Did Matt Smith and Austin Butler Shave Their Heads Following Theft Allegations?

Mohawk Haircuts of Matt Smith and Austin Butler in ‘Caught Stealing’ Not Linked to Theft

Matt Smith and Austin Butler famously shaved their heads to sport mohawks for their roles in Darren Aronofsky’s film, Caught Stealing. This bold styling choice was strictly for character portrayal and not related to any real-life incidents of theft.

Smith’s character, Russ, maintains a colorful mohawk throughout the film, symbolizing his rebellious punk persona. Butler’s character, Hank, adopts the hairstyle later in the story, marking a transformation in his arc. Both actors chose to shave their heads rather than use wigs or prosthetics, demonstrating dedication to authenticity.

Hairstylist John Carter invested significant effort to create Smith’s mohawk, spending three days crafting the style. Due to Smith’s thick hair, the team used threading and heavy adhesives inspired by ‘80s punk practices to maintain the upright look. Smith humorously commented on the use of adhesives, joking about the difficulty of removing them after filming.

Butler shared in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that initially hesitating to shave his head, he later found the experience liberating and immersive. His shaved mohawk appears towards the film’s climax, followed by going completely bald to celebrate the filming’s end with director Aronofsky by swimming in the ocean.

The actors’ shared hairstyle in the movie visually links their characters while allowing unique interpretations. Both Smith and Butler appreciated how the look changed public perception and enhanced their performances.

To summarize the hairstyling process:

1. Smith’s thick hair was styled into a mohawk using threading and adhesives.
2. The look required three days of hairstyling experimentation.
3. Butler waited until late production to shave his head for narrative reasons.
4. Both actors embraced their new appearances beyond filming.

In short, the decision by Matt Smith and Austin Butler to shave their heads was an artistic one aligned with their film roles in Caught Stealing. There is no evidence connecting their hairstyles to any actual theft or scandal. Their commitment to realistic character representation demonstrates professional dedication rather than personal controversy.