Alexander Skarsgård

Biography of Alexander Skarsgård

Alexander Johan Hjalmar Skarsgård is an actor of Swedish origin who starred in the popular HBO projects («Generation Kill», «True Blood»), and Hollywood blockbusters («Battleship», «The Legend of Tarzan»). He was also the face of Calvin Klein.

The Swedish handsome man Alexander Skarsgård

The Childhood of Alexander Skarsgård. His first roles

Alexander Skarsgård was born in the southern suburbs of Stockholm, in the family of My Guenther, a doctor, and Stellan Skarsgård, a nationally-known actor. Having starred in about 120 movies, Alexander's father has been one of the most recognizable Swedish actors for a long time.

Alexander's father, Stellan Skarsgård, is the great Swedish actor

Alexander is not the only member of the family who has continued an acting dynasty of the Skarsgårds. He has four younger brothers and a sister; two of them, Gustaf (born in 1980) and Bill Skarsgård (born in 1990), have also dedicated their lives to dramatic art.

Little Alexander Skarsgård with his mother

The acting debut of Alexander Skarsgård took place early - at the age of 8. The first role of a young actor was the little boy Kalle Nubb in the Swedish drama «Ake and His World». Three years later, the boy starred in the movie «Idag röd». In 1989, he played the lead role in the family movie «The Dog That Smiled».

Alexander Skarsgård played his first role when he was 8 years old

The latter work made him successful among the teenage audience, but the constant attention of strangers was not pleased to Alexander, it was rather annoying: «The glory was terrible for me. When people look at you constantly, and you read about yourself in the newspapers – at the age of 13, it brings only more confusion. Then I have thought that if it means to be famous, I do not want it.»

Alexander Skarsgård in his youth

Shortly after the premiere of «The Dog That Smiled», he threw himself into books, decided to become a famous architect. Before graduation from high school, he changed his mind and went to college, where he studied political science thoroughly. At the age of 19, Skarsgård joined the Royal Marine, and during the next year, he served in a unit of the coastal artillery that dealt with anti-terrorism in the Stockholm archipelago. During his service, the young man was thinking of his life and planning his future.

In 1996, Alexander left his native Sweden and moved to England «finding himself». There he began to study English at Leeds Beckett University. A year later, Skarsgård went to New York City, where the future celebrity finally began to make his dream come true - Alexander enrolled in a theater course at Marymount Manhattan College. «In England, I spent time uselessly, watched football, got drunk and got into trouble all the time - the actor told later, - but just then the question appeared: what I want to do with my life? I went to New York City and attended Drama school.»

«In England, I watched football, got drunk and got into trouble all the time»

After completing the course, which lasted six months, Alexander returned to Stockholm. He went to Sweden because of his old love, which, however, quickly vanished after his arrival. But there is a silver lining - tired of the constant moving, Skarsgård decided to stay in the country of the Vikings. For the next few years, he has actively acted in numerous Swedish television projects. In 1999, it was released the melodrama «Happy End», where Alexander played the lead male role. In 2000, the audience saw him in the joint project of four Swedish independent filmmakers «D-dag», the thriller «The Diver», melodrama «Wings of Glass» and TV series «Judith». However, all these projects were low budget and did not reach the audience outside of Scandinavia.

Alexander Skarsgård: «How to pronounce my name correctly?»

In 2001, Alexander Skarsgård went to the USA again - spent «vacation» during a break between shooting. He had accidentally been at the audition of a joint project of Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson «Zoolander», and, to his surprise, he was approved for the role of not very intelligent man-model Meekus, a neighbor of Derek Zoolander. He really had the appearance of a model.

Alexander Skarsgård in the role of Meekus ( «Zoolander»)

Contrary to the expectations, after his debut in Hollywood, the actor did not get many offers. In the next four years, he acted in several projects in his motherland. In 2003, he was nominated for the Guldbagge Award for his supporting role in the comedy «The Dog Trick», after which Alexander was named the Sexiest Man in Sweden five times.

Alexander Skarsgård is named the Sexiest Man in Sweden

In 2005, the actor starred as Lt. Jergen Voller in the British military action movie «The Last Drop». In the same year, Alexander got one of the lead roles in the Swedish drama «Om Sara» by Othman Karim. Alexander played an unusual role for himself in an independent project «Kill Your Darlings» (2006) by his friend Bjorn Larsson. For the first time in his life, the actor had makeup on and stood on the heels, as he had to play a transvestite.

The Prosperity of His Career

In 2007, Alexander Skarsgård joined the cast of the new HBO project, based on a true story of the TV series «Generation Kill» about the military campaign in 2003 in Iraq. The Swedish actor got one of the lead roles - sober and cold-blooded Sergeant Brad Colbert with the nickname «Iceman».

