Charlie Hunnam Says Girlfriend Asked Him to Stop Using Ed Gein Voice at Home

Charlie Hunnam, a British actor who was nominated for Best Actor in a Limited Series at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, has revealed a funny and insightful story about how his hard training for the role of serial killer Ed Gein in Netflix's 'Monster: The Ed Gein Story' affected his personal life. Hunnam revealed on the Critics Choice red carpet that his long-term partner, Morgana McNelis, whom he lovingly called his "wife," had requested him to quit using Gein's spooky voice at home, particularly at breakfast.

The comment highlights both Hunnam's deep commitment to his craft and the challenges actors can face balancing immersive roles with everyday life.

Bringing Ed Gein to Life: A Challenging Role

Charlie Hunnam's most recent performance as Ed Gein is among his most intense to date. He has established himself as a versatile actor with notable parts in films like 'Sons of Anarchy' and 'The Gentlemen.' In Ryan Murphy's Monster anthology series on Netflix, 'Monster: The Ed Gein Story,' Hunnam plays the infamous murderer and graverobber whose crimes in mid-20th-century Wisconsin served as the inspiration for a number of classic horror movies. 

Image Courtesy: Netflix

His deeply transformative performance earned him a nomination for Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television at the 31st Critics Choice Awards.

In earlier interviews, Hunnam has revealed that, considering the gory and gloomy subject matter, he was first concerned about the role's psychological impact. But as he dug deeper into his research—examining Gein's medical records to see the human side of someone who has traditionally only been portrayed as a monster—he discovered a more compelling reason to investigate the intricacy of the horror.

Image Courtesy: CBR

This thoughtful approach helped him craft a performance that is unsettling yet compelling—one that many viewers and critics have praised for its nuance and depth.

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Life at Home: The Ed Gein Voice Incident

Although his dedication to playing Gein was crucial for the part, it also resulted in some humorous, if a little awkward, off-screen incidents. Hunnam disclosed that, as part of his preparation, he would occasionally adopt Gein's spooky voice at home during a red carpet pre-show interview for the Critics Choice Awards.

Morgana McNelis, his longterm lover, wasn't always happy about the immersive habit. "Dude," she said. "You have to stop with the voice," Hunnam recalled, laughing. "At breakfast, it's a little too much."

Image Courtesy: People

Although they occasionally go out together for significant events like the 2025 Emmy Awards, the pair, who have been together for almost 20 years, leads a quiet and private existence away from the public. A unique window into their relationship and the interplay of juggling a demanding creative process with daily life was provided by Hunnam's lighthearted confession about his pranks at home.

Even though they haven't publicly acknowledged a legal marriage, calling McNelis his "wife" on the red carpet highlighted the depth of their relationship.  

Image Courtesy: US Weekly

Critics Choice and Beyond

Even though Stephen Graham won this year's Critics Choice Award for Best Actor in a Limited Series for 'Adolescence,' Hunnam's nomination alone represented a major turning point in his career and demonstrated his capacity to take on difficult, transforming roles. Hunnam's performance in 'Monster: The Ed Gein Story' continues to be a major topic of conversation for both fans and reviewers due to its eerie depiction and careful handling of a particularly dark period in American criminal history.

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