There are acting dynasties, then there are acting dynasties, and while Bill Skarsgård would much rather his career sat on its own successes rather than swaying alongside the achievements of brothers Alexander, Gustaf, Valter, and Sam, plus sister Eija, not to mention father Stellan and mother My, the reality is the 33-year-old Swede cannot escape the inescapable.
“Luckily, they are all people I like,” he jokes. “I think we will always be intrinsically linked like all families should, although it does always feel like a very public family if that makes sense.”
Asked whether having such deep associations with his blood relatives annoys him, he quips back. “They follow me around in everything conversation. The consolation is that I follow them around, too.”
It’s an upbeat start from someone who has made a name across the horror, gothic, and fantasy genres. And it’s fitting then to see him return to those staples in 2024.
First up is a reimagining of the 1994 film and 1989 limited comic book, The Crow. In it, he assumes the lead character, Eric Draven, a musician who has been revived from the dead to take vengeance upon those who murdered both him and his fiancée.
Just like he did with Pennywise, Skarsgård has chosen to play the role in his own way and take it in a new direction, instead of mimicking the excellent performance given by the sadly departed Brandon Lee, who died on the original film set.
After that, Skarsgård is appearing as Count Orlok in the Robert Eggers update of the legendary gothic horror Nosferatu, due out on Christmas Day 2024 with a stellar supporting cast of Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Willem Dafoe.
The aforementioned dancing clown, Pennywise, will be terrorizing the citizens of Maine again in the IT prequel, Welcome to Derry, which is slated for 2025 on HBO. Most of the actors from the two recent films will be assuming their roles, as well as Skarsgård.
STRIPLV: You’re starring in a reimagining of The Crow, this summer. Can you tell us more about that? SKARSGÅRD: Yeah, sure. It was exciting when I got the call to do it, yet I couldn’t help but feel a little daunted by the prospect of taking on the role of the character played so brilliantly by Brandon Lee – who tragically died on the set of that film in the 1990s. It’s directed by Rupert Sanders, who had a completely new take on the story, and that was something that made me feel a lot better about doing it because if you’re ever going to do something that has been done so well previously, it can put a lot of pressure on you. So, I’m glad it’s a new take because Rupert has taken it in a new direction and that allowed me to play the role in my own way, without having to try and follow Brandon’s brilliant performance and I would sadly fail or if not, I would always be compared that and that wasn’t something I wanted. It’s the appearance of Brandon in the original movie that made me feel so warm to that. He was excellent and just so visually impressive and having played one or two characters where make-up and visual effects were high on my list of attributes, obviously for Pennywise and Nosferatu, that attracted me to this role, as well. STRIPLV: With you saying that you feel daunted by taking on the role of Eric in The Crow, have there been any other parts you’ve played that made you feel pressured? SKARSGÅRD: I would say that if I don’t feel a sense of pressure or that I’m going to be challenged by taking a part in any film, then I have to question why I would be choosing to do it in the first place. I always want to be challenged by anything I’m doing, or I’m just playing a parody of myself, and what’s the point in that? Because that’s not acting, it’s just me being myself and, quite frankly, who wants to see that? I would say that playing Count Orlock in Nosferatu was a very interesting experience because I was shown the molds of the character, and I was getting a little anxious as they didn’t look a lot like me. It made me think that I might not be able to get into the right mindset of the role and therefore, my performance wouldn’t be anywhere near where I wanted it to be or, more importantly, that it needed to be for the movie to be a success. However, thankfully, it all worked out, and I felt really comfortable in the role, and I feel I performed that part really well. Unless anyone else says otherwise. (Laughs) I mean, come on. How rude. STRIPLV: What do you prefer, playing a character in prosthetics and make-up or without and just acting normally? SKARSGÅRD: What I would say is that although I do like doing it, when you’re in a role which is largely CGI, just like I was for the Marvel film Eternals, it can feel something verging on the ridiculous. Usually, you only have a picture or illustrated image of the character which you’re looking to be doing the voiceover for, and you’re working