«Generation Kill»: Alexander Skarsgård in the role of Sergeant Iceman

The TV series was successful, so in 2008, Skarsgård continued his cooperation with HBO. At this time the TV Company was shooting the «vampire» TV series «True Blood». The act happened in the near future which was so high-tech that vampires could «get out of the gloom» and show themselves to the world. They were helped by the scientists who synthesized artificial blood that successfully replaced the real one for the bloodsuckers. For the next seven years, Skarsgård has acted as Eric Northman, a vampire sheriff. On the movie set, the actor met the pretty Anna Paquin, who played a waitress with telepathic abilities, and the «good» vampire Stephen Moyer.

Alexander Skarsgård starred in seven seasons of «True Blood»

In 2009, the actor appeared in the music video for the song «Paparazzi» of Lady Gaga, and later he voiced the character, Stefan, in the animated dystopia «Metropia». By the way, another cartoon character was voiced by the actor's father. In the same year, it was released the movie «Beyond the Pole» in the mockumentary genre with Alexander.

Alexander Skarsgård in the music video «Paparazzi» of Lady Gaga

In the summer of 2011, Alexander Skarsgård graduated from Leeds Beckett University and gained the degree of Doctor of Arts. In the same year, he acted with Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg in the movie «Melancholia» by Lars von Trier. In 2012, he starred in the sci-fi movie «Battleship». His character - Commander Stone Hopper - helped to repel the invasion of aliens on the Earth. At the same time, the fashion brand Calvin Klein offered the actor to become the advertising face of the company, in particular, men's fragrance Encounter.

Alexander Skarsgård in the advertising for Calvin Klein

In November 2013, a well-known charity organization has launched a competition to raise funds for soldiers injured in the fighting - «Walking with the Wounded». Alexander Skarsgård, Prince Harry, and actor Dominic West were the participants of this charity event. They had to go from South Africa to the South Pole, a distance of 320 kilometers at full speed in 16 days.

Alexander Skarsgård, Prince Harry and Dominic West visited the South Pole

In 2016, Alexander Skarsgård played the lead role with Margot Robbie and Samuel L. Jackson in the adventure movie «The Legend of Tarzan» by David Yates. To be ready for shooting, Skarsgård has trained to «build» a body worthy of the Prince of the jungle for 4 months.

Alexander Skarsgård at the premiere of «The Legend of Tarzan»

In 2018, he starred in the TV series «Big Little Lies», which instantly became a hit on television and won several prestigious awards, including 4 Golden Globes. This role was one of the most difficult in the impressive filmography of the actor. It was not easy to play Perry Wright, seemingly a perfect man with a «small» defect – his sadistic propensities, expressed in the regular beating of his wife played by (Nicole Kidman).

Personal Life of Alexander Skargård

It is known a little about the personal life of Alexander, at least until the moment when the actor's fame has reached the international level. In 2007, he has dated the actress Evan Rachel Wood for a short period of time. In 2008, the Swede dated the model Amanda Seyfried, but, apparently, their relationship has not lasted for a long time. In 2009, Skarsgård appeared regularly with Kate Bosworth, an American model, and actress, Alexander’s colleague in the movie «Straw Dogs». Later, the actor's father confirmed his son’s relationship. In summer 2011, the couple broke up.

Alexander Skarsgård and Kate Bosworth on vacation

After such a long (on Skarsgård’s opinion) romance, the actor has found some solace with Elizabeth Olsen, the younger sister of the Olsen twins, known for her role of Wanda, a witch, in «The Avengers». During the shooting of «Battleship», Alexander had a romance with the singer Rihanna who also acted in this movie.

Rihanna and Alexander Skarsgård had a short affair

But even the pretty Rihanna could not keep the windy Swede with herself – after a couple of months he was noticed with Charlize Theron: these Hollywood stars drank cocktails in the Los Angeles gay bar. And soon in the press, it appeared the photo with Skarsgård who playfully snuggled up to the young actress Ellen Page at the premiere of «The East».

On the photo: Alexander Skarsgård and Ellen Page

Maybe, Alexander Skarsgård is inconstant in his relationship, but the family is sacred for him. He is grateful to his parents for the upbringing and, despite being busy, has friendly relations with his father and younger brothers.

Alexander and Bill Skarsgård are the successors of their acting dynasty

The actor is fluent in his native Swedish and English. He speaks German and French well.

The shooting of «The Legend of Tarzan»: Alexander Skarsgård kisses a baby kangaroo

The actor’s fans call him «Askars» or «Skardigans» for his special love to such clothes, like cardigans.

In 2016, Alexander Skarsgård appeared on the stage without his pants

Alexander likes big dogs; a four-legged friend of the rare breed Leonberger has lived with him. Now the actor does not keep animals at home, because he often travels.

The Leonberger has lived with the actor for a long time