Stellan Skarsgård

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Birthday:

13 June 1951, Gothenburg, Västra Götalands län, Sweden

Birth Name:

John Stellan Skarsgård

Height:

191 cm

Stellan Skarsgård was born in Gothenburg, Västra Götalands län, Sweden, to Gudrun (Larsson) and Jan Skarsgård. He became a star in his teens through the title role in the TV-series Bombi Bitt och jag (1968). Between the years 1972-88 he was employed at The Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, where he participated in "Vita rum" (1988), August Strindberg's "Ett drömspel" (1986) and "Mäster Olof" (1988). Simultaneously Skarsgård did outstanding film roles, notably in Den enfaldige mördaren (1982) by Hans Alfredson and with Fred Ward in American Playhouse: Noon Wine (1985). The fantastic performance gave him both a well-earned Guldbagge and Silver Berlin Bear. He portrayed the Skagen-painter Sören Kröyer in Hip hip hurra! (1987) and the Swedish ambassador Raoul Wallenberg in God afton, Herr Wallenberg (1990), both directed by Kjell Grede. Täcknamn Coq Rouge (1989) and Den demokratiske terroristen (1992) he played Jan Guillou's Swedish superagent Carl Hamilton. He also had the leading part in the Oscar nominated Oxen (1991) directed by the world-famous cinematographer Sven Nykvist. Skarsgård did his first (but small) role in an big American film with The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988). The role of Captain Tupolev in The Hunt for Red October (1990) was at supposed to be biggest part in a Hollywood-film, but unfortunately it was cut down. His breakthrough instead came with Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves (1996) opposite newcomer Emily Watson. After that Skarsgård got several supporting roles in American films, such as in My Son the Fanatic (1997), Gus Van Sant's Good Will Hunting (1997) and Steven Spielberg's Amistad (1997). Show less «

In Hollywood you got work around you all the time. You can't get a taxi without that the driver hands you a script. Where I live [in Sweden]...Show more »

In Hollywood you got work around you all the time. You can't get a taxi without that the driver hands you a script. Where I live [in Sweden] people still read books that can't be made into film. Show less «

It takes a long time to make me beautiful, but it goes fast to make me ugly.

There is no overacting, only untrue acting.

I'm not religious or anything, but to me it's great fun and it's nice to have a lot of kids. They take care of each other.

[on his first time on stage] I played a heap of snow in a school play. I was under a sheet, and crawled out when spring came. I often say I'...Show more »

[on his first time on stage] I played a heap of snow in a school play. I was under a sheet, and crawled out when spring came. I often say I'll never reach the same artistic level again. Show less «

Th main pleasure of working with Lars [von Trier] is that you feel absolutely free and safe, and you can't fail because if you fuck up it's ...Show more »

Th main pleasure of working with Lars [von Trier] is that you feel absolutely free and safe, and you can't fail because if you fuck up it's considered good...We've matured a little, hopefully, but hopefully not too much. Show less «

[on any potential sexual awareness emanating from making "Nymphomaniac'I and II] Well, it's not only about that, but if you get a chance to ...Show more »

[on any potential sexual awareness emanating from making "Nymphomaniac'I and II] Well, it's not only about that, but if you get a chance to learn about something that's good, isn't it? I'd never heard about the 'silent duck' before. I have a lot of female friends who consider me one of their girlfriends because they talk very openly in front of me, so I've heard quite a lot. Show less «

I was born naked and walk around naked at home. My parents walked around naked and when my friends in school still thought babies were broug...Show more »

I was born naked and walk around naked at home. My parents walked around naked and when my friends in school still thought babies were brought by storks I could tell them how they were really made. I have a very relaxed relationship[p with my genitals. Show less «

[on Robin Williams] It was as though he had three brains going at full speed all the time.

[on shooting Return to Montauk (2017)] It won't sell a lot of popcorn, but it's right up my alley.