opposite someone like Angelina Jolie, like I was, and you’re doing the voice of a character who looks like Kro does, who is seven feet tall, it can feel bizarre. However, ever the professional that I am, I do it to the best of my ability and power through it. When you’re playing someone like Pennywise, that’s much easier because you can assume the character due to being able to feel it. They’re both roles where you have to use imagination, but it’s much easier when you can see a reflection of yourself in costume. I loved the role of Pennywise, and I am very aware of it being the character that most people identify me with. However, with the greatest of respect, I don’t want it to define my career. I do like playing straight roles without any CGI or make-up, and I have actually done those. STRIPLV: Famously, you seem to exhibit a love/hate relationship with the industry. Would you agree with that? SKARSGÅRD: Definitely. I think it’s like most things; even the things you love, you will become tired of and need a break from. And I do love this world; it is just a world that, very quickly, can become very frustrating. I know that’s what you sign up for when you invest in it, and rely on it, in fact, but that doesn’t mean to say there aren’t periods when you just want to remove yourself from it totally, and I guess I do feel like that quite often. I’m never going to be one of those actors who wants to produce three or four films a year. The sheer thought of that I would find quite paralyzing, I think. I would expect all the creative energy to drain out of me very quickly.” STRIPLV: That feels like a Skarsgard thing; less is more? SKARSGÅRD: Less is always more, in any walk of life. You can always go too far, too hard, too soon, and the outcome is never anything good. STRIPLV: Is it then a case of picking the big projects carefully? SKARSGÅRD: I’m not obsessed with the big projects, and in reality, I don’t think many actors are, not the ones who really care about their reputation and the image. I know there are those people out there, and sometimes it may feel like an addiction to always want to be active and always want to be involved in the cut and thrust of the industry; and, for some, I don’t think that’s a constant desire to be busy or to be earning money. I know lots of people in the industry who are simply just afraid to turn work down. It’s a classic actor insecurity whereby you worry that if you start to do that, you will get a reputation for being picky, and that’s not a good thing as an actor. Yet the other side is that you don’t want to over-present yourself in every situation and every setting. I feel I have it about right, and honestly, I just don’t have the energy to do it any other way, anyway. I feel I have a family-acting legacy that protects me from the fear that many have. STRIPLV: You have cultivated a solid reputation for someone who only had a breakthrough seven or eight years ago. SKARSGÅRD: That’s kind of you to say so. I think reputation is a fragile thing anyway, so I will take that compliment with a pinch of salt, as you might say. Of course, I am proud of my reputation for the type of cinema I produce, but it’s not something I want to assume will always be there. You always have to work not just to further what you have, but to protect it too.” STRIPLV: Do you see yourself moving outside the horror and heavy drama genres you have inhabited? SKARSGÅRD: At some point, yes, but I’m not sure I’ll be doing a rom-com anytime soon if that’s what you mean.
BEHIND THE MASK
Are guitars and walking boots really what inspired the man behind Pennywise?
Bill Skarsgård, the Swedish actor renowned for some of the horror genre’s most delightfully haunting portrayals, is not only a master of fear on screen but a multi-faceted artist whose life shapes his compelling performances.
Yet, beyond the film set, there is a softer side at play.
He’s a scholar, firstly, fluent in Swedish, English, Norwegian, and German. And as with most creatives, music also plays a huge part in his life. He likes classic rock and alternative genres, with bands like Radiohead featuring heavily on his playlists.
His musical tastes reflect a preference for thoughtful, somewhat eclectic sounds, which counterbalances and aligns with an often intense and introspective screen presence, making the soundtrack to Hemlock Grove one of his favorites.
Finally, stepping entirely away from the noise, the father of one finds solace in nature, indulging in outdoor pursuits such as hiking. “I love how it makes me feel, the cool breeze flowing through my luscious blonde locks,” he notes, breaking into laughter. “Getting away from the city and breathing in that amazing fresh air is wonderful. It’s an incredible way to brighten up my mood.
“The fantastic trails in Sweden are my favorite, and walking is my ‘go-to’ exercise.”