Well, then we have to wish him good luck! And you are right, I din´t count the two little ones Stellan got with Megan. Sorry. If you like the Skarsgård brothers (who don´t) check out posh.24.se.
Bill Skarsgård
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Ella Sweden said:
Everyone here has heard about every Skarsgårds.
There is a Gurra thread already BTW.
http://forum.purseblog.com/celebrity-news-and-gossip/gustaf-skarsgard-519808.html
Gurra is my fave too. I haven't actually seen lots of Bill's work, so I can't comment on his acting skills, but Gurra is def a better actor than Alex.
Yeah, I think he got a bit tired of the starving artist thing. I'm sure he wants some international recognition just like his dad, brothers and friends are getting. Not to mention the money.
Btw, I watched Anna Karenina and...no Bill. I think his scenes might have been cut from the movie. Damn shame.
Gurra is my fave too. I haven't actually seen lots of Bill's work, so I can't comment on his acting skills, but Gurra is def a better actor than Alex.
Yeah, I think he got a bit tired of the starving artist thing. I'm sure he wants some international recognition just like his dad, brothers and friends are getting. Not to mention the money.
Btw, I watched Anna Karenina and...no Bill. I think his scenes might have been cut from the movie. Damn shame.
Could be a reason why he didn't show up at the TIFF premiere. When I think about it he did not much promo for this at all except in the beginning. I guess next is Victoria and then for the Americans Hemlock Grove.
I guess so. The cast of this film is enormous and a lot of them are wasted in tiny little roles. I guess they didn't inform Bill that he was cut from the film. Not very classy.
Here's Bill's interview from the Café issue translated by this tumblr.
I love how refreshing and honest he is here. Unfortunately this will go away soon if he's having more success in the US.
It took his big brother four years of hard work to get his first Hollywood part. For BILL SKARSGÅRD it took six weeks. Café meets up with Sweden’s latest shooting star in LA.
Bill Skarsgård is sitting in a rental car on the five lane 405 interstate to San Fernando Valley with his bros Robin and Tobias. They’re on their way to a “shooting range” to burn off a few shots when they are interrupted by a phone call. On the other side of the line half of William Morris Agency, Bill's American agency, has gathered in true Hollywood fashion to cry out in unison “Congratulations, you got the part!”
After six short weeks in LA Bill, 21, has landed his first leading part in an American tv series, the thriller Hemlock Grove. While others have to draw blood to get a second of air time as an extra in some half assed Stallone film, Bill has effortlessly skid in and scored a lead. It’s almost a bit provoking.
“Dad just said ‘F*ck off’ when he called” Bill says. “But with love of course.”
He seems to be taking it all in his stride. Bill Skarsgård seems more afraid to speak loudly about his breakthrough, as if it could slip through his hands if he dares. He called his brother Gustaf and told him about getting the part, the rest of the family had to read the press release.
The Gothic thriller series Hemlock Grove, which in the industry media has been compared to Twin Peaks, is produced by Netflix, a popular American steaming service who last year decided to add their own library of films and series to compete with the regular tv stations. The Norwegian series, Lilyhammer with Little Steven at the reins, and David Fincher’s House of Cards with Kevin Spacey in the lead is also part of Netflix’s big venture.
They’re challenging the traditional way of watching tv and releasing all episodes at the same time instead of weekly releases. It’s an attempt to catch the younger audience prone to downloading what they want to watch and not sticking to the tv listings.
“In the script my character is described as a slim guy with big, green eyes and that fits me pretty well,” Bill notes. He shakes his head, looking a little dazed. “I’ve had four lead roles in Sweden and then I get here and then this happens in just six weeks. It’s all about luck. Alex was here for four years before getting a part.”
A few weeks before the happy word we meet for brunch in Los Feliz, LA. At this time the visit is still implicit. “A few meetings” and a couple of auditions is on the schedule - otherwise it’s all very unplanned, to the degree that Bill and his two friends, Tobias and Robin, have nowhere to stay.
