From the Actor’s Childhood to the Sentimental Value. KVIFF Talk With Stellan Skarsgård Discussed His Whole Career

KVIFF Talk hosted by Scott Feinberg from the Hollywood Reporter magazine discussed the life of of Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård from his childhood to the present. The discussion was simultaneously recorded for Feinberg’s podcast Awards Chatter Live.

“I wanted to be a diplomat at first,” the famous actor confided. But at sixteen, he got a role in a series watched by the whole of Sweden - as their TV had only one channel at that time -, which turned Skarsgård into an idol. “I didn't apply for the role. It was my brother who signed me up as he also wanted the role,” the actor explained.

This success brought him more TV projects, on one of which he met Ingmar Bergman. “He was a very good director, but not a very nice person.” “He was manipulative and had this weird view of people, some of whom he considered far below him” Skarsgård noted. On the other hand, his collaboration with Bo Widerberg means a lot for him to date. “He once told me: I know what you’re doing. But I don't want to see your acting tools. I want you to be as good as an amateur. And I still stick to that.”

Among the milestones of the actor’s career mentioned during the KVIFF Talk was his Berlinale award for the film The Simple-Minded Murdered, and Lars von Trier’s first English-language film Breaking the Waves. “When I read the script, I thought: eventually a love story that I understand. It tells a story about the essence and purity of love,” the Swedish star believes.

The audience in the Congress Hall also appreciated his behind-the-scenes anecdotes about filming with Sven Nykvist, Gore Verbinski, and Gus van Sant, with whom Skarsgård filmed the drama Good Will Hunting. “Gus loves film; while filming, he would tell you: That was a great shot, let’s do another one! And the actor gets bolder with every next take, and Gus thus gets ten very different shots to choose from,” praised the KVIFF guest, who will be presented the Crystal Globe for outstanding artistic contribution to world cinema at tomorrow’s closing ceremony.

He will also present his new film Sentimental Value at the festival, which received a standing ovation in Cannes. “The response was overwhelming, yet I know how fleeting success can be in this industry. But I like having the chance to surprise myself. Being surprised is a great advantage of this profession,” says Stellan Skarsgård.