The Norwegian Oscar surge with nine nominations for "Sentimental Value" spills over to Sweden and Stellan Skarsgård, who could win the award for Best Supporting Actor.
But Skarsgård shrugs when asked if an Oscar win is important to him.
I have to look like I am. It's part of the role. But I can do without it. That's how it is.
No Swedish parties
Stellan Skarsgård landed in Los Angeles this weekend and has a packed schedule leading up to the gala on Monday night, local time in Sweden.
"The campaigning is over now, but there are parties. Today I have three parties and maybe four tomorrow night alone. But that's not how we Swedes think a party should be. They don't last longer than an hour and a half, two hours," he says, laughing.
Skarsgård heaps praise on Norwegian director Joachim Trier for making “Sentimental Value.” The crew behind the film has become close, not least during the long marketing campaign for the Oscar, which has been going on since the premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May.
It also feels like we've been together on this tour for nine months now. And have become like a real family, actually.
Stellan Skarsgård is used to filming in Norway. Before he started working with Joachim Trier, he made five films with Norwegian director Hans Petter Moland. It's almost like he's considered an honorary Norwegian.
"Yes, I've made more Norwegian films than Swedish films in the last 10-15 years. So I have to be considered an honorary Norwegian," he says, laughing.
Norwegian Golden Age
Norway is currently experiencing a golden age for its film industry. In addition to the Oscar chances for "Sentimental Value", the horror film "The Ugly Stepsister" is also nominated. And last spring, Dag Johan Haugerud’s film "Dreams" won the Golden Bear in Berlin. Stellan Skarsgård has been very critical of Swedish film policy and Minister of Culture Parisa Liljestrand (M). What is Norway doing better?
It's the same there. They're also underfunded... But they're doing better than we are.
Skarsgård states that more money must come into the Swedish film industry, otherwise Sweden will lose its expertise.
And that's a disaster. You have to build a functioning system of film workers who are very talented. We have some very good ones, but we have very few and then it gets diluted.
Without income
Will you continue filming in Norway and with Joachim Trier?
"No idea. He doesn't know what to do and I have to get a job," he says, laughing. "I haven't had any income since I did the "Star Wars" series Andor."
The Oscars are on Sunday and he could win, although Sean Penn, "One Battle After Another", is a bigger favorite. Have you prepared an acceptance speech?
No, I haven't. Because I don't think I'll get it, but if I do, I'll just say something short.
Skarsgård has previously criticized Donald Trump in his acceptance speech at the gala, but don't count on it this time.
No, he doesn't need that attention.
Mikael Forsell/TT
Facts: Stellan Skarsgård
TT
Age: 74 years.
Family: Wife and eight children. Including actors Alexander, Gustaf, Bill and Valter, and Kolbjörn.
Breakthrough: TV series "Bombi Bitt and I", 1968.
Swedish films: Including "The Stupid Murderer", "Good evening, Mr. Wallenberg", "S/y Glädjen" and as the agent Hamilton in two films and a television drama.
International: Including five films with Lars von Trier, five films with Hans Petter Moland, five Marvel films, two "Dune" films, two "Pirates of the Caribbean", two "Mamma Mia" films as well as "Good Will Hunting", "Angels and Demons" and the TV series "Chernobyl" and "Andor".
The nominees in the category of Best Supporting Actor: Benicio del Toro, "One Battle After Another"; Jacob Elordi, "Frankenstein"; Delroy Lindo, "Sinners"; Sean Penn, "One Battle After Another"; and Stellan Skarsgård, "Sentimental Value".
No Swedish male actor has ever won an Oscar. Max von Sydow was nominated in 1988 for "Pelle the Conqueror" and in 2011 for "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close."
