From biker to killer: How Charlie Hunnam transformed for his biggest roles

Green Street Hooligans (2005)

This film became a turning point in the young actor's career and made him famous. Hunnam played Pete Dunham, the leader of a football fan group supporting West Ham United. The movie tells a story of friendship, honor, and violence in the world of British football hooligans.

For the role, Hunnam worked hard on his accent, physicality, and even facial expressions. His character is rough on the outside, but he has a strong moral code. This work brought the actor his first serious recognition and showed that he could take on complex, layered roles.

Sons of Anarchy (2008–2014)

The leading role in this series made Hunnam a cult figure. He played Jax Teller, a charismatic biker trying to escape the world of violence. His character is not a criminal but a man struggling to balance duty and conscience.

Over seven seasons, the actor portrayed the character's evolution from a rebel to a tragic leader. Jax became a symbol of the modern antihero, while Hunnam proved himself capable of conveying deep emotion with just a look.

Papillon (2017)

After portraying a tough biker, Hunnam appeared in a survival drama. He played Henri Charrière, a prisoner who escapes from a penal colony, seeking freedom even at the cost of his life. Rami Malek starred alongside him as his friend and accomplice.

For the role, Hunnam lost a significant amount of weight and changed his body language. His face lost its aggression and instead reflected despair and faith in humanity. It is one of his most emotional performances, revealing a completely different side of his talent.

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)

Guy Ritchie cast Hunnam as the legendary Arthur, an ordinary man who finds a magical sword and becomes king. The story, told with the director's signature energy, explores strength, leadership, and destiny.

The actor spent months preparing for the role, engaging in combat training, historical research, and learning a new way of speaking. His Arthur is not a traditional hero but a "streetwise" ruler combining nobility and rebellion.

The Gentlemen (2020)

Another collaboration with Guy Ritchie, this time in a modern crime story. Hunnam played Ray, the calm and intelligent advisor to a drug lord (played by Matthew McConaughey). His character is the shadow, strategist, and brains behind the operations.

Here, Hunnam completely stepped away from aggressive roles. Ray is restrained, precise, and incredibly stylish. This performance once again showcased the actor in a new light.

Shantaram (2022)

In this drama series based on the novel by Gregory David Roberts, Hunnam played Lin Ford, an Australian fugitive seeking a new life in India. The project became a true acting challenge for him, as the role demanded subtle emotional depth.

Hunnam created the image of a man who has gone through crime, escape, and spiritual rebirth. His Lin is a mature man who no longer runs from himself but tries to understand who he truly is.

Monster: The Ed Gein Story (2025)

So far, this is Hunnam's latest and perhaps darkest work. In the new season of Ryan Murphy's anthology, he transformed into Ed Gein, the real-life serial killer who inspired "The Silence of the Lambs" and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre."

For the role, the actor underwent a radical transformation. He lost weight and learned to speak in a completely different voice. On screen, this is a completely different Charlie: not a hero or a leader but a chilling figure staring into the abyss. He admitted that it took him several months after filming to "leave" the character behind.