Tim Curry, at the age of 79, had a slight quibble with one of his most iconic roles. The legendary actor played the infamous Pennywise in the 1990 Stephen King miniseries IT, despite the fact that he "loathed" clowns. Reflecting on this decision in his memoir, Vagabond, Curry confirmed the rumor but elaborated, "Not to the extent that I couldn't even look at myself in the mirror, as has been often reported, but I certainly didn't find joy in my reflection."
"The thought of embodying this killer clown made me feel simultaneously uneasy and like I was pushing myself to take on a challenge. So, with much uncertainty—a type that confirmed I was still embracing my contradictions—I replied: 'Yes, I'm interested.'"
Curry also took the opportunity to address the rumors that he doesn't talk about his role in IT as much as his other fan-favorite roles, such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show or Clue. "I haven't had much to say about it publicly for many years, which many people misread as a deep conflict with the role. That's not the case, but I didn't revel in it either," he admits. "I have great respect for Stephen King and think it's a strong adaptation, but it wasn't exactly a Stoppard experience. Nor did I expect it to be."
Curry also shared an unusual experience of meeting people who found him to be a fearsome figure due to his role in the film. "The majority of people who want to talk to me about being Pennywise are either notably odd individuals who revel in his evilness or else they want me to know that I've really traumatized them or made it impossible for them to sleep. One of my lines is literally 'I'm your worst dream come true,'" he wrote. "But I've never really known how to respond to that. It's not the most charming conversation starter, and it inevitably leads to a less-than-delightful discussion to navigate."
