Bill Skarsgård Says He “Felt Very Isolated” Filming ‘Nosferatu’

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As a seasoned cinephile who’s seen more than my fair share of films, I must say that Bill Skarsgård’s journey into the world of horror has been nothing short of captivating. His transformation from Eric Draven to Pennywise, Axel Cluney to Beast, and now Count Orlok is a testament to his versatility as an actor.

Over the next few days, Robert Eggers’ movie “Nosferatu” will be unveiled nationwide, causing quite a stir. Before that, Bill Skarsgård is sharing insights about the sense of seclusion he experienced while shooting this Gothic horror production. In this adaptation of the 1922 German film, Skarsgård plays Count Orlok alongside Nicholas Hoult and Lily-Rose Depp. So far, it’s been lauded by critics, with many considering it one of the best horror films of the year.

In an interview with Total Film (through GamesRadar) before the release of the movie Nosferatu on December 25th, Skarsgård revealed to the publication that working on the vampire film made him feel quite “isolated” from his fellow cast members. This was not only due to him immersing himself in character preparation, but also because of the time-consuming prosthetic makeup he had to wear, which required hours to apply. Consequently, his unique work routine set him apart from the rest of the Nosferatu crew, whom he referred to as being inside “the Orlok tent.

The process of using the prosthetics felt natural to me, but there was an intricate method for activating my voice. I followed a strict routine to access it, which made me feel incredibly detached and lonely during filming.

Actor Alexander Skarsgård is accustomed to using prosthetics, having undergone a similar metamorphosis for his role as Pennywise in the latest version of Stephen King’s novel IT. Throughout his career, he has successfully taken on various characters, such as Eric Draven in The Crow, Axel Cluney in Deadpool 2, and Marquis Vincent Bisset de Gramont in John Wick: Chapter 4. However, none seem to compare with the visceral discomfort he experienced while portraying Count Orlok, a character that director Eggers recently mentioned left Skarsgård feeling utterly revolted.

Bill Skarsgård Says Nicholas Hoult Was Very Nice to Him

Apart from Skarsgård, Hoult was another participant in the interview. Known for his work with prosthetics, he took on the role of Thomas Hutter in Nosferatu and transformed into Henry “Hank” McCoy, a.k.a. Beast, for the X-Men series. This shared experience in makeup chairs created a unique bond between them while filming their new horror movie. Although they didn’t chat much during breaks, Skarsgård fondly remembers Hoult as being friendly and courteous towards him.

He remarked, “You were extremely thoughtful towards me, I recall,” he said. During breaks, he’d often check on him, saying, “I understand the struggle, doesn’t it get tough? Would you like some water?” In response, Hoult shared his own experiences, expressing empathy: “I realize how isolating and lonely it can feel in there, it’s a difficult day. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.

The film “Nosferatu” has been given a Certified Fresh status on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 90% approval rating from critics. Not only have they hailed it as one of the best horror movies of the year, but they’ve also showered praise on the entire cast, stating that it’s director Robert Eggers’ finest work to date. You can catch it when it hits theaters this Christmas, distributed by Focus Features.

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2024-12-23 23:31