Lily-Rose Depp in Nosferatu: Cast and Character Details

Depp leads an ensemble cast that includes Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, and Willem Dafoe.

In the 2024 gothic horror film Nosferatu, directed by Robert Eggers, French-American actress Lily-Rose Depp takes on the pivotal role of Ellen Hutter. Ellen is a resident of Wisburg, Germany, who finds herself locked in a harrowing psychosexual battle and psychic connection with the terrifying Count Orlok, portrayed by Bill Skarsgård. The film, which runs for 132 minutes, premiered in Berlin on December 2, 2024, before its theatrical release in the United States on December 25, 2024. The production was a major box office success, grossing $182 million worldwide against a production budget of $50 million. As of 2026, Depp is 27 years old and continues to build a versatile career as an actor, model, and singer.

The journey to casting the character of Ellen Hutter spanned several years before Depp secured the role. Originally, director Robert Eggers had cast Anya Taylor-Joy in the role back in August 2017. Due to persistent scheduling conflicts, Taylor-Joy eventually had to drop out of the project. This led to the casting of Lily-Rose Depp in September 2022. Depp, who was 25 years old when the film was released in theaters, joined an ensemble cast that features Nicholas Hoult as Ellen's husband Thomas Hutter, Emma Corrin as Anna Harding, Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Friedrich Harding, and Willem Dafoe as Professor Albin Eberhart von Franz.

To prepare for the demanding physical possession scenes required for the character, Depp underwent intensive physical training. She worked closely with movement coach Marie-Gabrielle Rotie to develop the unsettling body language of Ellen Hutter. Their preparation involved studying Japanese Butoh, a form of dance theater known as the "dance of darkness," as well as the 19th-century findings of French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot regarding female hysteria. Depp performed all of the character's physical contortions and possession movements practically, completely avoiding the use of CGI enhancements to ensure a visceral, realistic presentation on screen.

In addition to the physical choreography, Depp had to adapt to the material constraints of the film's 19th-century setting. She rehearsed her complex movement sequences while wearing her character's corset to ensure she could perform the contortions under the physical limitations of period-accurate clothing. Beyond the physical demands, the role required Depp to master an English accent. As a French-American actress who had never successfully performed an English accent in a professional capacity before, Depp initially feared the process would be embarrassing, but she trained extensively to deliver the required vocal performance.

Standing at 165 cm tall, Depp's portrayal of Ellen Hutter stands as one of her most physically demanding roles to date. The character's descent into psychological and physical torment required a level of dedication that combined historical research, dance theory, and strict vocal coaching. By avoiding digital effects for her possession scenes, Depp and the production team delivered a grounded, classic horror experience that resonated with global audiences and contributed to the film's strong commercial run.