As a seasoned cinephile with a penchant for all things horror, I must say that Bill Skarsgård has truly outdone himself with his portrayal of Pennywise and other chilling characters that have invaded the dark recesses of our collective nightmares. His performance as the child-murdering clown in the two-part adaptation of Stephen King’s “It” was nothing short of masterful, and it seems that the role has left an indelible mark on the actor himself.
Known for portraying unsettling characters and monsters, this actor has admitted that some of these roles have seeped into his subconscious, even appearing in his dreams. Unsurprisingly, it’s the terrifying clown Pennywise from the two-part film adaptation of It, played by Skarsgård, that often haunts his sleep.
Back in 1986, Tim Curry brought Pennywise to life on screen, a chilling portrayal that echoed through the halls of Stephen King’s horror masterpiece. As I prepared to step into those big shoes, almost three decades later, I must admit, it was a daunting task. Yet, as I immersed myself in the character of the terrifying sewer-dweller who preys on children, It began to seep into my very being. In conversations with Vanity Fair, I revealed that my dreams were often haunted by this evil alter ego.
In those dreams, Pennywise seemed so peculiar. Sometimes I was arguing with him and expressing my anger towards him, other times it felt like I was Pennywise myself, strolling down streets that reminded me of my childhood, yet feeling uncomfortable and out of place, muttering to myself, “No, no. I shouldn’t be here in public like this.” It was a strange experience where I found myself trying to distance myself from this character, right back in the location of my upbringing, even in the very apartment where I spent my childhood.
Bill Skarsgård Has Carved a Career Playing Dark Characters
Some performers seem magnetically attracted to complex, dark characters, and it’s possible these roles are equally drawn to them. In Skarsgård’s case, his acting portfolio is rapidly expanding with parts that lead him on harrowing expeditions into the shadows, and overall, he feels quite comfortable with this choice.
Apart from his chilling portrayal of Pennywise, this actor has also appeared in various roles inspired by Stephen King’s works, including the intriguing series “Castle Rock”, the dark and unconventional “Barbarian”, a modern adaptation of “The Crow” this year, and next month he will assume the role of Count Orlok in Robert Eggers’ remake of “Nosferatu”. However, it is the character of Orlok that truly fills him with dread. In an interview with AnOther Magazine, he shared:
To be completely honest, I’ve rarely felt as petrified about a role as I do now, and I doubt I ever will again. The entire experience was incredibly intense. When you begin to embody something that’s not your own self, it’s almost as if you become a vessel. There are times when the character doesn’t emerge at all or only briefly, but that’s always what one aims for. In those moments, the floodgates open and the character seems to flow through me. I’ve never put in this much effort for anything before, but once we started filming, Orlok took shape and began to flow. I could connect with him and bring him to life. The journey was intense.
Nosferatu won’t hit theaters until Christmas Day, but it’s already creating quite a buzz and could be among the year’s top horror films, given its tough competition for the title. Meanwhile, Skarsgård is set to reprise his role as Pennywise in the It spin-off series, Welcome to Derry, which will premiere on Max in 2025.
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2024-11-17 17:03