Colin Farrell transformation as The Penguin for HBO series involved elaborate makeup and immersive techniques, leading him to test his look in unexpected places ahead of the highly anticipated HBO show. Speaking at a dedicated panel, Farrell and co-stars dived deep into the challenges and memorable moments behind bringing Gotham’s notorious crime figures to life.
Pushing the Limits with Makeup and Public Disguises
To ensure the authenticity of his appearance as Oz Cobb, better known as The Penguin, Colin Farrell put his prosthetic transformation to the ultimate trial by venturing out into public. He famously chose a Starbucks as his test site, fully adorned with the foreboding scars and heavy makeup that would define his screen persona. Instead of drawing a crowd, his striking visage went almost completely unacknowledged by patrons staring at their phones, despite his efforts to showcase the character’s shuffling gait and distinct growl.
This first real-world attempt at inhabiting Oz Cobb’s eerie presence became a personal demonstration for Farrell of the effectiveness of his disguise, and underscored how completely he could disappear into the role. Despite the actor’s initial anxiety, the makeup proved so transformative it even disoriented him each time he glimpsed himself in the mirror.
Navigating Physical and Emotional Transformations
Fully committing to the character, Farrell initially resolved to keep Penguin’s signature waddle on and off the set, but soon encountered the physical price of this method approach. He admitted that his hip could not withstand constant waddling for the entire shoot, leaving him with soreness that lingered after filming. Still, inhabiting Oz’s heavy prosthetics and intricate facial designs was a long-held ambition, inspired by the makeup artistry of screen legends like John Landis, Dick Smith, and Rob Bottin, whose practical effects influenced generations of actors and filmmakers.
Farrell marveled at the artistry involved, crediting makeup designer Mike Marino for providing so much character history in the scars and textures etched onto Oz’s face. These details became a resource for developing his portrayal, helping transform him from script to screen.
“We went to a Starbucks when we did the first makeup test,”
—Colin Farrell, Actor
“We’re a bunch of starers — human beings stare if they see something different. But they just stared at their phones.”
—Colin Farrell, Actor
“Talk about a personalized uncanny valley… And it never fully lost that either. I never fully got used to looking in the mirror and seeing that image look back at me. It was a very powerful thing.”
—Colin Farrell, Actor
“I made the decision: ‘I’m just going to walk-waddle like this the whole time,'”
—Colin Farrell, Actor
“And on Day 2, in between takes, it’s like, ‘F–k that!’ Yeah, no, my hips couldn’t take it, and I was a bit banjoed for a couple of months afterwards. Just was a bit.”
—Colin Farrell, Actor
“I was so overwhelmed by the beauty of the makeup, I really was,”
—Colin Farrell, Actor
“I was so overwhelmed by it. I grew up watching John Landis’ ‘Thriller’ video, and I grew up on Planet of the Apes and Dick Smith’s extraordinary job. The Thing by John Carpenter is one of my favorite films, and Rob Bottin’s work on that. So the idea of practical makeup, tangible things that become so real to the viewer as they did for me, I was just so giddy by it, and I knew that we could go other places with it.”
—Colin Farrell, Actor
“I learned as much from looking at what Mike [Marino] designed as I did from what we usually learn our tricks from, which is the written word of the writer,”
—Colin Farrell, Actor
“There was such a sense of history to Oz: a lonely, broken character, and obviously not to be trusted. It felt very human to me, and he does definitely have a heart, but just as dark a character as I’d ever like to explore, to be honest with you.”
—Colin Farrell, Actor
Building the World of Oz Cobb: Balancing Backstory and New Scripts
As Colin Farrell crafted an elaborate internal life for The Penguin, he discovered that his imagined history for Oz sometimes diverged from the direction mapped out by HBO showrunner Lauren LeFranc. Even so, Farrell managed to retain a few fragments from his own concept, such as events from Oz’s teenage years and traumatic formative experiences, infusing the character with layers of physical and emotional pain. These stories—the result of fights, past injuries, and a rough childhood—are etched not only into the Penguin’s physical makeup but also drive his interactions throughout the series.
“It’s just fun… Write a little prose and just give your imagination license — and then I found out the backstory when Lauren pitches the show, and it didn’t match at all,”
—Colin Farrell, Actor
“But I could hold on to a couple of little events that took place when Oz was 16 and 24 and some bare-knuckle fights and being in a lane way one day and getting opened by a bottle and stuff. It’s a lot of trauma on his face, a lot of trauma in his physicality as well as a child, to have such blatantly obvious physical impedance in your life as we know what kids are like. [Oz] would’ve grown up around a lot more cruelty than we had the time or the inclination to get into in the show. But that was all there: a very damaged character.”
