Robert Eggers' Nosferatu officially arrived in theaters on Christmas Day offering a full reveal of Bill Skarsgård’s practical effects transformation into the infamous vampire Count Orlok . Audiences saw Orlok gradually through the movie beginning with his presence at Thomas Hutter’s arrival at Orlok's castle however his face remains concealed until later in the storyline. Bill Skarsgård underwent extensive practical makeup and prosthetics to properly depict Robert Egger’s vision of Count Orlok.
Practical Effects Elevate Bill Skarsgård's Transformation into Undead Count Orlok
Thomas Hutter the unfortunate real estate agent finds Count Orlok within his sarcophagus during his initial exploration. Bill Skarsgård shared his initial transformation experience with Entertainment Weekly detailing the makeup and full costume application. He emphasized that a second screen test using film plus camera and some light was the moment that he personally felt like his character became "alive" and then that transformation felt very real for him.
Bill Skarsgård Credits Director Robert Eggers' Direction plus Makeup for Character’s Terrifying Transformation
Robert Eggers acknowledged Skarsgård’s full transformation when he remarked “Yeah there he is” after the transformation took effect for Skarsgård during a screen test. Skarsgård says the physical process along with specific voice creates an “abstract” and “fake” effect that can easily fail. Skarsgård adds that the transformation requires an acceptance in how it evolves naturally without trying to force character to evolve. Eggers' two-year-old drawing served as the blueprint for Count Orlok's final look showcasing the deep creative process. The final rendering consisted of skeletal face with pronounced cheekbones as well as patches of decaying skin along with the detailed prosthetic mustache.
Robert Eggers Visualizes Orlok as Lich while Prosthetics Create Physical Monster
Makeup Effects Designer David White carefully sculpted a bust reflecting Robert Egger's original idea as he perceived the creature as undead sorcerer known as a Lich. Robert Eggers further specified Count Orlok as an ancient being who he wanted to feel removed from the natural world stating that Bill Skarsgård shouldn’t look alive when portraying Count Orlok with many makeup changes. Skarsgård recalls that initially he thought his transformations look more like the Grinch until a completed stage of costume was added that really elevated and made the character seem more unique and whole and completely new.
Vocal Transformation plus Character Isolation: Skarsgård's Dedicated Method
Skarsgård worked with an opera coach lowering his voice to fit Count Orlok’s low and grave tone with carefully rolled “Rs” as he was always very slow and precise demonstrating his Transylvanian origins that were discussed in great detail with Robert Eggers. Robert Eggers and Skarsgård shared video clips along with various references and ideas between themselves to bring to life the unique performance that required him to be isolated from the cast at certain times while production continued. Robert Eggers wanted him to focus on character rather than to act like a “contemporary” character needing specific distance and time from fellow actors on set. Robert Eggers mentioned how deep Skarsgård was going into the character for his interpretation of a long dead sorcerer further highlighting the intensity needed to portray such an intense persona within Nosferatu.
Skarsgård Explores Different Methods While Portraying Terrifying Entities in Hollywood Blockbusters
Bill Skarsgård who also played Pennywise the Clown in 2017 movie It mentioned that experience impacted his way of doing his character studies now viewing prosthetics as superficial part of character performances since Pennywise and then even with the character Count Orlok whom Skarsgård considers to be the "bigger leap". The performance of Pennywise allowed the actor to really explore abstract personas during live action filming allowing greater flexibility to evolve other characters since initial character studies.
Skarsgård Leans Into Isolation and Rehearsals To Better Refine His Character and Tone in Nosferatu
Skarsgård described feeling incredibly lonely during filming as the director asked he be very isolated during character development though stating it helped in the process of bringing to life an ancient sorcerer of Robert Eggers design. Skarsgård filmed himself with his phone camera playing with different lighting scenarios to alter expression depending on angles. The meticulous character research into the tone of voice and various forms of communication along with the deliberate distance created a heavy air on set with very few characters being exposed to this new iteration of a familiar gothic villain.
This is part of ongoing trend of using intense filming techniques to get the best possible character performances such as with the work done by Director Andy Muschietti during the filming of It: Chapter One showing the need for character actors to give great amounts of thought into roles and to completely invest in character building through isolated experiences when possible. Bill Skarsgård did use similar methodology for this production though his role was physically removed during scenes as an immortal creature which changed the requirements during filming.