“We nagged ourselves two more nights at the place we’ve been staying, after that we’ll have to see,” Tobias explains, who’s been a friend of Bill’s since school.
“Robin is my driver, I don’t have a license” says Bill who despite trying, summarizes the year 2011 as “the year I didn’t get my driver’s license”.
“A payment from an old job came through, so I had the money to pay for Robin’s ticket. He’s now hired as part of my staff,” Bill explains with a broad smile. Robin nods in assent but mumbles something about how it would be nice if Bill stopped introducing him as “the driver” for girls on nights out. “I’ll never get to f*ck, I might as well stay in the car!”
... to be continued
I love how refreshing and honest he is here. Unfortunately this will go away soon if he's having more success in the US.
It took his big brother four years of hard work to get his first Hollywood part. For BILL SKARSGÅRD it took six weeks. Café meets up with Sweden’s latest shooting star in LA.
Bill Skarsgård is sitting in a rental car on the five lane 405 interstate to San Fernando Valley with his bros Robin and Tobias. They’re on their way to a “shooting range” to burn off a few shots when they are interrupted by a phone call. On the other side of the line half of William Morris Agency, Bill's American agency, has gathered in true Hollywood fashion to cry out in unison “Congratulations, you got the part!”
After six short weeks in LA Bill, 21, has landed his first leading part in an American tv series, the thriller Hemlock Grove. While others have to draw blood to get a second of air time as an extra in some half assed Stallone film, Bill has effortlessly skid in and scored a lead. It’s almost a bit provoking.
“Dad just said ‘F*ck off’ when he called” Bill says. “But with love of course.”
He seems to be taking it all in his stride. Bill Skarsgård seems more afraid to speak loudly about his breakthrough, as if it could slip through his hands if he dares. He called his brother Gustaf and told him about getting the part, the rest of the family had to read the press release.
The Gothic thriller series Hemlock Grove, which in the industry media has been compared to Twin Peaks, is produced by Netflix, a popular American steaming service who last year decided to add their own library of films and series to compete with the regular tv stations. The Norwegian series, Lilyhammer with Little Steven at the reins, and David Fincher’s House of Cards with Kevin Spacey in the lead is also part of Netflix’s big venture.
They’re challenging the traditional way of watching tv and releasing all episodes at the same time instead of weekly releases. It’s an attempt to catch the younger audience prone to downloading what they want to watch and not sticking to the tv listings.
“In the script my character is described as a slim guy with big, green eyes and that fits me pretty well,” Bill notes. He shakes his head, looking a little dazed. “I’ve had four lead roles in Sweden and then I get here and then this happens in just six weeks. It’s all about luck. Alex was here for four years before getting a part.”
A few weeks before the happy word we meet for brunch in Los Feliz, LA. At this time the visit is still implicit. “A few meetings” and a couple of auditions is on the schedule - otherwise it’s all very unplanned, to the degree that Bill and his two friends, Tobias and Robin, have nowhere to stay.
“We nagged ourselves two more nights at the place we’ve been staying, after that we’ll have to see,” Tobias explains, who’s been a friend of Bill’s since school.
“Robin is my driver, I don’t have a license” says Bill who despite trying, summarizes the year 2011 as “the year I didn’t get my driver’s license”.
“A payment from an old job came through, so I had the money to pay for Robin’s ticket. He’s now hired as part of my staff,” Bill explains with a broad smile. Robin nods in assent but mumbles something about how it would be nice if Bill stopped introducing him as “the driver” for girls on nights out. “I’ll never get to f*ck, I might as well stay in the car!”
... to be continued
At the restaurant Le Figaros sun drenched patio life seems pretty fun for the guys.
Yeah, but its not too glamorous. We dont have any money. Not even accommodation. And the car is uninsured. But Bill with his seize-the-day mentality seems to be taking this in his stride too.
You should have no money until you get a lot of money before you have no money again. Its boring being economic.
Its worthless, you should blow everything you have! says Tobias. Robin - who has for the moment forgotten he didnt pay a dime for his own plane ticket - nods along.
