The Oscar-winning movie The Silence of the Lambs celebrated its 35th anniversary, with actor Ted Levine looking back at his infamous role. Playing the serial killer Buffalo Bill, Levine admits his character’s gender identity storyline doesn’t hold up well in today’s society.
Buffalo Bill, also known as James Gumb, was portrayed as a heinous serial killer whose sexuality was never explicitly confirmed. Over the years, audiences have come to see the character as gender nonconforming and transgender based on certain details in the film. Levine opens up about the longstanding criticism against his character.
“There are certain aspects of the movie that don’t hold up too well,” said Levine toThe Hollywood Reporter. “We all know more, and I’m a lot wiser about transgender issues. There are some lines in that script and movie that are unfortunate.”
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The Silence of the Lambs portrays Buffalo Bill as an outcast whomJodie Foster‘s character tries to build a psychological profile of to capture him. Buffalo Bill’s modus operandi involves kidnapping youn woman and skinning their backs to make a “woman suit.”
Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) is the one who tells Foster’s character that Buffalo Bill had once applied for gender-affirming surgery but was denied. The film also portrays the killer wearing feminine clothing and makeup in his hideout. While the movie never fully explored the character’s sexuality or identity, many within the trans community critiqued the role. Levine expressed his regret over the movie having “vilified” that way of life with a serial killer.
“[It’s] just over time and having gotten aware and worked with trans folks, and understanding a bit more about the culture and the reality of the meaning of gender,” says the actor. “It’s unfortunate that the film vilified that, and it’s fucking wrong. And you can quote me on that.”
The Heat and Monk actor went on to clarify that he didn’t play Buffalo Bill as “being gay or trans. I think he was just a fucked-up heterosexual man. That’s what I was doing.”
