Life is a Mess

Alexander Skarsgård: The most popular Swedish export since Abba

Alexander Skarsgård has followed in his father’s acting footsteps, and with ‘Generation Kill’ and ‘True Blood’ behind him, he’s finding new worlds to conquer in film

‘I really hate monotony,” laughs Alexander Skarsgård. “I hate when things get too familiar and comfortable. There’s no better feeling than going out into the unknown.”

He’s not kidding. The most popular Swedish export since Abba really is something of an adventurer. In 2013, he made it to the South Pole, alongside fellow thespian Dominic West and Prince Harry, in order to raise funds for wounded soldiers. These days he lives in New York but still likes to head off with friends to “go completely off-grid or sailing for a month.”

A former child star – his role in the popular television show The Dog That Smiled made him a household name in his native country – he quit acting during his teens in favour of a stint in the military.

“As a rebellious teenager, I wanted to do anything but acting,” says Skarsgård. “I just wanted something different. I come from a very bohemian family. All pacifists. I grew up in Stockholm: a very urban environment. Definitely nor surrounded by trees. At that point, military service was technically still mandatory but very easy to get out of it. But I felt, well, this could be an interesting challenge.”

He served 18 months with anti-sabotage and anti-terrorism in the Stockholm archipelago before embracing student life at Leeds Beckett University in England.

Hang on. Leeds? Did he just stick a pin in the map? “Basically? Yes. I looked at universities in Ireland and Scotland and Wales, too. I knew I wanted to avoid London. I had so many Swedish friends in London. And they all hung out with each other. But I knew nothing about Leeds. I didn’t know anyone who had ever been there. It was a great experience. This dark, working-class, northern town. Perfect. It was exactly what I wanted.”

The eldest son of screen legend Stellan Skarsgård, Alexander has five younger siblings and two half-brothers. The numbers made for a bustling, chatty upbringing. “It was this big family of these weird, eccentric, bohemian people. There were huge dinner parties growing up. There were always people sitting around the table drinking and talking and eating.

“We were quite different from most of our friends. Today, I’m so grateful I had such a creative, social upbringing. But I had this idea for a couple of years that I just wanted my dad to wear a grey suit, drive a Saab, and carry a briefcase.” He laughs. “I guess that’s just how bohemian kids rebel.”

He’ll soon travel to Berlin to shoot second World War drama Aftermath, alongside Keira Knightly. He can’t wait to use his new base to get back to his extended family in Stockholm.

“I have a four-year-old brother and a seven-year-old brother and a two-year-old nephew,” he says. “And I haven’t seen them since Christmas. And I miss them. Being away from them really sucks. I’m hoping to get an apartment in Stockholm. I haven’t had a place there for 12 years. It’s too long”

Five of the younger Skarsgårds – Alexander, Gustaf, Bill, Sam, and Valter – have followed dad into acting. Alexander quit the business for almost a decade before he fell back in love with the idea while watching his father at Stockholm’s Royal Theatre.

“I remember hanging out backstage and seeing my dad and how much he enjoyed being around all these other people. Seeing his passion made me want to check it out again. And then I got stuck here.”

Getting stuck, as he puts it, didn’t happen overnight. Despite an early break and a few scenes in Zoolander \(2001), American casting directors were slow to warm to the charms of the statuesque 6ft 4in Swede. “In 2007, I had a moment when I thought: why am I here?” he recalls. “Why am I out here auditioning for the stupid boyfriend in a pilot show? Or the bad horror movie where I get eaten in the fourth scene by an alien? Whenever I read something interesting, someone established would swoop in and get the job at the last second. It was disheartening.

“And then along came Generation Kill. I only got lucky because they didn’t want famous actors in it. They were actually searching for unknowns.”

Generation Kill, a seven-part series detailing the exploits of the United States Marine Corps’ 1st Reconnaissance Battalion during the 2003 invasion of Iraq was a big break, but it almost scuppered the actor’s casting in another HBO series. Skarsgård was on location in Mozambique for Generation Kill when he got the call for True Blood, the vampire drama created by Alan Ball, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of American Beauty and Six Feet Under.

“I had met with Alan more than eight months before Generation Kill,” says the actor. “But I couldn’t come audition at that moment. Lucky for me, the writer’s strike delayed production on True Blood for four months so I could do both. I still had no idea how people were going to respond to it. And then it became this overwhelming thing.”

The ultimately iconic television show has allowed Skarsgård to alternate between interesting indie projects (The East, What Maisie Knew) and tent-pole releases (Battleship, The Legend of Tarzan).

This summer, audiences around the planet became familiar with his formidable abs as the latest incarnation of Tarzan, a role that demanded months of weight-lifting and Pilates, extensive training with the Royal Ballet choreographer Wayne McGregor, and the consumption of 7,000 calories (of meat and potatoes) every day.

“Shooting Tarzan was so physical and technical. There are lots of shots where you’re surrounded by wildebeests, meaning you’re actually surrounded by nothing. You have to be patient. And, luckily, the director David Yates is one of the loveliest men in the world. Even though it’s a big studio movie, he has a way of breaking through the hierarchy and keeping the atmosphere light and fun.”