The last two years Bill has had four leading roles in Sweden. He was praised for his part in I rymden finns inga känslor (Simple Simon), where he plays Simon who has Aspergers Syndrome. The film was Swedens entry to the 2011 Academy Awards. He was also the leading part in Simon och ekarna (Simon and the Oaks) which was nominated for thirteen Guldbagge Awards and winning two. He has just finished filming Anna Karenina in London, Bills first English speaking film, where hes fighting for the spotlight with Keira Knightley and Jude Law.
I play a captain, well I guess its called a general. I only had eight days shooting. Its quite a lot for that small part.
But was it interesting working with big stars like Law and Knightley?
I have never really felt the hype around celebrities. Keira is hot as hell, and its fun working with her, but in rehearsals shes just a girl in sweatpants you know?
Do you think its to your advantage being Alexs brother over here?
His hype over here has probably helped a bit. It raises me up. In 2010 Himlen är oskyldigt blå was shown at TIFF and I rymden finns inga känslor was the the Swedish entry for the Oscars. So all my agents have seen them. Ive never signed with anyone whos never seen my work.
Last year Bill was also chosen as one of the shooting stars of the year by European Film Promotion - a marketing organisation for European film - during the Berlin festival. A price earlier awarded to Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig, but Bill didnt take it too seriously.
It was great meeting the other actors, but the whole thing felt like a product placement. You stood in front of the cameras, smiling and displaying a Champagne bottle. It felt a bit dirty. It felt the whole shooting-stars-gang were there to sell Champagne. The focus was more on making their sponsors happy than actual interest in the actors. he says but gets briefly interrupted by the mountain of Egg Florentine drenched in Hollandaise sauce the waiter puts in front of him. I mean, it was a good thing, the qualification is still there if it didnt lead anywhere.
Swedish media said you were celebrated.
Thats so f*cking Swedish. I mean celebrated, what? I wasnt f*cking celebrated he says shoving an egg into his mouth.
But you were always hungover. Tobias says and a joint belly laugh breaks out around the table.
F*ck no, says Bill. They quoted me wrong! It was a reporter from Aftonbladet who wrote that Ive known him for a while and he actually likes me. He asked how is it being a shooting-star? or something and I replied I guess its nice, youre a bit hungover after all the events you have to go to every night though. The headline was Bill Skarsgård: Youre hungover - all the time and a picture of me in a hate looking really rough.
Can you laugh at that sort of stuff?
I cant be bothered to care. Its like a good face rape. For it to be good 90% of all your friends have to believe in it. It has to be something corny and embarrassing. Like Yoga is so f*cking nice. Thats exactly how that headline is. 99% of those who read it think Im sitting there saying Ughh shiiit, Im always drunk and Im having such a bad hair day so I have to wear a hat errrr.
... to be continued.
Yeah, but its not too glamorous. We dont have any money. Not even accommodation. And the car is uninsured. But Bill with his seize-the-day mentality seems to be taking this in his stride too.
You should have no money until you get a lot of money before you have no money again. Its boring being economic.
Its worthless, you should blow everything you have! says Tobias. Robin - who has for the moment forgotten he didnt pay a dime for his own plane ticket - nods along.
The last two years Bill has had four leading roles in Sweden. He was praised for his part in I rymden finns inga känslor (Simple Simon), where he plays Simon who has Aspergers Syndrome. The film was Swedens entry to the 2011 Academy Awards. He was also the leading part in Simon och ekarna (Simon and the Oaks) which was nominated for thirteen Guldbagge Awards and winning two. He has just finished filming Anna Karenina in London, Bills first English speaking film, where hes fighting for the spotlight with Keira Knightley and Jude Law.
I play a captain, well I guess its called a general. I only had eight days shooting. Its quite a lot for that small part.
But was it interesting working with big stars like Law and Knightley?
I have never really felt the hype around celebrities. Keira is hot as hell, and its fun working with her, but in rehearsals shes just a girl in sweatpants you know?
