Stellan Skarsgård

Stellan John Skarsgård (, ; born 13 June 1951) is a Swedish actor. He is known for his collaborations with director Lars von Trier, appearing in ''Breaking the Waves'' (1996), ''Dancer in the Dark'' (2000), '' Dogville'' (2003), ''Melancholia'' (2011), and '' Nymphomaniac'' (2013). Skarsgård's early English-speaking film roles include ''The Unbearable Lightness of Being'' (1988), '' The Hunt for Red October'' (1990), '' Good Will Hunting'' (1997), '' Ronin'' (1998), and ''King Arthur'' (2004).

Skarsgård has since starred in blockbusters such as '' Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'' (2006) and '' Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End'' (2007). He also starred in the musical '' Mamma Mia!'' (2008), the thriller '' Angels and Demons'' (2009), the neo-noir thriller ''The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo'' (2011), and the family drama '' Sentimental Value'' (2025). He played Dr. Erik Selvig in five Marvel Cinematic Universe films, starting with ''Thor'' (2011), and portrayed Baron Harkonnen in Denis Villeneuve's two-part ''Dune'' adaptation, ''Dune'' (2021) and '' Dune: Part Two'' (2024).

He is also known for his work in television portraying Boris Shcherbina in the HBO miniseries '' Chernobyl'' (2019), for which he received the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film and a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, and Luthen Rael in the ''Star Wars'' political spy thriller series '' Andor'' (2022–2025).

Early life

Skarsgård was born in Gothenburg, the son of Gudrun (née Larsson; born 1930) and Jan Skarsgård (1920–1998). He moved often in his childhood and lived, amongst other places, in Helsingborg, Totebo, Kalmar, Marielund, and Uppsala.

Acting career

Skarsgård started his acting career early; and, by the age of 21, his experience in film, TV and stage was considerable. Most of his early roles were in Swedish television (such as ''Bombi Bitt'') and films. Of Skarsgård's work in Swedish film, he is known for '' Good Evening, Mr. Wallenberg'', where he portrays Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, who worked to save Holocaust victims.

Skarsgård is particularly associated with director Lars von Trier and has appeared in six of the Danish auteur's features: '' The Kingdom'', ''Breaking the Waves'', ''Dancer in the Dark'', '' Dogville'', ''Melancholia'', and '' Nymphomaniac''. His most personal working relationship, however, is with Norwegian director Hans Petter Moland, who has directed the actor in '' Zero Kelvin'', ''Aberdeen'', '' In Order of Disappearance'', and '' A Somewhat Gentle Man''. Skarsgård considers Moland a close friend and, in 2009, he said of their relationship: "We're like an old married couple and I get separation anxiety." Another Scandinavian work that he is known for is the 1997 Norwegian film ''Insomnia'', in which he plays the guilt-ridden policeman Jonas Engström.

Skarsgård's first American film was the 1985 film ''Noon Wine'', directed by Michael Fields, in which Skarsgård played a mentally disturbed immigrant farmhand being chased by a bounty hunter. He acted opposite Fred Ward, who portrayed the farmer. In 1990, he starred in another American film, '' The Hunt for Red October'', playing the character of Captain Tupolev, a Soviet submarine commander.

Primarily a character actor, he played one of Demi Moore's two love interests in '' Passion of Mind'' (2000), directed by Alain Berliner. Skarsgård appeared as a guest star on '' Entourage'' as Verner Vollstedt, the German director of the fictional film ''Smokejumpers'', who is hostile to the main character Vincent Chase. Skarsgård appeared as Bootstrap Bill Turner in both '' Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'' and '' Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End''. In 2008, he starred as Bill Anderson in Universal Pictures' '' Mamma Mia!'' and reprised the role 10 years later in its sequel ''Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again''.

Skarsgård played Dr. Erik Selvig in the 2011 film ''Thor'', and later reprised the role in '' Thor: The Dark World'' (2013) and '' Thor: Love and Thunder'' (2022), as well as '' The Avengers'' (2012) and '' Avengers: Age of Ultron'' (2015). Skarsgård reteamed with ''Thor'' director Kenneth Branagh for the 2015 live-action adaptation of Disney's ''Cinderella'', in which he played The Grand Duke. In 2021, he played Vladimir Harkonnen in Denis Villeneuve's ''Dune'' (2021)'','' and reprised the role in Dune: Part Two (2024). Skarsgård also co-starred alongside his son Gustaf Skarsgård in the Swedish psychological thriller ''What Remains'' (2022)''.''

Skarsgård has appeared in music videos alongside fellow Swedes. He was in Eva Dahlgren's "Vem tänder stjärnorna" (Who Lights the Stars) in 1991 and Lykke Li's 2011 music video, "Sadness Is a Blessing".

Personal life

In April 1975, Skarsgård married Swedish doctor, My (born 1956). Before divorcing My in 2007, they had six children together: Alexander (born 1976), Gustaf (born 1980), Sam (born 1982), Bill (born 1990), Eija (born 1992), and Valter (born 1995). Alexander, Gustaf, Bill, and Valter are also actors, while Eija was a model for a few years. Skarsgård married Irish screenwriter and producer Megan Everett in January 2009. They have two sons together. In 2016, Skarsgård revealed that he had a vasectomy because he felt that eight children was enough. Seven of his children are active in film and television; the eighth is a doctor.

Religious beliefs

Skarsgård was brought up by humanist, atheist parents, and had an atheist grandfather and a deeply religious grandmother. According to Skarsgård, this never led to any problems because of the family's mutual respect for each other's opinions. After the September 11 attacks, Skarsgård set out to read the Bible and the Quran, both of which he condemns as violent. Skarsgård is also a critic of religious independent schools in the Swedish educational system. He has said he considers the question of God's existence to be "absurd and completely uninteresting" since if a benevolent God were to exist he would judge only a person's deeds and not care for worship, but if God were actually so vain as to constantly demand worship, then he would not be worthy of it.

In 2009, Skarsgård, along with other non-religious artists, authors, and entrepreneurs including Christer Sturmark, Björn Ulvaeus, and Christer Fuglesang, wrote an article in ''Dagens Nyheter'' stressing the importance of secularity. The group also criticised the UN for its stance on blasphemy laws.

Political views

Skarsgård has voiced support for Swedish tax policies, and for a high income tax rate for high earners.

Skarsgård is avowedly anti-nationalist.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Skarsgard, Stellan
Year of birth missing (living people)
20th-century Swedish male actors
21st-century Swedish male actors
Best Actor Guldbagge Award winners
1951 births
Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe (television) winners
Best Supporting Actor Guldbagge Award winners
Critics of religions
European Film Awards winners (people)
Living people
Male actors from Gothenburg
Secular humanists
Silver Bear for Best Actor winners
Skarsgård family
Swedish atheism activists
Swedish atheists
Swedish humanists
Swedish male film actors
Swedish male television actors