“Evil” Nosferatu Role Took a Toll on Bill Skarsgard

Originally posted on Men's Journal | By Griff Griffin | Last updated May 30, 2024 3:30 PM ET

Bill Skarsgard might not be the same after his role in upcoming vampire film Nosferatu.

“It was like conjuring pure evil,” he told Esquire. “It took a while for me to shake off the demon that had been conjured inside of me.”

People might be surprised to hear Skarsgård wasn’t the first choice. According to Nosferatu director Robert Eggers, the original preference for the role of vampire Count Orlok was an actor in his ‘40s. However, Skarsgård impressed after multiple auditions and make-up tests.

“Somewhere in that second makeup test, I was like, ‘He’s become the character.’ It was eerie to see in the footage,” Eggers revealed.

Skarsgård described his Count Orlok look as provocative. “He’s gross. But it is very sexualized. It’s playing with a sexual fetish about the power of the monster and what that appeal has to you. Hopefully you’ll get a little bit attracted by it and disgusted by your attraction at the same time.”

The plot of Nosferatu sees Skarsgård’s ancient Transylvanian vampire stalk a young woman in 19th-century Germany. The film releases December 25, 2024

Get a first look at Lily-Rose Depp in Nosferatu.

This article first appeared on Men's Journal and was syndicated with permission.

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