Do you think its to your advantage being Alexs brother over here?
His hype over here has probably helped a bit. It raises me up. In 2010 Himlen är oskyldigt blå was shown at TIFF and I rymden finns inga känslor was the the Swedish entry for the Oscars. So all my agents have seen them. Ive never signed with anyone whos never seen my work.
Last year Bill was also chosen as one of the shooting stars of the year by European Film Promotion - a marketing organisation for European film - during the Berlin festival. A price earlier awarded to Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig, but Bill didnt take it too seriously.
It was great meeting the other actors, but the whole thing felt like a product placement. You stood in front of the cameras, smiling and displaying a Champagne bottle. It felt a bit dirty. It felt the whole shooting-stars-gang were there to sell Champagne. The focus was more on making their sponsors happy than actual interest in the actors. he says but gets briefly interrupted by the mountain of Egg Florentine drenched in Hollandaise sauce the waiter puts in front of him. I mean, it was a good thing, the qualification is still there if it didnt lead anywhere.
Swedish media said you were celebrated.
Thats so f*cking Swedish. I mean celebrated, what? I wasnt f*cking celebrated he says shoving an egg into his mouth.
But you were always hungover. Tobias says and a joint belly laugh breaks out around the table.
F*ck no, says Bill. They quoted me wrong! It was a reporter from Aftonbladet who wrote that Ive known him for a while and he actually likes me. He asked how is it being a shooting-star? or something and I replied I guess its nice, youre a bit hungover after all the events you have to go to every night though. The headline was Bill Skarsgård: Youre hungover - all the time and a picture of me in a hate looking really rough.
Can you laugh at that sort of stuff?
I cant be bothered to care. Its like a good face rape. For it to be good 90% of all your friends have to believe in it. It has to be something corny and embarrassing. Like Yoga is so f*cking nice. Thats exactly how that headline is. 99% of those who read it think Im sitting there saying Ughh shiiit, Im always drunk and Im having such a bad hair day so I have to wear a hat errrr.
... to be continued.
A waitress in a white shirt and see through tights arrives with the second serving of orange juice. If you didnt know better youd think Bill and his friends were hungover today. But between apartment hunting and auditions they havent really had the time for night outs lately.
I gave an interview in Metro when I was eighteen years old and the day after the headline was Stellan is my biggest role-model. If you google me that comes up! Not that Ive googled myself
Of course you have Tobias interrupts.
Yeah okay. But who hasnt really? You need to know what rumors are out there, if youve done stupid stuff and someone finds out about it.
He stops his explanation and returns to the subject.
I was really f*cking irritated because it was Metro, that everyone reads, and my second interview ever. I know that I cant have said it!
Hes very relaxed, Bill. Talks about almost anything. Laughs at most things. Its okay to ask all kinds of questions. But when you get to the subject of relationships and potential girlfriends - how many times you may ask - you get nothing out of him. No I dont have a girlfriend, no Im not dating anyone. Subject closed. Move on.
With his four leads and being known as a ~shooting star~ you could say his career is on track. So to dip his toes into the mecca of the film industry seems like a given at this point.
At the moment theres Sweden hype in the American film industry. A lot of it thanks to the Millenium-films, and they werent even that good! And Daniel Esposa and Tomas Alfredson of course. His Tinker, Tailor, Soilder, Spy was so f*cking well made.
But Bill will not take his own success for granted.
The first audition I did over here I thought This is so cool, I might get this!, but that has totally abandoned me now. I have no expectations whatsoever. Instead its more I really will NOT be getting this now he says, waiting for a loud bus to pass by before continuing: They typecast. Theyre looking for a special type of person, and it can all fail because your ears stick out too much. But its all making a good impression. If youre close a few time you might get a part after a while.
How is it different auditioning in Sweden to Hollywood?
