10 things you need to know about Stellan Skarsg

We bring you the facts about Skarsg

Here at Movies.ie, we are very fond of Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård, and this week he stars in Peter Chelsom’s latest film, HECTOR & THE SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS. We took this opportunity to gather together some facts about the actor…

1. Doppelganger
Skarsgård has claimed that people often mistake him for Liam Neeson, which is a compliment for both actors..

2. What’s in a name?
Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly named their son after Skarsgård. Bettany and Stellan have been friends for some time.

3. From small acorns…
Stellan has said that his first stage role, as a child, was as a heap of snow in a school play; ‘I was under a sheet, and crawled out when spring came. I often say I’ll never reach the same artistic level again’.

4. Modesty is a virtue
Stellan Skarsgård wasn’t sure if he could perform the Stonehenge scene nude in THOR: THE DARK WORLD, even though he would be wearing a thong. The production team gently encouraged Skarsgard by reminding him he had done much worse in the movie NYMPHOMANIAC: VOL I

5. Home is where the heart is…
Stellan Skarsgård remarked that while working on THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, it was first time in 20 years that he was able to sleep in his own bed while shooting a movie, since it was filmed in his hometown of Stockholm.

6. My my!
Stellan Skarsgård did all of his own singing in the movie MAMMA MIA!, as did the entire cast.

7. Reunited
Stellan Skarsgård is due to reteam with THOR director Kenneth Brannagh, for Disney’s live-action CINDERELLA, which is de for release in 2015.

8. Insomniac
Skarsgård played the lead role in the 1997 Norwegian thriller INSOMNIA. The film was remade in 2002 by Christopher Nolan, and starred Al Pacino and Robin Williams.

9. Time after time
Stellan has worked with controversial director Lars Von Trier on six occasions. Skarsgård has had roles in THE KINGDOM, BREAKING THE WAVES, DANCER IN THE DARK, DOGVILLE, MELANCHOLIA and both volumes of NYMPHOMANIAC.

10. Looking forward
As well as CINDERELLA, Skarsgård is due to appear on TV screens in QUARRY, and on the big screen in OUR KIND OF TRAITOR.

HECTOR & THE SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS is released in Irish cinemas on August 15th

Words: Brogen Hayes