Charlie Hunnam Shares the Unexpected Way He Coped With Playing Ed Gein

Charlie Hunnam reveals rescued kittens helped him unwind after portraying Ed Gein in Netflix’s Monster series

Charlie Hunnam has revealed how adopting two rescued kittens helped him cope with the emotional demands of portraying notorious serial killer Ed Gein in Netflix’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story.

The actor, who recently earned his first Emmy nomination for the role, spent nearly a year preparing to play Gein, whose crimes inspired iconic horror films including Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Silence of the Lambs. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Hunnam said he immersed himself in Gein’s life by studying crime scene evidence, psychiatric records and historical accounts.

Hunnam admitted the preparation initially left him deeply unsettled, with disturbing research affecting his sleep. To physically transform into the role, he lost 30 pounds in just over three weeks, underwent daily haircuts and successfully pushed for additional prosthetic makeup to capture Gein’s appearance.

The actor also created a unique voice for the character after believing no recordings of Gein existed. Although he later discovered authentic audio that sounded completely different, Hunnam chose to keep his original interpretation because filming was already underway. He even practised the voice at home until his longtime partner, Morgana McNelus, asked him to stop using it during breakfast.

Away from the set, Hunnam found comfort by adopting two stray kittens while filming in Chicago. Staying at the Four Seasons hotel, he arranged for the animals to live with him and hired a full-time cat sitter during his long filming days. Every evening, he returned from set to spend several hours playing with the kittens, describing them as a welcome escape from the darkness of the role.

Monster: The Ed Gein Story received seven Emmy nominations, including Hunnam’s first acting nomination, marking a major milestone in his career.