Hannah Margetson on embodying the grotesque in ‘Hellboy: The Crooked Man’

Actress Hannah Margetson appears in some unforgettably creepy scenes in the new film ‘Hellboy: The Crooked Man’. In the reboot of the franchise, Hellboy discovers a remote community dominated by witches and led by a sinister demon; Hannah plays the mysterious Cora Fisher. Director Brian Taylor worked directly with Mike Mignola, the original creator of the Hellboy comics, to bring the story straight from the comic book to the screen. In a recent Business Insider article, Brian Taylor compliments Hannah’s performance, calling her “an incredible actor and just an out-of-this-world physical performer.” Hannah is also the founder and co-director of Snake Height Creative Company, which offers worldwide services in talent representation, casting, and events. Here she talks about pushing herself in grotesque scenes, supporting other artists, and “punk-rock filmmaking”…

Tell us about ‘Hellboy: The Crooked Man’ – and who would you recommend it to?

“The film is like a fever dream, loaded with hidden references that are mystical, comic, abstract, and absurd. I’d recommend it to folk horror fans who appreciate gritty, unconventional, and grotesque storytelling, especially those comic book fans who love the original characters and artworks from Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden.”

What was your experience of working on the film?

“It was profound! I dived deep into the collective unconscious, exploring Jungian symbolism. I was lucky enough to work with an incredible team and the legendary Brian Taylor, whose punk-rock filmmaking methods made the experience unforgettable.”

Can you describe your character, Cora Fisher?

“Cora Fisher is a deeply complex character, and embodying her was a heart-wrenching journey. She’s been stripped of everything and treated cruelly, yet still has this innate drive to help and give. Playing her made me reflect on motherhood and the resilience women carry in such a brutal world. Cora’s journey is about survival and sacrifice, and there was something deeply cathartic in expressing a sliver of her story.”

The scene where Cora is wrapped in an ouroboros snake was intense! What was it like filming that?

“That scene was powerful in every sense. Filming it, I found myself rigged high in the forest alongside my serpent companion – it reaffirmed the meaning behind the name of our company, Snake Height, which my co-director Andreas Breilev and I chose a year earlier. Now I have this symbolic scene as proof to why I followed my intuition and trusted my creative path. “This movie is filled with haunting encounters, and you have to dodge witch balls and shoot some zombies along the way, but on the other side lies a world of magic.”

There’s a scene in the film where Cora’s empty skin lies on the bed – astonishingly this was created using practical effects, not CGI. What was that like to film?

“Filming that scene was truly extraordinary. The fact that we used zero CGI and relied solely on practical effects allowed me to tap into my full potential, not just as an actress but also as a movement artist. Brian’s vision for this scene made it disturbing and delightfully disgusting in all the best ways. It’s definitely a standout moment for me in the film.”

Tell us about setting up Snake Height Agency?

“To me, Snake Height means constant renewal and transformation on the creative journey. We started the company in the circus environment, as it felt instinctive to support the artistic underdog and produce experimental theatre and film with our own team. Then Snake Height represented me as an actor and helped me land this role as Cora. And with Snake Height’s CastIn’Ladders – our casting portal – launching in 2025, the company is set to expand that vision even further. I want to continue creating space for specialist artists to trust their instincts and express themselves fully. There are exciting things on the horizon, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us next.”

‘Hellboy: The Crooked Man’ is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video and other streaming services now.