Charlie Hunnam recently opened up about his transformation for Monster: The Ed Gein Story, which premiered on Netflix on October 3. In the interview, the actor discussed his intense preparation for the role, the emotional challenges he faced, and his effort to find humanity in one of history’s most disturbing figures.
Charlie Hunnam explains what drew him to Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Charlie Hunnam explained in an interview with Forbes that portraying serial killer Ed Gein in Monster: The Ed Gein Story required complete physical and psychological immersion. He lost nearly 30 pounds in three weeks to match Gein’s frail frame and studied the killer’s rare audio recordings to replicate his high-pitched voice and tone. Hunnam said his goal was to “find the man behind the monster” rather than judge or sensationalize his crimes.
He described the challenge of maintaining empathy for a figure defined by horror, emphasizing his effort to portray Gein truthfully. “There was an enormous amount of trepidation and fear initially,” Hunnam said. “And then it was just trying to understand him, trying not to judge him, trying to find the truth and find the man behind the monster.” He remained in character throughout the filming process, choosing to stay focused on Gein’s mindset instead of breaking between scenes.
The Netflix series is the third installment in Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s Monster anthology, following stories about Jeffrey Dahmer and the Menendez brothers. Brennan wrote the eight-episode series, while Max Winkler directed several episodes. The cast includes Laurie Metcalf as Gein’s domineering mother, Augusta, Tom Hollander as Alfred Hitchcock, and Suzanna Son as Adeline Watkins, Gein’s only friend.
Hunnam, who also served as executive producer, said he and the creators frequently questioned what drove Gein’s actions. “We definitely didn’t want to sensationalize this or make a show that was gratuitous,” he explained. The actor ended filming by visiting Gein’s grave to bid farewell to the character.
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on Comingsoon.net.
