Even Marvel stars have to start somewhere.

Wonder Man stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley reveal biggest lies they told in auditions

Even Marvel stars have to start somewhere.

By Sydney Bucksbaum

Sydney Bucksbaum

Sydney Bucksbaum is a staff writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2019 and is a published author. Her work has previously appeared in *TV Guide Magazine*, E! News/E! Online, *The Hollywood Reporter*, Mashable, Bustle, IGN, DCComics.com, Inverse, *The Daily Northwestern*, and more.

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January 31, 2026 1:00 p.m. ET

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Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Sir Ben Kingsley in 'Wonder Man'. Credit:

Suzanne Tenner/Marvel

*Wonder Man* actors Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Sir Ben Kingsley are now major Marvel stars, but they still remember what it was like to be a struggling actor so desperate to land a role that you'd do anything in auditions ... even lie.

In the new MCU series that takes a meta look at the Hollywood industry, Abdul-Mateen II's character Simon lies in his audition for the fake *Wonder Man* movie-within-the-show. And it's an experience that Abdul-Mateen II found all too relatable, because it reminded him of the massive lie he told that helped him get his previous comic book role.

"In the *Aquaman* [movie] series, I said that I could swim, and I could not swim," Abdul-Mateen II tells ** with a laugh. "I could not swim to save my life! But they asked me if I could do that. 'Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, sure, sure, sure. Absolutely.'"

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in 'Wonder Man'.

Courtesy of Marvel Television

Thankfully, it all worked out — Abdul-Mateen II secretly taught himself how to swim for a few weeks before filming began on the first *Aquaman* film. Looking back on it now, he doesn't regret being dishonest in that pivotal audition.

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And listening to his *Wonder Man* costar's story sparked a similar memory for Kingsley, who reprises his MCU role of Trevor Slattery in the series.

"He just reminded me of something, I actually lied [in an audition] as well," Kingsley says. "When I was a theater actor, I also had lovely opportunities to bounce in and out of television. It wasn't an episode of *Coronation Street,* but around about that time, early BBC drama. They said, 'Can you ride a scooter, a motor scooter?' 'Yeah.' I crashed it. And they had to get the stunt driver in immediately. But I got the job!"

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Both Kingsley and Abdul-Mateen II agree that as an actor, sometimes you have to do whatever it takes to get the job.

"That's the most important thing, you get the job," Abdul-Mateen II says.

Kingsley adds, "You could swim and I could ride the scooter. It all worked out."

Their aspiring actor characters would be so proud.

*Wonder Man* is now streaming on Disney+.

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Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Superhero”