Summer's most talked-about TV series on Netflix in the USA was "The hunting wives", a crime soap about a gang of housewives in Texas with an unusually large appetite for intrigue, guns - and sex. In the lead role: Swedish-American actress Malin Åkerman.
The 47-year-old has had a long career in Hollywood, but says she has never experienced such a big breakthrough since the US premiere in July.
I was actually in Sweden then and visited my mom and was in "vacation mode" without looking so much at the phone. But then I looked a bit at Instagram and thought "God, how many new followers I have - thousands...", she says and laughs.
Mysterious Margo
"The hunting wives" is about Sophie (Brittany Snow) who moves with her husband from Boston to the most rural and conservative part of Texas where a girl gang with the mysterious Margo (Malin Åkerman) at the forefront takes her under their wings. In the background, the investigation of a murder of a young girl is ongoing.
Sophie and Margo get a complicated, but close relationship, so much that Malin Åkerman has become a lesbian icon.
There are a lot of girls who have written a lot of wonderful comments on Instagram! It's really fun and there was a woman who came up on the street and said she thought it was so fun that lesbians are represented on TV, says Malin Åkerman.
Her life's role
But Margo is not a good role model. She walks over corpses to get her way and exploits everyone in her path. Malin Åkerman tells with a laugh that her husband Jack Donnelly thought the role was perfect for her.
I was a little... "what do you mean? What do you think I am as a woman?", she says and laughs. But he just meant that the role gives me a chance to show off my entire acting talent.
Malin Åkerman describes it as her life's role.
I've done many supporting roles where you come in and do something crazy or fun, but this is the first time I feel that I have a lead role that's fun to play.
Malin Åkerman has made the feature films "A part of my heart" and "A final race" in Sweden, both directed by Edward af Sillén, who also recruited her as a host for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with Petra Mede. So is she now lost to Swedish film, when it's going so well in the USA?
No! There have been a few things we've looked at that haven't felt right, but when Edward af Sillén calls, I'll do anything, then I'll come to Sweden!
On September 25, "The hunting wives" premieres in Sweden - on Sjuan and on TV4 Play.
Mikael Forsell/TT
Facts: Malin Åkerman
TT
47 years old. Born in Stockholm, but grew up in Canada, where she moved at the age of two. Now lives in the USA and is both Swedish and American citizen.
Career: The first major role came in the TV series "The comeback" (2005). Has since been seen in the films "The heartbreak kid" (2006), "27 dresses" (2007), "Watchmen" (2009), "Wanderlust" (2012), "A part of my heart" (2019), "A final race" (2023).
Was host for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with Petra Mede.
Married to actor Jack Donnelly and has one child.
That's why "The hunting wives" won't be on Netflix in Sweden: The series was actually made for another TV channel in the USA, but Netflix bought the series with short notice - but without the right to show it on most international markets, including in Sweden.
