Actor Charlie Hunnam shares the extreme lengths he went to in order to portray infamous murderer Ed Gein in Netflix’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story, including physical transformation, voice work, and a chilling visit to Gein’s grave.
Netflix’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story takes viewers deep into the mind of the infamous sAuthorities found that Ed Gein was making clothes out of human skin (Netflix)erial killer Ed Gein, whose gruesome crimes shocked the world. The series focuses on Gein’s disturbing life, from his gruesome murders to his twisted collection of body parts. Charlie Hunnam, who plays Gein, has opened up about the extreme lengths he took to portray the notorious murderer authentically, from his physical transformation to his psychological approach.
Ed Gein, known as the “Butcher of Plainfield” and the “Plainfield Ghoul,” was responsible for the murders of two women in the 1950s. He also robbed graves and dismembered bodies to create a disturbing “house of horrors.” When police investigated Gein’s home after a woman went missing in 1957, they found her decapitated body hanging from the ceiling, and uncovered human skin garments, organs in jars, and skulls used as bowls. Gein also admitted to murdering a second woman and desecrating graves to harvest body parts.
Hunnam, known for his roles in Sons of Anarchy and Pacific Rim, has revealed how he approached the role of such a terrifying figure. During an interview with Tudum, Hunnam explained that he wanted to get as close as possible to understanding who Ed Gein was, rather than simply focusing on his horrific actions. “I wanted to get as close as possible to who Ed was, to do him justice, and for this thing to feel authentic,” Hunnam said. “This is going to be the really human, tender, unflinching, no-holds-barred exploration of who Ed was and what he did.”
Hunnam’s Physical Transformation for the Role
To capture Gein’s physicality, Hunnam underwent a significant transformation. “I lost almost 30 pounds just to get a more malnourished, light frame. Ed was incredibly lithe. And so that was a big part of the physicality,” Hunnam shared. He focused on portraying Gein’s lack of confidence, noting that he didn’t want his character to have an imposing or dominant presence. “How to not take up a lot of space, not to be sort of front and center and too confident in my physicality was really important.”
Perfecting the Voice of Ed Gein
Getting the voice right was another crucial aspect of Hunnam’s preparation. He had access to rare audio recordings from Gein’s arrest, which allowed him to refine his voice even further. “I was fortunate enough to get my hands on those tapes,” Hunnam said, noting that they helped him shift his vocal approach to better match Gein’s actual tone.
A Chilling Visit to Ed Gein’s Grave
To truly immerse himself in the role, Hunnam took an eerie step and visited Ed Gein’s grave. Standing at the grave, Hunnam told the notorious killer, “I hoped we had told his story honestly at the very least, and I didn’t invite him to come on the journey with me moving forward.” He said, “I was ready to say goodbye to him and that be the end.”
Hunnam’s commitment to portraying Gein as authentically as possible shows in every detail of his performance, from his voice work to his physical transformation. Monster: The Ed Gein Story is available for streaming now on Netflix.