In Sweden its more Hi, wow this is great, good to see you and you get an hour or so to try out a few scenes. Here you walk in and have five, ten minutes. Theres so many things Ive auditioned for that Ive not really wanted to do. But I dont want to be typecast and end up doing the same thing over and over, he says and goes quiet when Robin and Tobias discussion if they should fill up the parking meter with coins or card spills over to our side.
You need to have a thick skin to handle all the nos you get, no matter how good you are. He admits Hollywood is a dream, but not at any price. I want to make good projects and Ill just as well do them in Sweden. Actually erm f*ck I dont know I might be lying a bit. But I would rather do a good movie in Sweden than a bad in the US.
When he was younger Bill and his family traveled around with daddy Skarsgård to all his film shoots. While Stellan played a mathematician in Good Will Hunting and paralyzed husband in the dark Breaking the Waves Bill and his brothers were studying on the sidelines with mother My.
Weve always traveled with him, mum home schooled me, I mean only during our trips abroad, until I started secondary school and it got a bit too serious. We used to study between nine and twelve and after that it was play time.
Sounds like a dream!
It wasnt that we didnt take school seriously. On the contrary, when I started secondary school I was further ahead than all of my classmates.
And youd traveled more.
When dad was shooting City of Ghosts we lived in Cambodia. It wasnt the tourist paradise it is today, six months earlier there had been open street conflicts. And we lived in Mexico for a while. You get more perspective of the world as a child.
Bill says he already knew as a nine-year-old he wanted to follow in his fathers footsteps and become an actor.
I dont think you take a nine-year-olds dreams too seriously, but that was the way it was, I knew I wanted to be an actor when I was little.
Besides Bill, Gustaf and Alex their younger brother Valter, 16, will also enter the big screen with the film IRL - premiering spring 2013 - and will be the youngest Skarsgård to have been cast as a lead role.
Youve always had the opportunity to do what you want, theres never been any pressure for us all to become actors Bill says distantly, as if the question has come up a thousand times before. People see us as an acting family but I dont see us that way. We have such a different relationship to each other.
But you could say acting is still the common denominator.
I can recognize myself in Gustaf and Alex, I can understand how theyve gone about things. We are quite alike. Especially Gustaf and I have the same taste in actors and directors.
Are you competing with Alex for roles now?
No, I mean hes so much older than me. We will never be up for the same roles. And I would never try to compete with friends or family.
... to be continued.
I gave an interview in Metro when I was eighteen years old and the day after the headline was Stellan is my biggest role-model. If you google me that comes up! Not that Ive googled myself
Of course you have Tobias interrupts.
Yeah okay. But who hasnt really? You need to know what rumors are out there, if youve done stupid stuff and someone finds out about it.
He stops his explanation and returns to the subject.
I was really f*cking irritated because it was Metro, that everyone reads, and my second interview ever. I know that I cant have said it!
Hes very relaxed, Bill. Talks about almost anything. Laughs at most things. Its okay to ask all kinds of questions. But when you get to the subject of relationships and potential girlfriends - how many times you may ask - you get nothing out of him. No I dont have a girlfriend, no Im not dating anyone. Subject closed. Move on.
With his four leads and being known as a ~shooting star~ you could say his career is on track. So to dip his toes into the mecca of the film industry seems like a given at this point.
At the moment theres Sweden hype in the American film industry. A lot of it thanks to the Millenium-films, and they werent even that good! And Daniel Esposa and Tomas Alfredson of course. His Tinker, Tailor, Soilder, Spy was so f*cking well made.
But Bill will not take his own success for granted.
The first audition I did over here I thought This is so cool, I might get this!, but that has totally abandoned me now. I have no expectations whatsoever. Instead its more I really will NOT be getting this now he says, waiting for a loud bus to pass by before continuing: They typecast. Theyre looking for a special type of person, and it can all fail because your ears stick out too much. But its all making a good impression. If youre close a few time you might get a part after a while.
How is it different auditioning in Sweden to Hollywood?
