Lily-Rose Depp initially felt out of her depth when she first stepped onto the set of Robert Eggers’ Gothic horror film Nosferatu. Playing the role of Ellen Hutter, she experienced imposter syndrome surrounded by seasoned actors like Willem Dafoe, Nicholas Hoult, and Bill Skarsgård. “Somebody asked me the other day what was the hardest part of the role, and I said, ‘Getting over the imposter syndrome of, like, ‘Why am I here and why do these people think I can do this?’” she shared during an interview with Vanity Fair.
The 25-year-old actress and daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis recalls her struggle with confidence, explaining, “I definitely was walking in being like, ‘Oh my God, I am so out of my depth.’ But you just have to be like, ‘You know what? I may feel this way, but I have to go to work tomorrow.” Depp pushed through these feelings by immersing herself fully in the role, completing her transformation from the glamorous character she played in The Idol to resembling “a corpse” for her part as the possessed Ellen.
“It was quite an adjustment going from The Idol, getting to look super hot and glam every day – spray tan, my blonde hair, very LA, definitely feeling myself – to then” becoming sickly and pale, she laughed, admitting, “It was a workout for my self-esteem.” Nosferatu, directed by Eggers, is currently captivating audiences in cinemas.
On the other side of the filmmaking experience, Bill Skarsgård, famed for his role as Pennywise in the horror franchise It, dove deep to perfect his portrayal of Count Orlok. His transformation involved more than just make-up; it required extensive vocal work. Despite the myriad facial prosthetics and creepy makeup, Skarsgård insisted on using his own voice, firmly stating, “I was like, ‘Please, please don't. You can amplify it and you can make it echo-y and you can project it more.’ But I wanted this piece of the performance to be me.”
Skarsgård revealed his commitment to achieving the perfect pitch, undergoing voice training with Icelandic opera singer Ásgerður Júníusdóttir to lower his vocal range and anchor it within his body. “A lot of it was just the technicality of rooting the voice as deep as you can…place the voice out of your forehead,” he explained, detailing his preparation routine. Skarsgård would also perform Mongolian throat singing and warming exercises to keep his voice gritty yet expressive.
The Swedish actor faced additional challenges when speaking Dacian, the extinct language used during certain scenes where Orlok shares psychic conversations with Ellen. To build Orlok's character, he crafted specific vocalizations, such as growls to express the vampire's excitement, even sending Eggers voice memos titled “Tiger growl” to experiment with inflection.
One pivotal moment is when Thomas, played by Nicholas Hoult, cuts himself during his visit to Orlok’s castle. Skarsgård wanted the moment to feel heightened, saying, “I wanted something to add to the tension there. I was really happy with how it played.” His voice reflects the excitement and hunger of his character, making the scene more dramatic.
Both actors overcame personal challenges to embody their respective roles effectively, contributing to the film’s success under Robert Eggers’ direction. Nosferatu not only harks back to the original horror classic but brings fresh character interpretations and emotional depth.
With its eerie atmosphere and complex performances, Nosferatu is positioning itself as a significant entry within the horror genre, promising to resonate well with both fans of the original tale and newcomers alike.