The TikTok trend a couple of years ago where women were shocked by the answers they got when they asked their men and boyfriends how often they thought about the Roman Empire fits well into Alexander Karim's life right now.
In "Gladiator II", the Swede plays Ravi, a former gladiator who is a kind of doctor for the combatants and also gives good advice to Lucius, the main character in the action film, played by Paul Mescal.
Alexander Karim has made roles in large international productions before, such as in the TV series "The Swarm" and "Wheel of Time". But this recording under the direction of director Ridley Scott was something entirely different.
Full-scale Colosseum
The soon-to-be 87-year-old director doesn't work much with AI, but instead built large sets.
I've never experienced anything like it. I didn't even know they did this in the world. He had built up the Colosseum, scale 1:1. There are statues and sculptures, so big that it was completely insane, says Alexander Karim.
But such a giant production, where 400 extras can be called in for a scene, also creates great pressure on the actors.
You don't want to sneeze during a take.... But partly, I'm blessed with a lack of nervousness, so I can't get nervous as an actor. And partly, Ridley Scott creates such a playful atmosphere that no one gets nervous.
Tough and Soft
Alexander Karim has several scenes with Paul Mescal in the film and is impressed by how the Irishman has taken on the role in the big film.
He has a toughness, but he has an incredible softness at the same time. It's a quality you see in some actors, if you think of someone like Marlon Brando.
They also got along very well on a personal level.
We went out a few times, had a bite to eat and had a few beers. Paul is a very, very warm person who doesn't seem affected by the fact that he's already a star before "Gladiator", and now will become a supernova.
Alexander Karim hopes that the role in "Gladiator II" will have a ripple effect and open doors to more international projects.
But the future is, as always, uncertain for actors. You never know, you dare not book too far in advance. So you take it month by month. I try as much as possible not to think about what things will result in.
48 years old. Has participated in the TV series "Tunn is", "We got this" and "Advokaten", as well as in several films about police officer Johan Falk.
Internationally, he has made the TV series "The Box", "The Wheel of Time" and "The Swarm".
He is also current in his brother Baker Karim's film "The Dog", which is set and filmed in Kenya.
