Evan Peters yearned for ‘normal’ role and romcoms before playing Jeffrey Dahmer

Evan thought hard about taking the part (Picture: Netflix / AP)

Evan Peters wanted to be cast in a very different role before playing notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.

The American Horror Story actor plays the Milwaukee Monster in Ryan Murphy’s Netflix drama, Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.

Dahmer was convicted of brutally killing 17 victims in total, all male, between the years of 1978 and 1991.

After being captured and arrested by police, Dahmer was imprisoned in 1992 and died at the age of 34 when another inmate beat him to death.

Prior to accepting the controversial role, the Mare of Easttown performer told the Glee creator he wanted to play a ‘normal’ character or in a romcom.

After auditioning 100 people for the role, Ryan handed Evan the script, with the actor agreeing to the part.

Ryan told The Hollywood Reporter: ‘He called me the next day, and he said, “It’s so challenging. It’s so difficult that I kind of have to say yes to it, even though I’m terrified of it.”‘

Evan widely researched Dahmer (Credits: SER BAFFO/NETFLIX)

Speaking about how he performed Dahmer, Evan said: ‘He has a lot of external things from the way that he walks, he doesn’t move his arms when he walks and talks.

‘And so I did a lot of research on watching him and seeing how he moved and working with weights on my arms, wearing wardrobe, all sorts of things that I would carry with me throughout the day to try to stay in it, so it would be second nature.

Evan has also been in The Mare of Easttown(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

‘And then I created a 45-minute audio composite, which I listened to every day to try to get his dialect and how he spoke and really try to understand why he did what he did or what his mindset was.’

Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer has become one of the most-watched shows on Netflix, beating the likes of Bridgerton.

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However, reviews of the unsettling series have been mixed, with audiences at odds about its presentation of the appalling crimes, but also praising the performances and the fact it doesn’t glorify the criminal.

Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is available to watch on Netflix.

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