Charlie Hunnam looked almost unrecognizable during a rare public appearance this week as the former Sons of Anarchy star stepped out in Los Angeles sporting a far more refined and distinguished look.

The 46-year-old actor attended the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations event for his upcoming project Monster: The Ed Gein Story at The Meryl Streep Center for Performing Artists on Friday, 22 May 2026.

“I think I read every book written on Ed Gein, and it started to become impossibly bleak to me. I really wanted to challenge myself in my career at this point in life, and this seemed like a golden opportunity to play a type of character I’ve never played before,” the actor told Interview.

“But the darkness of it really scared me. And finding the truth in who he was felt like it was going to force me to go to a place that I didn’t necessarily want to go.”

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With slightly greying hair, a cleaner-cut style and a more elegant presence, the British star looked a far cry from the sexy, leather-clad biker bad boy that made him a household name in Sons of Anarchy.

Charlie famously starred as Jackson “Jax” Teller in the hit FX crime drama from 2008 until 2014.

The gritty biker series developed a cult following during its seven-season run and earned widespread praise for its storytelling, action-packed scenes and emotional performances.

While the show itself received multiple award nominations over the years, Charlie’s portrayal of conflicted outlaw Jax Teller became one of the defining TV performances of the era and helped cement him as an international heartthrob.

Since Sons of Anarchy ended, Charlie has deliberately stepped away from the intense fame that came with the role and built a career focused on darker and more dramatic film projects.

The actor went on to star in movies including The Lost City of Z, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, Triple Frontier and The Gentlemen.

He also earned critical praise for his performances in smaller independent films and psychological thrillers, often choosing more complex and physically demanding roles.

He has long been known for keeping his private life out of the spotlight. The actor has been in a longtime relationship with artist and jewelry designer Morgana McNelis, with the couple reportedly together for nearly two decades.

In interviews over the years, he has admitted he never fully embraced celebrity culture and often spends long periods living privately outside Los Angeles.