Born into a Hollywood family, Alexander Skarsgård was set on the path of fame from birth. As expected, the Swedish actor began acting as a child but quit in his teens. He didn’t like the feeling fame brought with it at the time and decided to try other career options. However, his acting gene was too strong to be shelved, pulling him back to the show business. Skarsgård has proved his prowess with several award-winning performances across film, television, and stage productions. He is building a legacy for the ages in his home country and the United States.
Alexander Skarsgård gained international prominence for playing Eric Northman in True Blood from 2008 to 2014. He bagged multiple awards for a perfect depiction of Perry Wright, an abusive husband in Big Little Liars from 2017 to 2019. He was also a cast member on the drama series Succession, earning Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. On the big screen, Skarsgård has recorded remarkable success with such films as Zoolander (2001), Melancholia (2011), Battleship (2012), The Legend of Tarzan (2016), Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), and Infinity Pool (2023). Read on for a detailed look at Alexander Skarsgård’s life and career.
Alexander Skarsgård Was Born Into an Acting Dynasty
The eldest child of his parents, Alexander Skarsgård was born on August 25, 1976, in Stockholm, Sweden. His father is the Hollywood veteran Stellan Skarsgård while his mother is a doctor named My Skarsgård. Skarsgård has five younger siblings – Gustaf, Sam, Bill, Elja and Valter. Gustaf, Bill, and Valter are all involved in the acting business. Skarsgård also has two half-siblings (Ossian Skarsgård and Kolbjörn Skarsgård) from his father’s second marriage to Megan Everett.
At age eight, Alexander Skarsgård made his acting debut as Kalie Nubb in Åke and His World which his father’s friend directed. Skarsgård was 13 when he gained recognition for his lead role in Hunden som log, a Swedish television production. However, fame didn’t sit well with him. Subsequently, he quit acting to try other career options. Skarsgård completed his compulsory military service in the Swedish Navy’s SäkJakt in 1996 after serving for 18 months. He later enrolled to study English at Leeds Metropolitan University in England while also considering a career in architecture. Eventually, he chose acting and took a theater course at Marymount Manhattan College in New York.
Alexander Skarsgård Began His Acting Career In Sweden
After his brief theater course in New York, Alexander Skarsgård moved back to Sweden where he became a star, appearing in notable Swedish productions. A quest to broaden his horizon took him back to the United States where he landed his first American film role in Zoolander (2001). His big break came in 2008 when he joined the cast of the miniseries Generation Kill where his portrayal of Marine Sgt. Brad “Iceman” was critically acclaimed.
Alexander Skarsgård gained international prominence when he was cast as Eric Northman on the hit vampire series True Blood. He continued to record film and television success with more stellar performances in such projects as Melancholia (2011), Battleship (2012), The Legend of Tarzan (2016), Big Little Lies (2017–2019), Passing (2021), The Northman (2022), Infinity Pool (2023), The Stand (2020–2021) and Succession (2021–2023).
Awards and Nominations
Alexander Skarsgård is a multiple award-winning actor with at least 12 wins and numerous nominations. He won his first award at the 2009 Scream Awards for Best Villain for his portrayal of Eric Northman in True Blood and a nomination for Best Horror Actor for the same role. He also shared a Satelite Award for Best Ensemble, Television with True Blood co-stars. Skarsgård scooped many more awards and nominations for his True Blood role. For his performance in the drama series Big Little Lies, Skarsgård won a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Critics’ Choice Television Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. He scored two Primetime Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe Award nomination for playing Lucas Matsson in Succession.
Is Alexander Skarsgård Married?
Unapologetically feminist, Alexander Skarsgård has been in high-profile relationships but none has led to marriage. Voted the sexiest man in Sweden five times, Skarsgård has dated many beautiful ladies, including Alexa Chung from 2015 to 2017. The True Blood alum became a father in 2022 when his girlfriend Swedish actress Tuva Novotny welcomed his first child. Other ladies romantically linked to Skarsgård include Amanda Seyfried, Kate Bosworth, Charlize Theron, and Evan Rachel Wood. Here are some fascinating facts about the Skarsgård clan that you probably didn’t know.
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