Josh O’Connor is sharing a funny behind-the-scenes moment from filming “Disclosure Day,” and it all started with a text message that was never meant for him.
While working with Steven Spielberg on the upcoming sci-fi film, O’Connor said he was struggling to prepare for an emotional scene. After talking it through with the director earlier in the day, he went back to his hotel room still trying to figure it out. That is when he received a message from Spielberg that read, “The door is on the latch, just push.”
At first, O’Connor thought it was a piece of thoughtful direction. He interpreted the line as a metaphor for his character’s emotional release and said it helped him finally unlock the scene. According to People, he even came to set the next day excited to thank Spielberg, telling him the note had been exactly what he needed.
That is when the moment took a turn. Spielberg revealed the message was actually meant for his wife, Kate Capshaw, not his lead actor. O’Connor recalled that the director laughed when he realized what had happened, and the mix-up quickly became a running joke among the cast and crew. Even so, O’Connor said the message still “unlocked the scene” for him, despite the fact that it was never intended as acting advice.
Inside “Disclosure Day” and Spielberg’s On-Set Approach
The story offers a glimpse into the working relationship between O’Connor and Spielberg, which the actor described as collaborative and hands-on. According to Entertainment Weekly, O’Connor plays Daniel Kellner, a cybersecurity expert pulled into a mystery involving aliens and government secrets.
He described the role as an “unglamorous hero,” someone meant to feel like an everyday person rather than a traditional action lead. Still, the character has a “very special talent or skill” that becomes key as the story unfolds, particularly in connection to Emily Blunt’s character.
O’Connor also admitted he did not expect to take on action scenes like jumping onto a moving train, but said the film blends fast-paced moments with emotion, heart and hope. He was first drawn to the project through early conversations with Spielberg, who initially described it as a story about two people being pulled toward each other. As the script developed, O’Connor said it expanded into a much larger sci-fi narrative.
He also praised Spielberg’s approach on set, noting they stayed in close communication throughout filming. O’Connor said the director was “extremely attentive” and “really cares,”
Who Is Kate Capshaw? The Woman Behind the Text
The accidental text also brings attention to Spielberg’s longtime marriage to Capshaw, whom he has been with for more than three decades. According to Parade, the two first met in the early 1980s when she was cast in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” a film he directed.
They later reconnected after his divorce, moved in together and married in 1991. Before acting, Capshaw worked as a special education teacher, later appearing in films like “SpaceCamp” and “Black Rain” before stepping back to focus on family and creative pursuits.
Together, they share a large blended family and have maintained one of Hollywood’s longest-lasting relationships, with Spielberg often prioritizing family life alongside his career.
As for O’Connor, the accidental text may not have been meant for him, but it ended up being exactly what he needed in the moment.
“The door is on the latch, just push,” he said, a line that ultimately helped bring the scene to life.
