Nocturnal Animals' Aaron Taylor-Johnson 'had to be a creature of the night to play a psycho'

The actor said he grew out his hair and nails to get into the troubled character
Jennifer Ruby24 October 2016
The Weekender

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Aaron Taylor-Johnson said getting into the mindset of a psychopath for Tom Ford’s new film was a “painful and slow” process.

The British actor, 26, who stars opposite Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal in Nocturnal Animals, says he was forced to become a “creature of the night” while researching the role.

“It was a very painful, slow process," he told Standard Online. "It took about three months. I grew out my hair and my nails.

“I was reading books on serial killers, researching psychopaths in documentaries, Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, people like that and had sleepless nights.

Cast mates: Aaron Taylor-Johnson with Armie Hammer, Amy Adams, Tom Ford and Ellie Bamber
Dave Benett

"I became a creature of the night. It was pretty dark, dark energy.”

Taylor-Johnson, who is married to artist and director Sam Taylor-Johnson, said: “My job, essentially, is to provoke and manipulate and get a reaction out of Jake.

“At the end of the night I’d give him a hug and say, ‘Great day today’, but other than that, no, I was an a******.

“He’s lovely and very charming and I respect him. I’m in a lot of scenes with Jake and Michael Shannon and I’m very lucky that I have the opportunity to work with such talented guys.”

The film is fashion designer Ford’s second film, after A Single Man starring Colin Firth.

Nocturnal Animals is set for UK cinema release on November 4.

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