Hunnam Finds Freedom in Fabricating Andrew Borden’s Voice for Netflix’s Monster
Charlie Hunnam describes playing Andrew Borden in the fourth season of Netflix’s 'Monster' as a liberating experience, contrasting it with his previous role as Ed Gein. While the Ed Gein season required extensive research into documented psych evaluations and court records, Hunnam found very little historical data on Andrew Borden, a reclusive figure. This scarcity allowed him and the creative team to construct a character that best served the narrative of Lizzie Borden’s alleged crimes. Hunnam notes that while the show takes a clear stance that Lizzie committed the murders in 1892, the lack of factual constraints on Andrew’s personality permitted a more speculative and impactful portrayal.
Key points
- Charlie Hunnam joined the cast of 'Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story' while still working on the previous season, 'The Ed Gein Story,' citing the strong creative team as a primary reason for his involvement.
- The actor states that research on Andrew Borden was minimal because the historical figure was reclusive and poorly documented, unlike the well-documented Ed Gein.
- Hunnam admits to inventing a stutter for Andrew Borden, noting that while the script included a moment of stuttering under emotional duress, the consistent speech impediment was his own creative addition rather than a historical fact.
- The season, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, is part of a planned ten-season run and is designed as a 'triptych' alongside seasons on Elizabeth Bathory and Aileen Wuornos to explore themes of female rage.
- Hunnam praises co-star Ella Beatty for her poise and talent, noting that the production team was highly enthusiastic about her casting as Lizzie Borden.
Background
The fourth season of 'Monster' follows the 1892 axe murders in Fall River, Massachusetts, where Lizzie Borden was accused of killing her father and stepmother but was ultimately acquitted. This season is part of a broader ten-season plan for the anthology series, which previously featured Ed Gein and is set to include Aileen Wuornos. The series has been noted for blending historical research with creative liberties to modernize true-crime narratives, though previous reviews have criticized the series for prioritizing feminist themes over historical nuance.
How outlets are covering it
The Hollywood Reporter emphasizes the creative freedom Hunnam experienced due to the lack of historical records on Andrew Borden, framing the role as a liberating contrast to the exhaustive research required for Ed Gein. The Tab focuses on the specific fabrication of Andrew’s voice, highlighting that the stutter was an actor’s invention rather than a historical accuracy, which underscores the show’s approach to blending fact with dramatic interpretation. While THR highlights the collaborative trust between Hunnam and the creators, The Tab isolates the specific performance choice that diverges from historical reality.
Why it matters
The production choices in 'Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story' illustrate the ongoing tension in true-crime entertainment between historical accuracy and narrative impact. By fabricating traits like a stutter and constructing a character from sparse records, the series prioritizes dramatic cohesion over strict factual representation, a trend that continues to shape how historical crimes are portrayed in modern media.
What to watch
The full season is currently streaming on Netflix. The series is part of a ten-season plan, with future seasons expected to cover other true-crime figures, including a potential second season of 'Watcher.'
- Charlie Hunnam Says ‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’ Role Was Liberating After Playing Ed Gein The Hollywood Reporter
- Did Andrew Borden have a stutter? Charlie Hunnam breaks down accent and voice in Netflix show The Tab
- Charlie Hunnam's Monster Season 4 Similarities to Ed Gein Confirmed by Director Comic Book Resources
- Monster Season 4 Reviews: Controversial Series Gets Trashed on RT AOL.com
- Is Charlie Hunnam in ‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’? Here’s His Chilling New Role IMDb
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