‘Legion’ And ‘Beauty And The Beast’ Star Dan Stevens Reveals The Most Challenging Role He’s Ever Done

Dan Stevens revealed that playing Beast in the upcoming Disney film “Beauty and the Beast” is the most challenging role he’s ever done in his acting career so far.

“Beast was the most challenging role I’ve ever taken on,” Stevens told Sioux City Journal. “The condition I had to have my body in to puppeteer that suit, on stilts, was like nothing else.”

Despite the challenges that came with the classic role, the 34-year-old English actor said that portraying the character got him “more physically engaged” in all his subsequent performances.

During his appearance on “Today” earlier this month, Stevens discussed why his role as Beast is unlike any other roles he’s done in the past. “Well, here’s the thing: It was all CGI,” he explained of his role in the Bill Cordon-directed movie. “It was motion-capture puppeteering for the suit, and the face was done separately, using a different technology. And they brought it all to life.”

“So when I was on set, I was on stilts in a big muscle suit, covered in Lycra,” Stevens continued. “Everything else looked gorgeous and beautiful. Emma Watson [who plays Belle in the film], her dress — beautiful. The sets were incredible. And there’s me, just sweating away through the set, ‘This is going to look different, right? This is going to be OK?’”

Apparently, Stevens’ doubts all disappeared when he saw his character’s final look. “Over the months, I’ve seen it emerge, this Beast,” he said. “These guys over at Disney putting every digital hair, every digital pore on my digital face. It’s been amazing to watch it.”

“Beauty and the Beast,” which also stars Luke Evans, Kevin Kline, Josh Gad, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Ian McKellen and Emma Thompson, opens in theaters on March 17.

Meanwhile, Stevens currently plays David Haller on FX’s Marvel TV series “Legion.” Its second episode airs on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 10 p.m. EST.