Taron Egerton on Finding Truth in an Antagonist Role

Taron Egerton has built a career playing characters that audiences naturally root for, so his role in APEX stands out as something different. Still, the way he approaches the character isn’t as big of a departure as it might seem.

When asked about playing someone the audience isn’t meant to like, Egerton didn’t focus on likability at all. Instead, he centered his process on something more fundamental.

“I don’t really think in terms of charisma,” Egerton explained. “I think in terms of honesty and it feeling believable and hopefully truthful.” 

“If you’re playing a villain… you have to find a way of viewing the story through a prism where you’re the hero,” Egerton said. That approach helps avoid turning the character into something overly exaggerated or one-dimensional.

“I think otherwise you’re kind of making a judgment about the character,” he added, noting that it can easily lead to something that feels “lacking in dimension.”

Even though his character is clearly the antagonist, Egerton still tries to ground him in something recognizable. “I hope there’s enough in there that an audience can see something of how he came to be the monster that he is,” he shared.

At the same time, he kept his experience of the role fairly straightforward. “I just found it to be a really creative, fun character to play,” Egerton said.

It’s a darker role, but his process remains consistent. He tries to focus on truth, and let the complexity come through naturally.

Watch the full Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton interview.

Photo courtesy of Netflix PH.