Charlie Hunnam has responded to backlash regarding his portrayal of infamous killer Ed Gein in the new Netflix series.
The latest instalment of Ryan Murphy's anthology series sees Hunnam take on the grisly role of Ed Gein, a man who inspired a generation of horror filmmakers by murdering and dismembering exhumed corpses.
By the time of his death in 1984, Gein was confirmed to have killed two women - Bernice Worden and Mary Hogan - and suspected of killing seven more, as well as robbing graves to make household items from the skin of his victims.
In Monster, which arrived on Netflix today (3 October), Hunnam explores the man behind the myth, depicting Gein as a mentally unwell loner, whose closest human companion was his abusive mother.
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Prior to its release, the series was subject to backlash online after Hunnam described Gein as a 'gentle monster' in an interview with PEOPLE last month.
However, the Sons of Anarchy star has since clarified his stance and addressed suggestions that he's 'too empathetic' of Gein in a new interview with LADbible.
"We got some backlash from that comment," Hunnam explained, revealing that he was being flippant when calling Gein, often nicknamed the 'Butcher of Plainfield', gentle.
"It was the first time I'd ever been asked any questions. I was on a red carpet at the Emmys, which is like a frenzy of energy.
And I said that somewhat tongue in cheek [as] people were asking me for if they were going to get nightmares. And I sort of said that somewhat flippantly."
The actor went on to stress the importance of playing real-life killers responsibly following backlash to how true crime is depicted in the media.
"There's a deep responsibility to playing a true-life character, historical character, and particularly one who has done terrible things the way Ed Gein did," the actor explained, adding that it takes 'courage' for an actor to take on such a role.
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"My job is to try to understand Ed and as honestly play him as possible, and frankly requires a little bit of courage," Hunnam continued.
"Because I know that people are going to think that I was overly sympathetic, or maybe too empathetic towards him."
The Pacific Rim star also labelled Gein's troubled mental health and the relationship with his mother as one of the biggest tragedies of the story.
"I found that the tragedy of his untreated mental health disorders was, was something that was really felt to me like very, very relevant," he added.
"We really need to put more time and resources into treating our sick people in society and people that are in need of help, and how much of what Ed did was a consequence of his mental health issues and just how lonely and tragic of a figure he was."
Monster: The Ed Gein Story is available to stream now on Netflix.
Topics: Charlie Hunnam, Entertainment, Netflix, TV, TV and Film, True Crime, Ed Gein
Brenna Cooper