—Colin Farrell, Actor
Celebrating Gotham and Legendary Portrayals
For Farrell, stepping into the Penguin’s shoes represents a high point in his career, especially given his childhood admiration for previous portrayals by actors like Burgess Meredith and Danny DeVito. The sense of legacy and excitement in joining the Batman universe was reinforced by finding a unique chemistry between the writing, his performance, and the artistry of the makeup team. This rare intersection marked one of the most exhilarating moments in his decades-long journey as an actor.
“I’ve had extraordinary days over 25 years of being an actor, but it was one of the most extraordinarily exciting days, the idea of entering Gotham,”
—Colin Farrell, Actor
“I grew up watching Burgess Meredith. I grew up watching Danny DeVito, and the idea that I was going to get to play the Penguin!”
—Colin Farrell, Actor
Co-Stars Embrace Their Roles with Equal Passion
Colin Farrell’s energy and dedication were mirrored by fellow cast members, particularly Cristin Milioti, whose enthusiasm for Batman’s screen history is rooted in her own fandom. Milioti plays Sofia Gigante, a complex figure seeking vengeance within the mob’s turbulent hierarchy, and she attended the panel alongside Farrell, Deirdre O’Connell, Rhenzy Feliz, Lauren LeFranc, and Dylan Clark. Milioti shared her history with the franchise, recalling the impact of both campy and serious film versions and discussing how deeply resonant the stories have been for her.
“I’ve been such a huge fan of this universe forever,”
—Cristin Milioti, Actress
“Every iteration of Batman — even Batman Forever. I mean, Batman Returns was the first one I saw, and then I made my dad take me to see Batman Forever — five times… I love this universe. I think you’re able to do these grounded things. Obviously some of the versions go to very heightened, campy places, but still, even those versions I would find devastating because they’re all about loneliness and hurt. All of them. Even when you’re even Batman, all of them.”
—Cristin Milioti, Actress
Diving Into Character: Sofia’s Journey Across Time
Preparing to play Sofia Gigante required Milioti to invest in long conversations with showrunner Lauren LeFranc and to study upcoming episodes thoroughly. Particularly, a pivotal fourth episode required her to portray Sofia at different points in her life, sometimes moving through years in a single day of shooting, and to channel the complexities revealed by these time jumps. This condensed filming style, while demanding, also contributed to her engagement with Sofia’s multi-layered story.
“Before we started shooting, I had hours of conversations that Lauren was very sweet to entertain and take my call each time, and then I got to read the first four [episodes],”
—Cristin Milioti, Actress
“So I knew about [the fourth episode] when we were going in, and that was my bible for everything.”
—Cristin Milioti, Actress
“I would be her 10 years apart,”
—Cristin Milioti, Actress
“but also the sort of chaos of it can sort of sweep you along. Some days it’s frustrating, but for the most part you just feel like you’re on this roller coaster and I really deeply, deeply loved it.”
—Cristin Milioti, Actress
Transformations Beyond Makeup: Physicality and Attitude
Like Farrell, Milioti discovered that wardrobe and makeup influenced not just appearance but movement and spirit. Taking on the final look of Sofia meant adapting to dramatic hair and makeup choices, a striking red gown, and high heels. Milioti described how these elements shaped her portrayal physically, providing a newfound confidence—and some unexpected physical challenges—while channeling a character at her boldest and most dangerous.
“If you wear that, there’s a certain way you’ve got to walk,”
—Cristin Milioti, Actress
“Put that on and light three cigarettes, I dare you, and try not to feel great.”
—Cristin Milioti, Actress
Anticipating the Penguin’s Impact on Gotham’s Saga
The collaboration of creative minds like showrunner Lauren LeFranc, makeup artist Mike Marino, and executive producer Dylan Clark, along with a cast deeply invested in their characters, sets HBO’s Penguin spinoff apart within the Batman canon. The dedication to detail—from the scars on Oz’s face to the emotional arcs of characters like Sofia—signals a compelling addition to the Gotham mythos. As anticipation builds, fans and industry watchers alike look forward to seeing how Colin Farrell transformation as The Penguin for HBO series will deepen and reimagine classic characters, further cementing Gotham’s legacy in popular culture.
