Clayface Lead Tom Rhys Harries Says He Played Elden Ring for Three Months to Cope With Anxiety While Screen Testing for the Movie

Tom Rhys Harries has revealed that Elden Ring became his unlikely way of dealing with anxiety while he was screen testing for the lead role in DC Studios’ Clayface. The actor said he spent three months playing FromSoftware’s acclaimed action RPG during the audition period, using the game as a way to disconnect from the pressure surrounding the role.

In a conversation with Kit Connor for Interview Magazine, Harries explained,

“I played Elden Ring to switch my brain off during the three months I was screen testing for Clayface.”

He added that the habit

“probably talks to my level of anxiety throughout that period.”

The revelation comes as Harries prepares to lead his first major studio feature as Matt Hagen, the struggling actor who becomes the DC villain Clayface. 

TOM RHYS HARRIES PRAISES CLAYFACE’S SCRIPT

Harries also discussed what attracted him to Clayface, particularly the screenplay written by Mike Flanagan with script amendments from Hossein Amini. He described its structure as resembling “a Greek tragedy”, praising the depth provided by its three-act story.

The actor’s comments suggest that the psychological side of Matt Hagen’s transformation will be just as important as the movie’s body-horror elements. Recent promotional material has already teased Clayface’s disturbing physical changes, although Harries has suggested audiences have not yet seen the full extent of the film’s horror. 

DC confirms that Clayface, directed by James Watkins and starring Harries, is scheduled to arrive in theaters on October 23, 2026.