Actor Ted Levine says parts of ‘Silence of the Lambs’ have not aged well, and he now regrets how the film handled gender identity. Levine, who played the killer Buffalo Bill, addressed long-running criticism from the transgender community in a new interview. He said the movie included lines and themes that he now sees as harmful. The Oscar-winning thriller, released 35 years ago, has faced backlash for its portrayal of the character also known as Jame Gumb.
Transgender criticism of ‘Silence of the Lambs’
Levine spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about the controversy tied to his role in ‘Silence of the Lambs.’ The film showed Buffalo Bill as a serial killer who murdered women and removed their skin. Though the script did not clearly define his sexual orientation, many viewers saw the character as trans or gender-nonconforming.“There are certain aspects of the movie that don’t hold up too well,” Levine told the outlet. He added, “We all know more, and I’m a lot wiser about transgender issues.” Levine said, “There are some lines in that script and movie that are unfortunate.”Over time, his understanding changed. “[It’s] just over time and having gained awareness and worked with trans folks, and understanding a bit more about the culture and the reality of the meaning of gender,” Levine said. He continued, “It’s unfortunate that the film vilified that, and it’s f***ing wrong. And you can quote me on that.”At the same time, Levine defended his approach to the role. “I didn’t play him as being gay or trans. I think he was just af–ked up heterosexual man. That’s what I was doing,” he said.
‘Silence of the Lambs’ legacy and response from producers
‘Silence of the Lambs,’ directed by Jonathan Demme, opened on Valentine’s Day in 1991 and became a global hit. The film starred Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter and Jodie Foster as FBI trainee Clarice Starling. It won five Academy Awards, including best picture, best actor, best actress, best director, and best screenplay.Edward Saxon, Demme’s producing partner, also spoke to The Hollywood Reporter. “We were really loyal to the book. As we made the film, there was just no question in our minds that Buffalo Bill was a completely aberrant personality — that he wasn’t gay or trans,” Saxon said.“He was sick. To that extent, we missed it,” Saxon added. “From my point of view, we weren’t sensitive enough to the legacy of a lot of stereotypes and their ability to harm.” He said there is regret but no bad intent. “There’s regret, but it didn’t come from any place of malice,” Saxon said. “We thought it would just be very clear that Buffalo Bill adapts different things from society, from a place of an incredibly sick pathology.“Ted Levine, born on May 29, 1957, in Bellaire, Ohio, built a long-lasting career in film and television. He became widely known for playing Buffalo Bill in 1991’s ‘The Silence of the Lambs.’ He later starred as Captain Leland Stottlemeyer on the series ‘Monk’ from 2002 to 2009. Levine has also appeared in films including ‘Heat,’ ‘The Fast and the Furious,’ ‘Shutter Island,’ ‘American Gangster,’ and ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.‘His work spans stage roles, TV dramas, feature films, and voice performances.
