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Gustaf Skarsgård • Actor

Shooting Star 2007 – Sweden

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One of six children of Swedish star actor Stellan Skarsgård, Gustaf is only 26 years-old but has already been in a dozen feature films and TV series as well as on major stage productions, notably in Mats Ek’s ‘The Merchant of Venice’ in 2006. His film credits include Mikael Håfström’s Oscar-nominated Evil, Kristian Petri’s Details and The Colour of Milk by Norwegian filmmaker Torun Lian. He just won the Best Actor Guldbagge award (Swedish Oscar) for his role in Kids in da Hood [+see also:
trailer
film profile
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screening at Berlin’s Generation KPlus.

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Cineuropa: With your father Stellan and four of your brothers working as actors, is it hard to build your own identity?
Gustaf Skarsgård: Actually, only one of my brothers works professionally as an actor (Alexander). It’s too early to know about my younger brothers. It has been hard work to try to define my own role as an actor. But I’ve always tried to focus on learning the profession thoroughly and now I feel like I stand on my own feet artistically.

Any advice your father gave you?
We’ve always talked a lot about acting at home and he always gave me feedback when I was young. The most valuable thing I got from him was that he always listened to me and gave me a belief in my own opinions and the right to tell them.

You seem to share you time pretty much equally between the stage, film and TV productions. Which one of the three platforms do you prefer?
I’m privileged to be able to combine it all. For me, theatre-acting is the basis of the craftsmanship and provides the greatest thrills of acting as you’re in the moment with the audience. Film-acting however is often more fun and varied.

Kids in da Hood is selected at Berlin’s Generation section. Tell us about your character…
I’m playing Johan, a really sweet guitar playing slacker who ends up straightening himself up when he has to take care of an illegal immigrant girl. It’s a sweet story for kids about a very important subject: immigration in Sweden.

What does it mean for you to be part of the EFP Shooting stars?
It feels exciting and flattering. I’m looking forward to seeing my colleagues from the other countries.

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