Isla Bennett
In the AMC series NOS4A2, Zachary Quinto plays the main antagonist, Charlie Manx, a supernatural being who feeds on the souls of children to replenish his youth. Quinto spent nearly four hours every day in makeup to transform into the 135-year-old character, with prosthetics and specialised makeup being required to bring the character to life. Quinto's transformation included shaving his face and head, with prosthetics being glued to his cheeks, nose, neck, forehead, ears, and even hands.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the actor | Zachary Quinto |
| Name of the character | Charlie Manx |
| Name of the show | NOS4A2 |
| Character's age | 135 years old |
| Time spent in makeup | Nearly 4 hours everyday |
| Makeup artist | Joel Harlow |
| Number of stages of Manx's appearance | 5 |
| Reason for accepting the role | The transformation that was a part of the character |
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What You'll Learn
Zachary Quinto's interest in the role
Zachary Quinto is best known for playing Spock in the modern Star Trek movies, as well as for playing other villains in horror productions. Quinto's latest monstrous creation is the supernatural Charlie Manx on NOS4A2, a vampiric creature who feeds off the souls of children to elongate his life.
Quinto was initially reluctant to take on the role of Manx, stating that he hadn't done television in a number of years and wanted to give people what they wanted to see him do. However, he eventually became intrigued by the idea of the character's transformation and the opportunity to lose himself in the physicality of Charlie Manx and how that connects to his story. Quinto also found the source material, a novel and graphic novel by Joe Hill, to be exciting and unique.
Quinto was particularly interested in exploring the character of Manx as an example of a toxic white male, representing an antiquated worldview synonymous with negative qualities such as misogyny, bigotry, and racism. He found it interesting to inhabit a character with a viewpoint that he so vehemently disagreed with.
Quinto also enjoyed the opportunity to work with his co-stars, especially Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, who plays Bing, and Ashleigh Cummings, who plays Vic McQueen. He spoke highly of their talent and the fun they had working together. Quinto also appreciated the chance to return to television and work with showrunner Jami O'Brien and director Kari Skogland, who he said had many kind things to say about him.
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The transformation process
The transformation of Zachary Quinto into the 135-year-old Charlie Manx for NOS4A2 was a complex and time-consuming process. Quinto was drawn to the role due to the opportunity to "lose [himself] in the physicality" of Manx and the character's transformation. Quinto spent nearly four hours every day in makeup, with the process involving layers of prosthetics and specialized makeup to bring the character to life.
To create the different stages of Manx's appearance, Quinto would first shave his face and head before arriving on set. Once on set, his skin would be cleaned, and the prosthetic pieces would be glued on, starting from the neck. The pieces would include the cheeks, nose, neck, forehead, ears, and even hands—all carefully crafted from moulds to generate silicone prosthetics. Once the prosthetics were in place, the look was tied together with paint, using both airbrush and traditional brush makeup, and finally, a wig was glued on.
The different stages of Manx's appearance greatly informed Quinto's performance, and the process allowed the makeup artist, Harlow, to explore his creativity, especially with the 135-year-old version of Manx, as there are no references to real-life people of that age.
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The character's backstory
Charlie Manx, the main antagonist on AMC's NOS4A2, is portrayed by Zachary Quinto. The character is a powerful creative who feeds off children's souls, then deposits what remains of them into Christmasland – a twisted Christmas Village of Manx's imagination where it's Christmas every day and unhappiness is against the law.
In the show, Manx is an immortal, 135-year-old vampire who kidnaps children who need "saving" and transports them to Christmasland. Within his creation, he preys on the children's youthful energy so he can live forever. Quinto spent nearly four hours every day in makeup to transform into the character, with each version of Manx requiring layers of prosthetics and specialised makeup to come to life.
Quinto was excited by the transformation that was part of the character, and how that connects to his story. There are five phases of Manx's aging process, and the 135-year-old version of Manx allowed the makeup team the most creativity because there are no references to real-life people that old. Quinto would shave his face and head at home before arriving on set, where his skin would be cleaned before the team began gluing on the prosthetics pieces, starting from the neck.
Manx's backstory is that he grew up in a mining town with very few children. The children there thought the town was haunted and that Manx was odd. From sunrise to sunset, the young Charlie Manx played alone, sledding in his Phantom and building snowmen. His mother, Fanny Manx, used to banish him outside to play so she could stay in and indulge in her "selfish pleasures".
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The makeup process
The different stages of Manx's appearance greatly informed Quinto's performance, and the physical transformation of the character was an exciting prospect for the actor. Quinto has said that he was interested in "losing [him]self in the physicality of Charlie Manx".
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The challenges of the role
Portraying the main antagonist in a television series comes with its own set of challenges, and this was especially true for Zachary Quinto, who played Charlie Manx in NOS4A2. Quinto faced several challenges in fully realising this complex and sinister character.
One of the most notable challenges Quinto encountered was the extensive makeup and prosthetics required to transform into the 135-year-old vampiric Charlie Manx. Quinto spent nearly four hours every day in makeup, undergoing a meticulous process that involved shaving his face and head, applying prosthetics, and utilising specialised makeup techniques. The transformation was a crucial aspect of the character, allowing Quinto to physically embody Manx and explore his story.
The character of Charlie Manx also demanded a deep exploration of his backstory and motivations. Manx, a powerful creative, feeds off children's souls to sustain his immortality and maintain his youth. Quinto delved into the transformation and physicality of the character, embracing the opportunity to lose himself in Manx's sinister world. He also acknowledged the character as an example of a toxic white male, showcasing the complexities and challenges of portraying such a multifaceted antagonist.
In addition to the physical transformation, Quinto also navigated the emotional depths of the character. Manx's vulnerability, his connection to his magical Rolls-Royce Wraith, and his complex relationship with Vic McQueen and her son, Wayne, all presented acting challenges that Quinto had to overcome. Quinto's performance in the role showcased his ability to embody a character that is both monstrous and intriguing, adding to his repertoire of memorable villainous roles.
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Frequently asked questions
No. To transform into the 135-year-old Charlie Manx, Quinto shaved his face and head and wore prosthetics and specialised makeup.
Quinto spent nearly four hours every day in makeup.
Quinto was interested in the transformation that was part of the character. He found the opportunity to lose himself in the physicality of Charlie Manx exciting.
NOS4A2 is an adaptation of Joe Hill's novel about a supernatural being who feeds on the souls of children to replenish his youth.
Charlie Manx is a powerful creative who feeds off children's souls and deposits what remains of them into Christmasland, a twisted Christmas village of his imagination.
