvis Presley for months during filming, White spent considerable time in real restaurant kitchens to nail his performance as Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto. That same methodical approach now influences Butler’s kitchen experiments.
“I’ve always been someone who throws myself completely into whatever I’m doing,” Butler explains. The actor’s current focus extends beyond basic cooking skills to Italian cuisine specifically, a choice that reflects his broader cultural interests and upcoming projects.
His kitchen education comes at a time when Butler is preparing for another major role. The actor is set to portray Detective James “Sonny” Crockett in a new adaptation of Miami Vice, requiring him to dive deep into 1980s Miami culture and police procedurals.
Reading List and Mental Preparation
Butler’s preparation for Miami Vice involves extensive research into the original series and the era it represents. He’s currently working through several books that explore both the show’s cultural impact and the real Miami of the 1980s. The reading list includes works on the cocaine trade’s influence on the city, the rise of MTV aesthetics, and the particular brand of masculinity that defined that decade.
Beyond books, Butler has incorporated meditation into his daily routine using a specific app that helps him maintain focus during intense preparation periods. The practice became essential during his Elvis transformation, when staying in character for extended periods created mental and emotional challenges he hadn’t anticipated.
The meditation routine serves multiple purposes in Butler’s current work. It helps him process the research he’s absorbing for Miami Vice while also providing mental space to explore his new interest in cooking. The actor describes the kitchen as another form of meditation, requiring the same present-moment awareness that his app promotes.
Butler’s approach to role preparation has evolved since Elvis. Rather than complete immersion in character, he’s learning to maintain boundaries while still achieving the depth his performances require. The cooking lessons with White’s guidance represent this new balance – serious skill development without losing himself in the process.
Italian cuisine appeals to Butler for reasons beyond simple taste preferences. He sees parallels between the patience required for proper pasta-making and the long-term commitment his acting roles demand. Both require attention to detail, respect for tradition, and willingness to fail repeatedly before achieving mastery.
Fragrance and Future Projects
Butler’s role as the face of YSL Beauty’s MYSLF fragrance collection adds another dimension to his current projects. The campaign requires him to embody a particular type of contemporary masculinity – confident but not aggressive, sophisticated but accessible. It’s a persona that differs significantly from both Elvis and his upcoming Miami Vice character.
The fragrance work influences how Butler thinks about scent and memory, particularly as he prepares for roles set in specific time periods. Miami in the 1980s had its own olfactory signature – ocean salt mixed with cocaine residue, expensive cologne masking nervous sweat, the particular smell of new money in an old city. These details matter for Butler’s preparation process, even if they never explicitly appear on screen.
