James McAvoy compares his role in Speak No Evil to controversial online personality Andrew Tate

Actor James McAvoy spoke to Empire about his role in his upcoming film Speak No Evil. He revealed how he crafted his sinister character, Paddy, around a very specific person. The actor stated that he used Andrew Tate as the inspiration for his character.

Deadline quoted McAvoy's Empire interview on Sunday, September 1, 2024, where he spoke about how Andrew Tate influenced his portrayal of Paddy. He explained that he based Paddy on the controversial YouTuber, as the former seemed to have the same characteristics as Tate.

"The thing I thought I could exploit in the character was, he thinks he's a bit of a f****** West Country Andrew Tate. He's like, 'I'm going to teach you what it's like to be a man again'," James said.

However, while Tate did inspire Speak No Evil's devilishly playful and charismatic doctor, McAvoy noted that his characteristics weren't "quite Andrew Tate." He stated that Paddy had a "sort of a polite face" on him, unlike Tate.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly in July 2024, the Scottish actor also pointed out how his character differed from figures like Tate. He said that Paddy used charm and vivacity to hide his toxic masculine behavior, and he was a complex character who toed the line, which he believed was "intelligent."

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James McAvoy shares his preparation to play Paddy in Speak No Evil

James McAvoy also revealed how he prepared for the role physically and emotionally, apart from channeling the Andrew Tate-inspired "toxic masculinity" in Paddy. He explained that the Australian "bogan" largely influenced his character in the satirical thriller based on the 2022 Danish film, Gæsterne (The Guests). Bogan is an Australian slang term for someone who embodies toxic masculinity or an "uncultured person."

The Split actor said that he had "two big visual touchstones" that he based his character on—the Australian "bogan" and Mark Rylance's character Rooster from Jerusalem.

"I had two big visual touchstones. The first was the Australian term 'bogan,' which can be associated with a certain level of toxic masculinity. And the other was the character Rooster from Jerusalem, played so brilliantly by Mark Rylance," he said.

James McAvoy also explained that he had to put on some muscle to make Paddy more physically intimidating but added that there was a softer aspect to his character as well. He noted that while his character was "all masculine and throwing his d*ck around," he did have a softer side to him.

James McAvoy also said that Beowulf actor Ray Winston's character as the ex-villain Gal Dove in Sexy Beast has the same vibe as Paddy's character. He claimed that despite Paddy's overtly masculine behavior, he added a layer of vulnerability to the character.

"[Paddy's] challenging you, 'Do you have a big enough d**k to have a drink with me?', Or, 'I'm sorry, this is too much for you because you're not real enough'," McAvoy said while describing his character.

He elaborated on his portrayal of Paddy as a "modern version of classic masculinity." The Glass actor added that Paddy was someone who isn't metros*xual, beta, or "compromising in any way." He claimed that Paddy made the classic masculine behavior "almost palatable."

Speak No Evil is set for a theatrical release on September 13, 2024. Apart from James McAvoy, the film will also feature Scoot McNairy, Mackenzie Davis, and Aisling Franciosi.