After a stroke, Stellan Skarsgård feared his career was over. Then came ‘Sentimental Value’

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Three years ago, Stellan Skarsgård had a stroke. While it wasn’t severely damaging, it did affect his short-term memory and ability to concentrate. He initially worried it meant he’d have to stop acting.

“OK, so this is it,” he remembers thinking. “I’m finished.”

I was really stunned when I heard about Stellan Skarsgård’s diagnosis. He was everywhere at the time – a huge force in both “Dune” as that terrifying Baron Harkonnen and in “Andor” as Luthen Rael, a really complex character. He’d been working steadily for fifty years, and was having such a great run. After the initial shock, he started figuring out how to keep going, which I totally admire.

Speaking from his home in Stockholm via Zoom, Skarsgård explained he might be able to manage the task if someone could read his lines for him, as he struggles to memorize them.

He was in a transitional period, having just finished filming “Andor” and before starting the second “Dune” movie—a time when he was still getting offers but worried about how his work might change. He immediately contacted Denis Villeneuve and Tony Gilroy, the creator and showrunner of “Andor,” to discuss the situation and potential adjustments. Since then, he’s been using a small earpiece to receive his lines, which he acknowledges has been challenging, but it’s allowed him to continue working.

The stroke’s effects are still noticeable, though often subtle. He still speaks with his familiar, warm tone—that rich, rolling voice that can quickly change from a quiet whisper to a playful rumble—but he occasionally forgets a name while he’s talking. While telling a story, he momentarily couldn’t recall the names Villeneuve and Gilroy. He acknowledges this with a touch of apology, explaining, “This is just what happens.” He adds, with sadness, that he’s no longer able to engage in political debates, feeling he’s become “a little more foolish and a little more concise, almost understanding a point but missing it by a hair.”

It’s not a sad reflection, simply an honest look at how things have changed. The stroke appears to have lessened his usual reserve, making him more approachable, uninhibited, and even able to laugh at his own mistakes. This newfound ease is evident in his latest film, Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value,” a heartwarming and witty drama about a family struggling – and frequently falling short – in their attempts to mend their relationships.

The new film “Sentimental Value,” which has received positive reviews after playing at several festivals, tells the story of a famous but self-absorbed filmmaker, Gustav Borg (played by Skarsgård). After his ex-wife dies, he tries to reconnect with his two daughters by proposing to make a movie about their family. Nora, a successful actress, wants no part of it – or of her father. Her sister, Agnes, attempts to mediate as old resentments emerge and the line between their real lives and the film project becomes increasingly blurred.

Joachim Trier gained international recognition with his 2021 film, “The Worst Person in the World,” which received an Oscar nomination. His latest film, “Sentimental Value,” recently won the top prize at Cannes and is expected to be just as well-received, potentially earning Stellan Skarsgård his first Oscar nomination.

Stellan Skarsgård, known for his work in both challenging films by Lars von Trier and big-budget Marvel movies, portrays Borg with a compelling blend of charisma, ego, and understanding. He admits he’s genuinely taken aback by the film’s success. “You never know how a movie will be received,” he explains, “but this one has connected with people of all ages and backgrounds. It clearly resonated with audiences. It’s amazing because, despite dealing with serious themes, the film feels surprisingly light and airy – almost like a delicate soufflé with a hint of darkness.”

Lars von Trier aimed to help Stellan Skarsgård recapture the raw, emotional performances that made him famous in early films like the 1982 Swedish hit, “The Simple-Minded Murderer,” and von Trier’s acclaimed 1996 drama, “Breaking the Waves.” Speaking from his home in Oslo, the director explained, “I wanted to give him the opportunity, at this point in his career, to revisit that honest, vulnerable acting style he’s so good at.” They discussed the complexities of Skarsgård’s character, a man who could keenly observe others through his art but struggled in his personal life.

Stellan Skarsgård understands the delicate balance between being empathetic and acknowledging human flaws. As a father to eight children from two marriages, he considers parenthood the most grounding experience. He explains, “I felt a need to support Gustav’s character.” Being a father is challenging, and striving for perfection is unrealistic. Skarsgård connected with the character’s struggles and shared with the director, Joachim Trier, his desire to portray that vulnerability and humanity.

He laughs quietly. “After leaving the Royal Dramatic Theatre in 1989, I’ve balanced about four months a year working on camera with eight months dedicated to raising my children – the usual diaper changes and everything. So, I’ve never really been short on time. Whether it’s been enough time, though, is another question. With eight kids, each with their own unique needs, you’re bound to fall short sometimes. But you learn to accept that.”

He feels the film accurately portrays a sense of powerlessness he understands well. He points to the scenes with the sisters, explaining the character is genuinely trying his best but repeatedly fails because he simply doesn’t have the skills to handle the situation. However, he emphasizes this isn’t due to a lack of empathy; rather, the character is a sensitive and creative person, like many filmmakers. He believes it’s often easier for people in creative professions to express vulnerability and softness professionally than in their personal lives.

Awards

Two films, ‘It Was Just an Accident’ and ‘Sentimental Value,’ are now considered strong candidates to win an Oscar. A previous Oscar winner, surprisingly ignored at Cannes, is also in the running.

Despite Gustav’s boastfulness and pride, the film allows for moments of compassion. As Skarsgård explains, it suggests the possibility of forgiveness and understanding—or at least the start of it. He relates this to his own life, saying he forgives his own flawed parents, recognizing their humanity.

Learning to perform while wearing an earpiece – having his lines whispered to him even as he listened to the other actors – proved to be a real challenge of focus and a lesson in staying grounded.