In Sweden its more Hi, wow this is great, good to see you and you get an hour or so to try out a few scenes. Here you walk in and have five, ten minutes. Theres so many things Ive auditioned for that Ive not really wanted to do. But I dont want to be typecast and end up doing the same thing over and over, he says and goes quiet when Robin and Tobias discussion if they should fill up the parking meter with coins or card spills over to our side.
You need to have a thick skin to handle all the nos you get, no matter how good you are. He admits Hollywood is a dream, but not at any price. I want to make good projects and Ill just as well do them in Sweden. Actually erm f*ck I dont know I might be lying a bit. But I would rather do a good movie in Sweden than a bad in the US.
When he was younger Bill and his family traveled around with daddy Skarsgård to all his film shoots. While Stellan played a mathematician in Good Will Hunting and paralyzed husband in the dark Breaking the Waves Bill and his brothers were studying on the sidelines with mother My.
Weve always traveled with him, mum home schooled me, I mean only during our trips abroad, until I started secondary school and it got a bit too serious. We used to study between nine and twelve and after that it was play time.
Sounds like a dream!
It wasnt that we didnt take school seriously. On the contrary, when I started secondary school I was further ahead than all of my classmates.
And youd traveled more.
When dad was shooting City of Ghosts we lived in Cambodia. It wasnt the tourist paradise it is today, six months earlier there had been open street conflicts. And we lived in Mexico for a while. You get more perspective of the world as a child.
Bill says he already knew as a nine-year-old he wanted to follow in his fathers footsteps and become an actor.
I dont think you take a nine-year-olds dreams too seriously, but that was the way it was, I knew I wanted to be an actor when I was little.
Besides Bill, Gustaf and Alex their younger brother Valter, 16, will also enter the big screen with the film IRL - premiering spring 2013 - and will be the youngest Skarsgård to have been cast as a lead role.
Youve always had the opportunity to do what you want, theres never been any pressure for us all to become actors Bill says distantly, as if the question has come up a thousand times before. People see us as an acting family but I dont see us that way. We have such a different relationship to each other.
But you could say acting is still the common denominator.
I can recognize myself in Gustaf and Alex, I can understand how theyve gone about things. We are quite alike. Especially Gustaf and I have the same taste in actors and directors.
Are you competing with Alex for roles now?
No, I mean hes so much older than me. We will never be up for the same roles. And I would never try to compete with friends or family.
... to be continued.
A man reading The New Yorker throws himself down at the table next to us and orders a cheap glass of red wine. Suddenly the music is turned up and we almost have to yell to hear one another.
“It’s odd how things turn out, what things decide your faith.” Bill hollers. “My uncle Kettil was gonna audition for a part in Bombi Bitt och jag in the 60’s and brought my dad along, which then resulted in my dad getting the part and turning into this teenage star. It was hysteria around him for a while. He hadn’t meant to become an actor.” He stops for a while. “Acting is appealing for playful and childish people. I think most people would feel stupid if they had to get up on a stage and pretend to be someone else. But I’ve grown up in an environment where that is completely normal.”
As normal, or natural, as being a celebrity. Bill remembers a vacation on Öland he had when he was nine years old. He and Stellan took the car to Kalmar to buy some breakfast and somewhere in between the bread isle and the milk Bill ran into a pair of ladies who were blushing and whispering. “Did you see Skarsgård?! He was in the dairy section just now!”
“I remember noticing people looking at him a lot. They thought it was so cool. But I was just this little kid who wanted to shout at them: ‘Don’t look at my dad! He is my dad!” Now it’s Bill who can’t buy toilet paper without being stared at.
“I know celebrities who think it’s so f*cking horrible. If you always think about other people’s expectations and glances and think you have to live up to them, that you have to be a hunk or you have to be funny or whatever it may be, it gets really hard. But you have to forget about it. I noticed old acquaintances that I must have known since I was twelve, changed a whole lot after my first film premiered. They thought it was cool and started to take a sudden interest. It was really unpleasant.”
