Actor Ted Levine has distanced himself from his breakthrough performance in the psychological thriller “The Silence of the Lambs,” admitting that his depiction of the serial killer Buffalo Bill was “damned wrong.”
For decades, Jonathan Demme’s cinematic masterpiece has faced intense scrutiny for its disparaging representation and demonization of transgender individuals through the character of Bill. In a recent conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Levine acknowledged that these criticisms are justified.
“There are specific elements of the film that haven’t aged well. Over time, as I’ve befriended and worked alongside transgender individuals, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the culture and the true nuances of gender identity. It’s unfortunate that the film vilified it; that was damned wrong, and you can quote me on that. I never intended to depict him as gay or transgender. In my mind, he was simply a deeply disturbed heterosexual—that’s how I approached the role,” Levine explained.
Released in 1991 and adapted from the novel by Thomas Harris, “The Silence of the Lambs” follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) as she enlists the help of the incarcerated Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) to track down Buffalo Bill. The film was a massive commercial success, grossing $273 million, and remains the only horror feature in history to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
