Bill Skarsgard uses Pennywise voice to discipline misbehaving kids
Synopsis
Bill Skarsgard's most terrifying parenting tool turns out to be his own filmography — the actor admits Pennywise and Nosferatu both 'pop in' when his kids act up. He also shut down James Bond lead rumours while making clear he'd take a Mads Mikkelsen-style villain turn in a heartbeat.
Key Takeaways
Bill Skarsgard uses his Pennywise voice from the IT franchise to discipline his misbehaving children.
His 2024 Nosferatu vampire character also makes parenting appearances, alongside Pennywise.
Skarsgard confirmed he was not contacted to audition for the next James Bond film.
He expressed a preference for a Bond villain role modelled on Mads Mikkelsen's Le Chiffre in Casino Royale .
The actor says he feels 'spent' with villain roles and would only return to one if it felt genuinely original.
Actor Bill Skarsgard has revealed a distinctly unnerving parenting technique — slipping into the voice of his iconic horror character Pennywise from Stephen King's IT franchise whenever his children step out of line. The candid admission came during a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, offering fans a glimpse into the lighter side of one of Hollywood's most committed horror performers.
The Pennywise Parenting Method
The 36-year-old Swedish actor, who shares two children with partner Alida Morberg, confirmed that both Pennywise and his vampire character from the 2024 remake of Nosferatu make occasional domestic appearances. "Yeah, if they misbehave. He can slip out there. Can slip in, can slip out and Nosferatu can pop in. There's a whole colourful bunch of schizophrenic daddy," Skarsgard said on the podcast.
Skarsgard has portrayed the terrifying clown Pennywise across two feature films — IT and IT: Chapter 2 — as well as the television series IT: Welcome To Derry, making the character one of the most recognised horror icons of the past decade.
On the James Bond Conversation
During the same interview, Skarsgard addressed the swirl of online speculation linking him to the next James Bond film, clarifying that no audition call ever came his way. "They didn't call me about James Bond. I don't know what that was about. Every single British, Australian (actor) but maybe they were like, 'We can't do a Swede for this guy'. I wasn't even thrown into the mix," he said.
Rather than the lead role, the actor expressed a preference for the antagonist's chair, citing Mads Mikkelsen's portrayal of Le Chiffre opposite Daniel Craig in Casino Royale as his ideal template. "I just want to go in and do one Mads Mikkelsen villain," he added.
Skarsgard on Picking Roles and Villain Fatigue
Reflecting on his well-established reputation for playing dark, unsettling characters, Skarsgard said the pattern is not a deliberate strategy but a matter of instinct. "It's not something that I'm actively looking for, but if I feel compelled to do something, yeah. A lot of people ask me what goes into picking your roles and I don't really know how to say it other than I feel drawn or compelled to," he explained.
He also acknowledged a degree of creative saturation when it comes to villainous roles. "I don't want to become jaded. I could probably go long stretches without working and waiting for something to be compelling enough. For a villain, it would have to be something that felt original to me, that was something that I hadn't done before. I feel, kind of, spent with those things. But there are villains that could be really fun in different ways and if it's the right kind," he said.
What This Tells Us About Skarsgard's Career Approach
The interview paints a picture of an actor who is selective almost to the point of deliberate scarcity — willing to wait for a project that genuinely moves him rather than chase output. With Nosferatu having added another genre landmark to his résumé in 2024, Skarsgard's next move will be watched closely by both horror aficionados and mainstream audiences alike.
Point of View
Yet he risks being typecast into irrelevance if the right 'original' villain never materialises. The Bond remarks are telling: he wasn't even considered, which suggests the franchise is still chasing British or Commonwealth prestige over raw screen menace. That may be the Bond producers' loss. Skarsgard's instinct-driven selectivity has produced more genre-defining work in a decade than most actors manage in a career, and the willingness to admit creative saturation publicly is a rare, honest signal in an industry that rarely permits it.
NationPress
9 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Bill Skarsgard use his Pennywise voice on his children?
Bill Skarsgard has said he lets the Pennywise voice 'slip out' whenever his children misbehave, and that his Nosferatu vampire character can also make an appearance. He described the dynamic humorously as 'a whole colourful bunch of schizophrenic daddy' in a podcast interview.
Which films and shows has Bill Skarsgard played Pennywise in?
Skarsgard has portrayed the horror clown Pennywise in two feature films — IT and IT: Chapter 2 — as well as the television series IT: Welcome To Derry. He also starred as the vampire in the 2024 remake of Nosferatu.
Was Bill Skarsgard considered for the James Bond role?
No. Skarsgard confirmed on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that he did not receive a call from James Bond producers to audition for the lead role. He joked that casting a Swedish actor may have been a step too far for the franchise.
What kind of Bond role would Bill Skarsgard want?
Skarsgard said he would prefer to play a villain in a Bond film, specifically citing Mads Mikkelsen's role as Le Chiffre opposite Daniel Craig in Casino Royale as his ideal reference point.
Is Bill Skarsgard looking to play more villain roles?
Not actively. Skarsgard said he feels 'spent' with villain parts and would only take one on if it felt original and compelling enough to him personally. He added that he is willing to go long stretches between projects while waiting for the right material.