On the shooting range you just have to sign a paper where you assure that you’re not suffering from any mental diseases and that you won’t sue them if anything goes wrong. Like if you manage to let a round off in your leg - or someone else’s. Then you get the weapon dumped in your hand, in this case a 40-caliber Smith & Wesson pistol.
“The US is f*cking insane. The guy at the counter asked us if we knew how to do it, and when we said no he showed us in like two seconds how you load it and pushed the gun into our hands.” Bill says a few weeks after our brunch when we meet up again at a restaurant in West Hollywood. The shoot for Hemlock Grove starts in June and Bill can look forward to five months in Toronto, Canada.
“I’m a bit sick of Stockholm. Well maybe not sick of it, or yes…I’m born and raised in the same spot, Södermalm. I need new impressions and environments.”
How sad would you be if there wouldn’t be any more Hollywood for you?
”I don’t know, because I didn’t expect to get this part, I don’t think … I don’t expect it to be a mega hit, it’s quite dark and all. But it’s really f*cking good. I think there’ll be more seasons, and of course I’ll be sad if that doesn’t turn out to be the case.”
How much money will you get for the role?
“It’s all relative. It’s not a ‘life-changing’ amount. People think celebrities on tv in Sweden make so much money. On the same island my parents have a summer cottage there’s this big castle. There were rumors Alex bought it after he’d been in Vita Lögner (soap opera). It would be about 45 million Swedish crowns, he wouldn’t be able to afford that today.
Especially if you spend it all at once like you do.
“Yeah I blow it all. There is nothing I can show people and say: ‘Look, this is what I spent my money on!’”
If you got a big lump of money tomorrow, what would you do?
“Buy a house where all my friends and my family could live. I have this need to be surrounded by people, and as soon as I have money I make sure those around me get a part of that. If I could afford it I would give all my friends a trip. Put it all on experiences we could share.”
True. The day after Bill and Robin are flying over to New York for a week off.
“Does my vacation start before I get on the plane or after we get off? Robin jokes.
“After,” Bill replies “I might need help with my luggage.”
Voices about Bill Skarsgård:
Alexander Skarsgård, Actor and older brother: “Bill doesn’t need any sh*tty help from his stupid older brother. He’s an incredible intelligent dude. Of course we support each other and talk about work, but he needs no help in his career. The only advice I’ve given him is not be in too much of a hurry. He’s only 22 years old, and shouldn’t jump onto the first opportunity just because. I’ve told him to have confidence and to do something he really wants to do. And that’s exactly what he’s done.
Björn Gustafsson, Actor and Comedian: “When we shot Kronjuvelerna together there were a whole bunch of children on set and Bill seemed to find it so easy to just relax and hang out with them. There’s something very charismatic about being that tall and dark haired, and at the same time being so light and fun loving. And he’s so professional for someone his age.”
Hannes Holm, Directed Himlen är oskyldigt blå: “If you look at the whole Skarsgård clan I have to say Bill is the most peculiar. He’s the one taking up the lost cloak in the Swedish acting tradition of the male where strength is combined with vulnerability. I’m thinking of names like Alf Kjellin and Thommy Berggren. What else? He eats like a horse! And I’ve never met an actor who memorizes his line quicker!
“It’s odd how things turn out, what things decide your faith.” Bill hollers. “My uncle Kettil was gonna audition for a part in Bombi Bitt och jag in the 60’s and brought my dad along, which then resulted in my dad getting the part and turning into this teenage star. It was hysteria around him for a while. He hadn’t meant to become an actor.” He stops for a while. “Acting is appealing for playful and childish people. I think most people would feel stupid if they had to get up on a stage and pretend to be someone else. But I’ve grown up in an environment where that is completely normal.”
As normal, or natural, as being a celebrity. Bill remembers a vacation on Öland he had when he was nine years old. He and Stellan took the car to Kalmar to buy some breakfast and somewhere in between the bread isle and the milk Bill ran into a pair of ladies who were blushing and whispering. “Did you see Skarsgård?! He was in the dairy section just now!”