Skarsgård admits it wasn’t as simple as he initially expected. The key was ensuring the flow of the scene wasn’t disrupted. He explains that while he delivers his lines, another actor reads theirs simultaneously, allowing both to be heard at the same time. It’s challenging, but generally effective, he believes.

Bill Skarsgård excelled in portraying the subtle, unsaid emotions in the script for “Sentimental Value,” which was co-written by director Joachim Trier and his frequent collaborator, Eskil Vogt.

As an actor, he really values directors who look for nuanced performances and unspoken emotions. He believes this is especially important now, as the world often feels overly direct and lacks subtlety, and we need to rediscover those finer qualities.

Stellan Skarsgård has been a consistently reliable actor in film for years, comfortable in both big-budget Hollywood movies and smaller, more personal European productions. He’s known for his frequent work with director Lars von Trier – they’ve made six films together – and has successfully juggled mainstream roles in films like “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Mamma Mia!” with critically acclaimed, challenging projects, including the HBO miniseries “Chernobyl,” for which he won a Golden Globe. He jokes that this balance has given him a wide range of fans, ‘from young girls to older gentlemen.’

For many years, he avoided being overly polished in his performances. Early in his career, while working with the Swedish director Bo Widerberg, a key figure in realistic filmmaking, Skarsgård learned a valuable lesson that stayed with him throughout his career:

Widerberg once told the actors, ‘I know you’re all capable, but I don’t want to see you relying on technique.’ Skarsgård recalls this, explaining that after making so many films – around 150 – he has plenty of experience. However, he prefers to avoid relying on that experience, wanting to stay spontaneous and even make mistakes. He believes that’s where real creativity comes from.

Similar to his father, Gustaf Skarsgård comes from a highly theatrical family – six of his eight children, including Alexander, Gustaf, Bill, and Valter, are actors. Some might call them a family dynasty, while others use the term “nepo family,” but Skarsgård doesn’t seem to place much importance on it.

He wondered how he could discourage them from something he enjoyed so much. He didn’t try to convince them one way or another, choosing instead to let them make their own decisions. He believes they were simply attracted to the happiness he found in his own life.

He firmly believes that mentoring between generations doesn’t work. He explains that, like his own experience protesting the Vietnam War, older generations simply don’t grasp the perspectives of younger ones. He realized his parents had valuable knowledge, but didn’t understand the changing world. He feels it’s the same today – young people need to forge their own path from the challenges left by previous generations.

Despite often speaking about being independent from his family, Stellan Skarsgård’s connection to them remains strong. At this year’s Telluride Film Festival, both he and his son, Alexander—known for roles in shows like “Big Little Lies” and “Succession,” and the film “The Northman”—were present with their own projects. Alexander’s film, “Pillion,” had recently received praise at Cannes. After a screening of Stellan’s film, “Sentimental Value,” director Joachim Trier witnessed a touching moment: Alexander, visibly moved, approached his father. Stellan simply said, “Now that’s how it’s done,” before both men shared a laugh and embraced.

His other children were deeply moved by the film as well. One son told him, “You’re amazing in it, and I hope you see yourself in the character.” The father admits he reacted defensively, saying, “What do you mean?” He realizes his son recognized the part of him that prioritized art, perhaps at the expense of being a perfect parent. Even his youngest son, Kolbjörn, who is thirteen, was very emotional, crying a lot, but in a way his father considered positive.

Skarsgård has seen a lot of changes in the film industry. He feels many theaters have been poorly managed, but believes there’s still a strong need for movies, perhaps even more so now. People are getting tired of constantly looking at their phones and crave a shared, focused experience. However, like in many places, streaming services like Netflix have become dominant in Sweden, leading to fewer films being made and a rise in reality TV. He finds this shift, driven by financial interests, disheartening.

He admits his priorities have changed recently. “Now I’m looking for roles where I can sit – or even lie down,” he says with a laugh. “I’m being more selective, but the industry is too. I’m getting offered more roles as characters with Alzheimer’s and fewer romantic leads. Let’s just say my physique isn’t in as much demand. But honestly,” he continues, becoming more serious, “the biggest issue is a lack of original scripts. You read a lot of things and think, ‘I’ve already seen this movie.’”

He remembers a conversation with Lars von Trier, the director he’s collaborated with on unique films like “Dogville,” “Melancholia,” and “Nymphomaniac.” Von Trier once explained that he only makes films that are completely new and unlike anything else. The director responded that he agreed, pointing out that those films truly hadn’t existed before.

He points out that both “Andor” and “Dune” are set in worlds controlled by huge, overpowering empires. Given current concerns about growing authoritarianism, he recognizes how relevant this feels to audiences right now.

Skarsgård believes films don’t fundamentally change the world, but they can subtly highlight issues. He says the real impact comes when viewers recognize a problem and are inspired to take action – that’s what truly resonates with audiences.

I’m really struck by what Skarsgård says about the work itself. He feels like once you’ve been doing this for a while, it’s almost easier to cut through the fluff and focus on what truly matters. But he also explains that getting to that truly great place – the performance you’re aiming for – is a really delicate balance. It’s risky, he admits, pushing yourself to that edge, but that’s exactly where the magic happens, where you find something incredible as an actor. It’s a beautiful way to look at it.

When asked about retiring, he laughed and said it would take physically removing him. He genuinely loves his work – being on set with the actors and crew, collaborating with the director, and the creative process itself. He thrives on that energy and feels like it’s an essential part of living a full life.

He speaks with a steady and confident voice. Despite any changes in his life, Skarsgård still feels the same strong drive to create and fully experience each moment.

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2025-11-05 14:32