The latest episode of 'Hannibal' finally introduced the infamous Tooth Fairy, the serial killer featured in Thomas Harris' novel 'Red Dragon.' The character, portrayed by 'The Hobbit' star Richard Armitage, has no dialogue in the episode 'The Great Red Dragon.' However, he has an uneasy presence that ultimately climaxes with Francis Dolarhyde running into the snow covered in blood.
Armitage spoke to TV Line about the Tooth Fairy's debut and offered an insight to the man who will eventually become the Red Dragon.
"One of the things in my first episode that I found so interesting is that this man is so alone in the world, so isolated," he said. "There was a rejection in his childhood because of his disfigurement and because his character was orphaned; he was raised by his grandmother and abused by step-siblings."
Richard Armitage also refers to the author's depiction of Francis Dolarhyde in 'Red Dragon.'
"Thomas Harris describes him as having only set foot in two other people's houses in his entire life - and certainly no one has ever come into his world. But for someone that is so alone, his mind is so busy and full of things," Armitage said.
"He has voices in his head. He's haunted by so many different things, like his mind is so far from silent, and that to me was something which was fascinating."
an unrecognizable, frightening.. spectacular #RichardArmitage naked and covered in blood outside in -20 degree pic.twitter.com/n2rGjMcCLu
— Chiara-scuro (@_Chiara_) July 27, 2015
Richard Armitage further explained Francis Dolarhyde's wordlessness.
"He's a man who is so uncomfortable in his skin, who is somehow at odds with his outer body and is almost outgrowing his physical form," he said. "So you see that conversation happening physically before you hear it verbally."
Francis Dolarhyde's silence may also be due to his disability, as he has a cleft palate and lip. The character has previously been portrayed by Tom Noonan in the film 'Manhunter' and Ralph Fiennes in the 2002 movie 'Red Dragon.'
