Nosferatu Changed Bill Skarsgård Forever

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After delving into Bill Skarsgård‘s remarkable journey in portraying Count Orlok in Robert Eggers’ “Nosferatu,” it is undeniably evident that this role has left an indelible mark on his life and career. The transformation he underwent, both physically and vocally, was nothing short of extraordinary, with the dedication and commitment to his craft being a testament to Skarsgård’s unwavering passion for his art.

Bill Skarsgård is accustomed to delivering remarkable performances as fearsome antagonists, a fact that horror enthusiasts who were kept awake at night by his portrayal of Pennywise in the “It” films can confirm. However, despite his previous experiences with horror acting involving heavy makeup, taking on the role of Count Orlok in Robert Eggers’ 2024 remake of “Nosferatu” presented a new set of difficulties for Skarsgård.

Movie-goers will long remember the unsettling yet captivating wickedness of Skarsgård’s portrayal of Orlok in “Nosferatu”, and Skarsgård himself can’t forget his experience making this haunting, critically praised film. Transforming into the iconic vampire has broadened Skarsgård’s acting skills, but, as he shares in interviews, the role has affected him in a variety of unforeseen ways. Here’s how “Nosferatu” may have forever altered Bill Skarsgård’s life and career.

Playing Count Orlok look a mental toll on Bill Skarsgård

Most critics have applauded “Nosferatu”, with Bill Skarsgård’s portrayal of Orlok receiving special recognition. Being lauded for an acting performance is a dream come true for actors, but the process of embodying such an evil character was a harrowing experience for Skarsgård. In truth, playing this sinister role had a profound psychological impact on him, and he expressed that wrapping up the film felt like a much-needed respite.

In an interview with Empire, Skarsgård admitted that the film had a profound impact on him. He described Orlok as a dark occult sorcerer, and he found it challenging to embody such a character. His work carried over into his personal life during filming, as he explained to Esquire. Even after wrapping up the project, Skarsgård continued to grapple with the heavy atmosphere long afterwards. He likened the experience to summoning pure evil and noted that it took time for him to dispel the malevolent spirit he’d channeled in the process.

Nosferatu has soured him on horror villains (especially ones that require prosthetics)

Bill Skarsgård, speaking to Empire magazine, expressed that his portrayal of Count Orlok in “Nosferatu” was so draining, both physically and mentally, that he has decided to steer clear of such villainous characters in future roles. He admitted, “Once we wrapped up, I thought, ‘I don’t ever want to embody something as wicked again. I don’t want to wear prosthetics anymore.'” Roles requiring extensive use of prosthetics often mean multiple hours spent in makeup each day, but the challenges extend beyond that.

During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Skarsgård expressed his initial concerns about the makeup interfering with his performance. He worried that it might feel cumbersome and prevent him from truly bringing his character to life. Additionally, he admitted to feeling self-conscious about appearing somewhat ridiculous – while the finished look is impressive on screen, getting there was a bit of a struggle. At one point, he confessed, “I looked like the Grinch or a goblin,” and he wasn’t pleased with how it appeared during that stage of the process.

Does that mean he’s finished with Pennywise?

Since Bill Skarsgård has expressed his desire to move away from playing villain characters that necessitate prosthetics, one might wonder if he’s finished portraying the terrifying Pennywise in the “It” series. However, fans of the iconic Stephen King character can breathe a sigh of relief, as Skarsgård hasn’t ruled out reprising his role yet – he is indeed set to return for the upcoming prequel series “Welcome to Derry,” which is scheduled for release in May 2024. This announcement was made over a year after “Nosferatu” concluded, suggesting that Skarsgård may have grown accustomed to the experience and is now eager to revisit it.

Playing the character Pennywise isn’t as transformative or drastic a change as portraying Count Orlok. This is something Bill Skarsgård shared with Entertainment Weekly, expressing fear upon seeing the reference model for the makeup design, stating that it was significantly different from his own appearance and even more so than Pennywise. Similarly, Robert Eggers noted while discussing “Nosferatu” with Total Film, stating that Bill as Pennywise is recognizable in his ‘It’ makeup, but not so in Count Orlok. Skarsgård has expressed a preference for roles where his natural face and voice remain unaltered, which might explain why the appeal of playing Pennywise still holds for him.

Skarsgård put his body through the wringer for Nosferatu

An increasing number of actors are voicing concerns about the long-term effects of dramatically altering one’s body for a role. However, Bill Skarsgård isn’t among them (as of now). Nevertheless, it’s clear that he underwent substantial and possibly risky physical changes to portray Count Orlok in “Nosferatu.” Robert Eggers, the director, even acknowledged this during his interview with Total Film, highlighting Skarsgård’s dedication to achieving the perfect physique. According to Eggers, “Bill shed a considerable amount of weight,” and he wonders if people will fully appreciate the extent of Skarsgård’s transformation.

In this context, Eggers mentions that Skarsgård significantly changed his voice for the role, and Orlok’s voice is extremely deep throughout the movie, save for one intense yell at the end. To achieve such a low tone, Skarsgård worked diligently with opera singer Ásgerður Júníusdóttir over a period of about six weeks on voice training and exercises. While the final result is impressive, it’s important to note that some techniques employed by opera singers may potentially harm vocal health in the long run, with gastroesophageal reflux being one such risk as suggested by the National Library of Medicine.

Working with Robert Eggers was a bucket list goal for Bill Skarsgård

For Bill Skarsgård, playing the character “Nosferatu” was a significant milestone in his career as it had long been his dream to work with director Robert Eggers. Initially, Skarsgård had been cast in Eggers’ film “The Northman,” but scheduling issues arising from production delays prevented him from participating. Despite this setback, Skarsgård was determined to collaborate with Eggers at some point in his acting journey. During an interview arranged by AnOther magazine, Skarsgård expressed his feelings by saying, “I got a taste of what it would be like to work with him,” suggesting that the experience had left him eager for more.

Originally, Skarsgård tried out for both Friedrich Harding, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Thomas Hutter, portrayed by Nicholas Hoult. However, he was initially chosen to play the latter role. Later on, Eggers decided to cast Hoult as Hutter instead, leaving Skarsgård feeling uncertain. But unbeknownst to him, Eggers had a remarkable twist in store: he contacted Skarsgård about playing Count Orlok, a part that left Skarsgård completely stunned, scared, yet eager. He couldn’t understand it at all.

Initially hesitant, Skarsgård eventually placed faith in director Eggers, leading to his decision to portray Orlok. Although he initially felt apprehensive, this role turned out to be an unforgettable experience that will stay with him forever. Speaking to Pink Villa, Skarsgård expressed that having a director as detailed as Eggers was surprisingly freeing. He also mentioned that his time preparing for the role taught him new insights about himself, stating, “Robert had created a digital sketch of the character years prior to filming, and when I saw it, I felt a strong connection, thinking, ‘That’s me – that reflects my inner self.’

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2024-12-27 20:30