Case studies
In Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Jones me the voice of Abe Sapien. I was hoping amount of zoning out that happens, trying
recreates the role of Abe Sapien, Hellboy’s the fans would accept me and, sure enough, to conserve your energy, trying to find the
fish-man mutant sidekick. Jones took time they did. One of the first directions that I character and trying to find a way to let
to speak with movieScope regarding this long got from Guillermo del Toro at the this be a process that builds the character
awaited and highly-anticipated sequel. beginning of the first Hellboy shoot five on you without it depleting you. To watch
years ago was that he wanted Abe to sound the character be applied to me piece-by-
How did Guillermo del Toro introduce you to like a combination of Niles Crane from piece over seven to eight hours does help me
the character of Abe Sapien? Frasier with a little bit of HAL, the computer find him. So I turn it into something
Initially, at first, he talked it to me. Guillermo from 2001: A Space Odyssey. So that was positive. Then what happens, once I’m in
does a wonderful job of verbalising his vision. what I kind of effected anyway and when the make-up, no matter what character I’ve
That same day after I got the phone call on David Hyde Pierce stepped in, we did not played under lots of make-up and costuming,
Hellboy, I went into the production office sound that much different from each other I become something of a nursing home
and saw the sculptured maquette of Abe Sapien. doing the role of Abe. patient. I lose a little bit of my sight. I lose
Otherworldly Princess Nuala (Anna Walton) finds a soul
mate in aquatic empath Abe Sapien (Doug Jones) in
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
This time around Abe Sapien will have your How is your consummate physicality a little bit of my hearing. I lose a little bit
own voice. Congratulations. challenged when costumed as Abe Sapien? of my vocal skills because I have creature
Having David Hyde Pierce do a voiceover Abe Sapien—in the first Hellboy movie teeth in my mouth maybe. Or I lose a little
for the character of Abe Sapien in the first especially—was the longest make-up I’d bit of my sense of touch because I have gloves
Hellboy was a studio decision. David gone through day after day. It took about on or webbed fingers or finger extensions.
ended up being the kind of gentleman you seven hours to become Abe Sapien from head A lot of my senses are dulled down, especially
just don’t find in Hollywood. After doing to toe with nothing but shorts on. There’s a my vision. Vision and hearing are so
his job—which I thought he did beautifully, lot of blue fish guy showing, which meant important to an actor because, first of all, if
by the way—David decided not to take any they had a lot of make-up to do on my you’re being blocked for a scene and you
limelight away from me. Out of respect to entire body. It included everything from have to hit a mark and grab a prop and turn
me, he did not show up at the premiere, he airbrushing my own skin, adding prosthetic to the left of the camera and have an eye
did not take a credit in the film, and he did pieces and blending the edges in, twelve line and all that, all those things you have
not do any interviews regarding the character, different prosthetic pieces—I might add— to see for and—when you take vision
which is something I could never have from head to toe, so it was a lot of work that away—you really have to have a sense of
expected from anybody. When the animated three make-up artists worked diligently at touch and feel. You have to let your body
features came out—Hellboy: Sword of for seven hours to create Abe. So that’s respond. I’ve often hit marks and eye lines
Storms and Hellboy: Blood and Iron— challenge number one. It’s putting in a full for my face with my body having to remember
David politely declined doing the voice. day of work before you go to work. There’s a where it all is in relation to where my body’s
That’s when they came to me and offered certain amount of fatigue and a certain just come from. That can be a challenge.
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