Skarsgård is being praised for his role as Gustav Borg, a former famous film director who tries to reconnect with his daughters and his lost career in the Norwegian film "Sentimental Value."
The film, which also stars Elle Fanning and Renate Reinsve, won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and is Norway's Oscar entry.
Santa Barbara Festival director Roger Durling describes Skarsgård as “an actor with rare emotional power and the ability to bring both heroes and villains to life.”
American media are also speculating whether Joachim Trier's "Sentimental Value" will give the Swedish actor his first Oscar nomination.