He won’t name names, but he has known “troubled productions”: “I’ve been on those sets where directors and actors and producers manage through fear, where people are little people. Everybody wants to be somewhere else. They’re afraid of getting fired. It sucks being on sets like that.”

The Tarzan six-pack makes a return appearance in a very different guise in War on Everyone, a new bad cop comedy from John Michael McDonagh, the writer-director of The Guard and Calvary. “There are remnants of Tarzan in there,” laughs Skarsgård. “I just didn’t have enough time to do the Robert de Niro Raging Bull diet.”

War on Everyone follows two corrupt police detectives – Bob (Michael Pena) and Terry (Skarsgård) – as they bribe, extort, drink, and harass their way around Albuquerque. They are bad guys and even worse cops, but their unethical policing might just allow them to stop a properly depraved villain.

“I haven’t done a comedy in 10 years or so,” says Skarsgård. “I’m a big fan of John Michael McDonagh. I thought Calvary and The Guard were great movies. I was in London, shooting Tarzan, when I got the script. Obviously a very different movie, tonally. Tarzan is so heroic and earnest. So to dive straight into this crazy, broad movie where the character’s moral compass is completely off was so great. And, normally, you read a script – even a good one – and think: ‘Oh, it’s this movie’. I had no idea where War on Everyone was going.”

Ever the adventurer? “I guess so,” he says. “A lot of things happen internally when you’re in a new environment or doing something completely different. And I love those things.”

War on Everyone opens on October 7th

Watch a clip of Alexander Skarsgård on The Jonathan Ross Show which aired in the UK on October 1, 2016

Alexander Skarsgard in @STStyle Photographed by Andre Wolff [x]

Styling: Michael Hennegan Interview: Katie Glass

Full interview below

Faithful Zodiac Signs:

Taurus: April 20 – May 20

The Bull loves his “creature comforts” and is very sensual. He thrives on stability and is usually extremely dependable, reliable, and loyal. Taureans are great planners and are always looking ahead, ready to tackle any problems that might arise in their lives, including possible obstacles in their marriage or relationship.

Cancer: June 22 – July 22

Of all the 12 signs, Cancer is the most concerned with a secure, loving relationship. The Crab loves home and family and is not happy unless he has deep emotional ties. The Cancerian is usually very nurturing and tends to take good care of everyone he cares about.

Virgo: August 23 – September 22

Virgos are sensitive, creative and tend to be intuitive when it comes to the feelings and needs of others. They are usually very supportive of friends and lovers, always ready to provide a “shoulder to cry on.” The kind Virgin often makes a wonderful life partner.

Libra: September 23 – October 22

This sign seeks peace and harmony (especially in relationships) due to an innate longing for justice and fairness. Libras are creative and multifaceted, and when trouble rears its ugly head in a relationship, the Libra will often escape into his own little world to sort things out. Usually an exciting lover, Libras tend to be trustworthy and loyal.

Capricorn: December 22 – January 19

The Goat loves stability, especially in a relationship. Most Capricorns realize that success in any form requires hard work and determination, and the Goat is not afraid of either. When obstacles in a relationship arise, as they always do, Capricorn has the patience required to work things out.

Signs that are Hard to Hold:

Aries March 21 – April 19

The Ram is independent and impulsive, often acting before fully considering the consequences of their actions. They also have a voracious appetite for adventure, which could very well include multiple lovers and numerous affairs.

Gemini May 21 – June 21

The Twins are daring and curious. They thrive on excitement, and sometimes on danger. They’re also incredibly mischievous and enjoy playing games, even with the hearts and minds of others. They become easily bored with a lover once the “new” has worn off.

Leo July 23 – August 22

The Lion is a perfectionist and is always on the prowl for the “perfect” mate. Unfortunately, few relationships are perfect, and once a Leo discovers that his lover can’t or won’t keep up with him sexually and intellectually, he’ll move on to more fertile ground. The king of the jungle often has a long history of numerous lovers and relationships.

Scorpio October 23 – November 21

Scorpios are often the most powerful beings among the zodiac signs, and they love and seek power. They are difficult to get to know, as they often hide their true feelings. Reasons a relationship with a Scorpio can be difficult include the Scorpion’s tendency to always thinks he’s right and that he’s not very forgiving. Once they feel that they’ve been wronged, it’s difficult for them to “forgive and forget.”

Sagittarius November 22 – December 21

The Archer is generally a free spirit who hates rules, including the restrictions inherent in a monogamous relationship. This sign loves exploration of all kinds, including adventurous forays into the areas of sex and relationships.

Aquarius January 20 – February 18

This sign is often flighty and unpredictable. The Water Bearer is very independent and unconventional. Many who fall under this sign might eschew the bonds of marriage or serious relationships, seeing them as boring.

Pisces February 19 – March 20

The most sensitive sign in the zodiac, Pisceans often battle conflicting inner emotions. The Fish live in their own little fantasy land and sometimes have difficulty handling the demands of the real world, including relationships. They become easily disillusioned when a lover or a relationship does not meet the high expectations of their fantasies.