Bill Skarsgård's Pennywise Voice Had Disturbing Side Effects
The Swedish actor reveals how developing his iconic clown voice for Stephen King's It adaptation created unexpected psychological consequences that even frightened him during practice sessions.
When Bill Skarsgård landed the role of Pennywise the Dancing Clown in 2017's It, he was relatively unknown in Hollywood. The Swedish actor faced enormous pressure stepping into such an iconic character, but his unique approach to the terrifying clown would ultimately define his career.
Creating the Voice That Haunted Its Creator
During a conversation with Variety, Skarsgård explained how he developed Pennywise's distinctive vocal style. The process began with experimenting with different types of laughter, but not the kind you'd expect from a typical entertainer.
"The voice for me sort of started out with a laugh. I was playing around with a laugh, but on the verge of a panic attack and crying at the same time. When I started doing it just by myself, I started to creep myself out," he revealed.
The actor also shared a funny story about his preparation methods. He would drink large amounts of soda to help achieve the character's voice, which led to uncomfortable belching and stomach problems. Despite these physical challenges, Skarsgård was determined to create his own interpretation of how the demonic clown should sound and behave.
Drawing Inspiration from Stephen King's Novel
Skarsgård didn't just rely on previous adaptations for guidance. He dove deep into Stephen King's massive 1,100-page source material, discovering new layers to the ancient alien entity that allowed him creative freedom in his portrayal.
"It's almost like there are glitches in the interpretation of it. I thought that was a fun thing to explore. So there was the wall-eyed look and at times it seems like Pennywise disappears altogether, he shuts down and freezes in a moment and he's lost," Skarsgård explained.
Director Andy Muschietti praised the actor's unique abilities in an interview with SlashFilm, noting "the way that he incorporated the presence of the other side into the performance is fantastic."
Stepping Out of Tim Curry's Shadow
Many fans wondered how Skarsgård would compare to Tim Curry's legendary 1990 television portrayal of Pennywise. However, the younger actor never viewed it as a competition. Instead, he deliberately chose to forge his own path.
"I didn't see a point in trying to emulate that because I don't think I could do it as well as he did," Skarsgård told Variety, referring to Curry's performance.
This decision proved wise, as Skarsgård's interpretation became equally haunting and memorable. His version of Pennywise was so successful that he continues playing the character today, appearing in It Chapter 2 and the upcoming HBO Max series IT: Welcome to Derry. Under Andy Muschietti's direction, the franchise has elevated itself through psychological scares that honor Stephen King's original vision.