When an actor takes on a famous role, there are many factors to consider. For instance, what is it about the character that appeals to them? Is there an aspect of the actor’s personality they can bring to this role to make it their own? Does the role call for a bald head where the actor is known for having lush, curly hair? Such ponderings would be overwhelming for any actor, but for Christopher Abbot, the star of HBO’s Girls, The Wolf Man, and Kraven The Hunter, there’s one aspect of taking on Professor Charles Xavier—perhaps the biggest role in his career so far, and one that has him following the late Patrick Stewart, so, you know, no pressure—that the actor is taking in stride. In a new profile for Esquire, Abbott discussed his interesting, previously low-key acting career (and chatted a bit about his growing family with partner Aubrey Plaza) when the subject of Marvel Studios’ huge X-Men reboot came up.
Since it’s still early days in production—in fact, Marvel has yet to issue a script to its cast, which includes Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Kit Connor as Cyclops, and Adam Driver as the villain Mister Sinister—Abbott isn’t letting the responsibilities of his new gig get to him just yet. “I’m excited to approach it with some real-deal kind of character work,” he told Esquire. “There’s going to be a lot of things to chew on. But I got to read [the script] first to see where they go with it […] It’s also just nice to look forward to something and a character that I think actually has some layers and depth,” he continued.
Speaking of layers, Esquire‘s Josh Rosenberg couldn’t help but ask how Abbott will tame his dark, flowing locks when the time comes to sit in Professor X’s hoverchair—a notable contrast to his predecessor’s famous bald look, brought on by hereditary alopecia, which Stewart wore famously well throughout his career. “My hair’s pretty thick,” Abbott admits. “I’ve shaved my head for things before, and I’m down. But if my head is anything like my face, three hours later it’s going to be back. So I’m not sure because he’s not shaving his head every day. I want it to feel right.” Perhaps Abbott can solicit advice from fellow Professor X actor James McAvoy, who kept his own dome shorn for his last two X-Men films and accidentally shaved his head for his first crack at Professor X in X-Men: First Class, which, oops, required him to have hair. Maybe Abbot will be satisfied with a skull cap?
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