10 Best Jared Leto Performances

Hephaistion is the best friend of Colin Farrell's Alexander in the 2004 Oliver Stone biopic. The film is another of those Hollywood projects with multiple versions floating around. The fourth and allegedly final version was released in 2014.

Leto describes Oliver Stone as a mad genius, like Van Gogh but who had yet to cut his ear off. He described the shoot as intense, but enjoyable, with Stone barking contradictory orders that would then turn into compliments, keeping everyone on side for almost the entire time.

Much has been said about the sexual nature of Hephaistion and Alexander's relationship. Before the film was released, a group of Greek scholars threatened to sue the production as they felt it was not treating the historical character of Alexander with due respect, despite claiming not to be against the gays.

Leto was more coy about the nature of their relationship, expanding mainly on the fact that the two men had grown up together, learned together and fought together, building a deep trust between them.

Leto and Farrell work very well together, with Leto arguably carrying much of the heavier load.

On a personal note, Leto does a very passable Irish accent in this film!