Nosferatuis a film that would prove a challenge to any actor due to its demanding dialogue and physical performances. FromBill Skarsgård’s embodiment of the titular character being described by the actor as making him “completely exhausted” in an interview withCinema Blend, toLily-Rose Depp’s chilling seizures during her character Ellen’s argument with Thomas (Nicholas Hoult), anyone would expect these to be challenging performances to get right and, for many, they did. WithNosferatureceiving high praise, as well as an85% score on Rotten Tomatoes, it must be noted that directorRobert Eggers' vision has come to fruition in his interpretationof the century-old tale.
However, what Lily-Rose Depp, who plays Ellen Hutter, said she found “embarrassing” in an interview withPearl and Deanis not the nudity required or the seizure scene, which she admitted made her “nervous” in another interview withCollider, but something that truly could have made or broken the film —getting her English accent right.Yet, it is fair to say that Depp showed a commitment to all the scenes that were a challenge, physically and emotionally, and it paid off.
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Obviously, Lily-Rose Depp is not British, but an American-French actress. Additionally, Depp admitted in her interview withPeal and Deanthat, beforeNosferatu, her “English accent was the one that I could never do” and so, when the audition email told Depp the role required an English accent, she believed she was “about to super embarrass myself in front of Robert Eggers.” The young actress hadbelieved her attempts always tended to lean “kind of Cockney"and, in fairness, as a Brit myself, I must admit that many American actors who try the accent often end up doing some kind of odd Australian twang that is thoroughly uncomfortable to watch.
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However, Depp nails the English accent, to the point you completely believe she is a native. Depp’s commitment to getting her accent “up to speed” led her to work with “a wonderful dialect coach,William Conacher.” Conacher has previously coachedCillian MurphyforPeaky Blindersas well as the likes ofTom HanksandKristen Stewart, and the result inNosferatuspeaks for itself. Especially in a film as dialect-heavy asNosferatu, with long poetic speeches about the devil, love, and base desires, such commitment is truly required as,with a lesser accent, it could easily become cringe-worthy.
As previously mentioned,Nosferatuwas a challenging shoot for many of the actors.Emma Corrin, who plays Ellen’s friend Anna, noted, in the same aforementioned interview withCollider, that she and Depp struggled to film one particular scene “on the beach” due to “something in the language” as well as “time pressure” with the tide. Additionally, in thePearl and Deaninterview, Depp also described how a particular scene that included “blood that I would have to put in my eyes” was taxing on her. With the fake blood coming out of her “very sensitive” eyes in the film, it was “a whole thing” for the actress, as well as having to lay very still whilst blood was poured onto her. Say what you will about learning an accent, but putting red liquid in your eyes, as well as having it poured onto your skin, is enough to make anyone flinch with discomfort.
Nosferatuis a film that takes its time. It is methodical, dark, brooding, and earns every second of its 2-hour-plus runtime. Even watching the film, you can immediately see where some of the challenges would lie in making such a piece of cinema, from physical, to emotional. However, despite a plethora of things that would make anyone nervous, Lily-Rose Depp’s accent was an aspect of the film that largely would have been ignored because of how well done it is. Overall, Depp has nothing to be embarrassed about, but her fretting is not for nothing, and it is that kind of commitment to getting it right that you can feel throughout Eggers' unsettling horror.
Nosferatuis currently in cinemas across the U.S.
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In Nosferatu, a reclusive vampire’s presence disrupts a small European village, drawing an unsuspecting young couple into a battle against an ancient evil. As fear spreads, the villagers must confront the terrifying legend and their own beliefs, leading to suspenseful confrontations and chilling revelations.
