Bill Skarsgård’s Transformation Into Count Orlok in Robert Eggers’ ‘Nosferatu’ Redefines the Classic Vampire

The intricate prosthetics, makeup, and design process emphasize decay, folklore, and a departure from modern vampire tropes.

Director Robert Eggers aimed to create a terrifying, folklore-inspired vampire, rejecting modern, romanticized depictions of the creature.
Bill Skarsgård underwent a dramatic transformation, requiring up to six hours of makeup application, including 62 prosthetic pieces for full-body scenes.
The design emphasized decay and rot, inspired by historical depictions of corpses and early Baltic vampire folklore, while incorporating noble details like a mustache to reflect 19th-century Transylvanian aristocracy.
Prosthetic makeup designer David White collaborated with Eggers to achieve a skeletal, emaciated look, balancing realism and horror while maintaining Skarsgård’s performance flexibility.
Focus Features has withheld full images of Count Orlok, building anticipation for the film’s unique reinterpretation of the iconic vampire.