Evan Peters discusses the challenges of portraying Jeffrey Dahmer in Netflix's 'Monster'

Actor Evan Peters recently shared insights into the profound internal struggle he faced before accepting the role of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer in the Netflix series "Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story." In an interview with Variety alongside the show's creator, Ryan Murphy, Peters revealed that his decision was heavily influenced by his trust in Murphy, a longtime collaborator.

Peters, 35, explained the mental and emotional turmoil involved in stepping into such a dark character. "It was a real struggle. I was really thinking about it and trying to process it. I went back and forth a lot," he said. He expressed his reliance on Murphy’s support, stating, "I knew that you're an incredible support system and I trust you and there's an honesty there. I knew that, with the goal in mind of finishing this thing as strong as I started it, that you would create a great safety net."

The physical demands of the role were also significant. Peters underwent a dramatic transformation that included adhering to a no-carb, no-sugar diet to lose 15 pounds. This physical change was part of his preparation to authentically portray the infamous serial killer.

Despite the challenges, Peters' performance has been critically acclaimed, earning him his first Golden Globe nomination. Reflecting on the future, he expressed a desire to shift away from darker roles: "I'm going to take a little break from darker roles and explore the light. It would be interesting to me to play something that is a little closer to home, a little more mundane and to explore the details of those kinds of experiences," he told Variety.

Peters and Murphy have a longstanding professional relationship, having collaborated on nearly every season of "American Horror Story" since 2011. "Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" premiered on Netflix in September and has added another landmark project to their collaborative history.