Jamie Campbell Bower reveals dark secret behind Vecna transformation

Jamie Campbell Bower has revealed the secret behind stepping into the chilling shoes of Stranger Things villain Vecna, and it’s all about the music.

The 37-year-old actor, who plays the sinister Henry Creel and his monstrous alter ego, confessed he leaned on “dark, meditative” tunes to fully inhabit the role.

Speaking to Deadline, Jamie explained: “I draw great inspiration from music… for this show, particularly, I really did use music to help build this character.” 

He credited a mix of folk, black metal and experimental artists like Chelsea Wolfe, Sano and even heavier bands such as Norma Jean for helping him find the villain’s eerie mindset.

But it wasn’t just music that helped Jamie transform. 

The actor went through an intense physical metamorphosis with the help of prosthetics, makeup, and costume teams, describing the process as “fun” and highly collaborative. 

From six-inch platform lifts to morph suits painted with creeping vines, he worked closely with FX guru Barry Gower to ensure Vecna’s imposing presence remained terrifying on screen.

“I was able to have discussions with multiple departments… to make sure the presence, the scale, just this sheer kind of size of him was still imposing,” he said.

And true to form, Jamie performed his own scenes wherever possible, refusing to rely entirely on CGI. 

“What you’re seeing on screen… that’s all me underneath,” he said, adding that embodying Vecna was as much a physical challenge as a mental one.

Stranger Things fans will surely be feeling the chills, knowing just how much Jamie poured into making Vecna come alive.

RELATED: Joe Keery officiated friend’s wedding in his ‘Stranger Things’ outfit