Bill Skarsgård Reveals Pennywise Voice Left Him Unsettled
Bill Skarsgård opens up about the unsettling process of finding Pennywise’s voice for the 2017 adaptation of It. Discover how the actor’s unique approach to the character led to unexpected side effects and why his portrayal stands apart from Tim Curry’s iconic version.
When Bill Skarsgård stepped into the shoes of Pennywise the Dancing Clown for the 2017 film adaptation of Stephen King’s It, he was still a fresh face in Hollywood. The pressure was on as he auditioned for the role that would define his career, but his performance quickly silenced any doubts. In a conversation with Variety, Skarsgård shared how developing the clown’s voice became a strange and even unsettling experience for him.
Finding Pennywise’s Voice
Skarsgård explained that his process began with experimenting with laughter, aiming for a sound that teetered between panic and tears.
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 even recalled a funny moment when he drank too much soda to help shape the character’s voice, which led to a bout of belching and a stomachache. Skarsgård was determined to create a version of Pennywise that was entirely his own.
Interpreting the Character from the Novel
To prepare for the role, Skarsgård read the entire 1,100-page novel, diving deep into the alien nature of the character. This gave him the freedom to explore new aspects of the shapeshifting entity.
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.
Director Andy Muschietti praised Skarsgård’s ability to channel something otherworldly into his performance, saying,
...the way that he incorporated the presence of the other side into the performance is fantastic.
The 2017 film It, directed by Andy Muschietti, features a screenplay by Chase Palmer, Cary Joji Fukunaga, and Gary Dauberman. Based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel, the supernatural horror movie is set in Derry, Maine, during the late 1980s. Skarsgård leads the cast as Pennywise, joined by Jaeden Martell, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Wyatt Oleff. The film runs 135 minutes and was produced by New Line Cinema and Vertigo Entertainment, with Warner Bros. Pictures handling distribution.
Standing Apart from Tim Curry’s Legacy
Taking on the role of Pennywise meant following in the footsteps of Tim Curry, who became a horror icon with his portrayal in the 1990 miniseries. Curry’s performance, especially the infamous sewer scene, left a lasting impression on audiences. However, Skarsgård made it clear he never intended to compete with Curry’s version.
He didn’t see a point in trying to emulate that because I don’t think I could do it as well as he [Tim Curry] did.
Instead, he chose to interpret the character in his own way, resulting in a haunting and memorable performance that resonated with a new generation of viewers.
Skarsgård’s take on Pennywise proved so successful that he returned for It Chapter Two and the HBO Max series IT: Welcome to Derry. Under Andy Muschietti’s direction, the franchise delivered psychological scares that honored the spirit of King’s original work. All entries in the It franchise are currently available to stream on HBO Max in the United States.