Actor Dougray Scott offered a chilling perspective on playing dark roles in a recent interview discussing his new psychological drama "The Crow Girl" on Paramount+.
The 59-year-old Scottish actor, who plays maverick detective DI Lou Stanley in the series, reflected on his tendency to portray complex, often sinister characters throughout his career. "We're all drawn to things in life far outside our own experience, like serial killers," Scott explained. "It feels like something none of us would be capable of doing, but when you research it, as I have, you find that most of these people are really normal in so many respects."
Scott noted that what makes these individuals particularly unsettling is their ability to lead ordinary lives until "something switches in their head and takes them into this other realm."
In "The Crow Girl," adapted from Erik Axl Sund's Scandi noir novel, Scott's character operates on the edges of police protocol while investigating a disturbing case involving a secretive pedophile ring in Bristol's high society. The series, produced by Scott's own production company Buccaneer, promises to be particularly dark and unsettling.
Despite his frequent portrayal of troubled characters, Scott maintains he enjoys lighter roles too, citing his work in comedies like "The Wrong Mans" with James Corden. However, he acknowledges that dramatic roles have dominated his career, perhaps due to what he describes as his "intense bearing."
The veteran actor, whose career spans over three decades, continues to find acting "fascinating, captivating, and incredibly attractive." His latest project, "The Crow Girl," begins streaming on Paramount+ from January 16th, with plans for continuation beyond its first season.