Interview: Lily-Rose Depp Discusses Succumbing to the Darkness of Robert Eggers and ‘Nosferatu’

The lead role of Ellen Hutter in Nosferatu is a physically demanding. Whether it’s being ravaged by terror or under the spell of Count Orlok, Lily-Rose Depp is asked to do a lot. For me, it’s the best work she’s done to date, and I’ve enjoyed her in almost everything, going back to her first roles in Kevin Smith‘s Tusk and Yoga Hosers. As the film gets set to open, she recently got on the phone with me to talk about it all. You can hear my chat with Willem Dafoe about the movie here, but today, it’s Depp’s turn.

In my review of the film (here), I had the following to say about the cast, led by Depp:

Watching the cast buy into this vision is really something. Lily-Rose Depp is asked to do some very intense physical acting, while Bill Skarsgård continues to prove he’s one of the best at acting behind large amounts of makeup. He’s unrecognizable as the vampire, which is quite a feat. They both sink into these roles with abandon, which not only is what’s required, but how the story becomes as affecting as it does. The fact that the final scenes are actually moving? That’s all Depp and Skarsgård making you care. Nicholas Hoult showcases terror and love in equal measure, giving depth to a potentially thin role. Willem Dafoe is having fun, getting to go bigger than most. Emma Corrin is solid if unremarkable, while Aaron Taylor-Johnson hams it up a bit. Supporting players here, in addition to Ralph Ineson, include Simon McBurneyamong others, but Nosferatu is the Depp and Skarsgård show for sure.

Below, you can hear my chat with Depp. We start out with my comment about enjoying her in those Smith movies, which she’s tickled by. Then, we move on to the appeal of Robert Eggers and being in service of his vision for Nosferatu. She’s clearly a fan of Eggers and would have championed this film even if she wasn’t in it, which is always nice to hear about. The movie is almost here, so you’re soon going to be able to succumb to the darkness. Once you do, you’ll understand why Depp has been so praised for this flick.

Here now is my interview with Nosferatu star Lily-Rose Depp. Enjoy:

Nosferatu is in theaters tomorrow!