“I remember noticing people looking at him a lot. They thought it was so cool. But I was just this little kid who wanted to shout at them: ‘Don’t look at my dad! He is my dad!” Now it’s Bill who can’t buy toilet paper without being stared at.
“I know celebrities who think it’s so f*cking horrible. If you always think about other people’s expectations and glances and think you have to live up to them, that you have to be a hunk or you have to be funny or whatever it may be, it gets really hard. But you have to forget about it. I noticed old acquaintances that I must have known since I was twelve, changed a whole lot after my first film premiered. They thought it was cool and started to take a sudden interest. It was really unpleasant.”
On the shooting range you just have to sign a paper where you assure that you’re not suffering from any mental diseases and that you won’t sue them if anything goes wrong. Like if you manage to let a round off in your leg - or someone else’s. Then you get the weapon dumped in your hand, in this case a 40-caliber Smith & Wesson pistol.
“The US is f*cking insane. The guy at the counter asked us if we knew how to do it, and when we said no he showed us in like two seconds how you load it and pushed the gun into our hands.” Bill says a few weeks after our brunch when we meet up again at a restaurant in West Hollywood. The shoot for Hemlock Grove starts in June and Bill can look forward to five months in Toronto, Canada.
“I’m a bit sick of Stockholm. Well maybe not sick of it, or yes…I’m born and raised in the same spot, Södermalm. I need new impressions and environments.”
How sad would you be if there wouldn’t be any more Hollywood for you?
”I don’t know, because I didn’t expect to get this part, I don’t think … I don’t expect it to be a mega hit, it’s quite dark and all. But it’s really f*cking good. I think there’ll be more seasons, and of course I’ll be sad if that doesn’t turn out to be the case.”
How much money will you get for the role?
“It’s all relative. It’s not a ‘life-changing’ amount. People think celebrities on tv in Sweden make so much money. On the same island my parents have a summer cottage there’s this big castle. There were rumors Alex bought it after he’d been in Vita Lögner (soap opera). It would be about 45 million Swedish crowns, he wouldn’t be able to afford that today.
Especially if you spend it all at once like you do.
“Yeah I blow it all. There is nothing I can show people and say: ‘Look, this is what I spent my money on!’”
If you got a big lump of money tomorrow, what would you do?
“Buy a house where all my friends and my family could live. I have this need to be surrounded by people, and as soon as I have money I make sure those around me get a part of that. If I could afford it I would give all my friends a trip. Put it all on experiences we could share.”
True. The day after Bill and Robin are flying over to New York for a week off.
“Does my vacation start before I get on the plane or after we get off? Robin jokes.
“After,” Bill replies “I might need help with my luggage.”
Voices about Bill Skarsgård:
Alexander Skarsgård, Actor and older brother: “Bill doesn’t need any sh*tty help from his stupid older brother. He’s an incredible intelligent dude. Of course we support each other and talk about work, but he needs no help in his career. The only advice I’ve given him is not be in too much of a hurry. He’s only 22 years old, and shouldn’t jump onto the first opportunity just because. I’ve told him to have confidence and to do something he really wants to do. And that’s exactly what he’s done.
Björn Gustafsson, Actor and Comedian: “When we shot Kronjuvelerna together there were a whole bunch of children on set and Bill seemed to find it so easy to just relax and hang out with them. There’s something very charismatic about being that tall and dark haired, and at the same time being so light and fun loving. And he’s so professional for someone his age.”
Hannes Holm, Directed Himlen är oskyldigt blå: “If you look at the whole Skarsgård clan I have to say Bill is the most peculiar. He’s the one taking up the lost cloak in the Swedish acting tradition of the male where strength is combined with vulnerability. I’m thinking of names like Alf Kjellin and Thommy Berggren. What else? He eats like a horse! And I’ve never met an actor who memorizes his line quicker!
Wow BagBerry thank you for posting this wonderful, honest, and fun interview. I only dropped by to see if anything was going on and this interview made my day. Unfortunately I agree with you that he will soon become more pr aware and start issuing the standard responses but for now his true personality shines through
