With a tall stature and a brooding intensity, Alexander Skarsgård has made a name for himself in the entertainment industry by repeatedly taking on roles that explore the darker side of human minds. Whether he’s embodying the violent cop in War on Everyone, or brutally abusing Nicole Kidman in Big Little Lies, Skarsgård seems to have an uncanny ability to turn evil into art.
Therefore, during a candid conversation with The Guardian, the Swedish actor revealed why he often gravitates toward such complex and dark roles. Claiming that beneath the polished surface of civilization, everyone is hiding an animal, Alexander Skarsgård justified finding a way to let out that animal through his work.
Alexander Skarsgård Explained His Penchant for Dark and Abusive Roles
Playing the bad guy isn’t as easy as it seems, but Alexander Skarsgård somehow makes it look effortless when he comes onscreen to portray the most evil character of the show or film. Whether it’s being the abusive husband to Nicole Kidman in HBO’s Big Little Lies, or playing a racist in Passing and a r*pist in the Straw Dogs remake, Skarsgård simply knows his way of deriving eye-rolls from audiences.
After years of building his resume out of villain roles, Alexander Skarsgård sat for an interview with The Guardian to discuss his love for playing evil characters and why he’s continually drawn to portray the darker sides of human nature. Implying that there are rarely any projects in his filmography where he played normal roles, the Swedish actor expressed his desire to descend into the gruesome horrors of human minds.
There’s a politeness to Canadians and Swedes. But it’s all just a f*cking facade. Deep down we’re animals. We’re just very good at concealing it. Brits too. It’s all down there, though. You can just open the tap and let it out.
Discussing how there’s a bit of evil in everyone that most people choose to keep locked away, Alexander Skarsgård explained his wish to explore that very malevolent side of himself through his work. With his interest in playing twisted and morally ambiguous roles going beneath the surface, the actor mentioned how the medium of films and shows allows him to tap into his inner animal and let it out through his performance.
Alexander Skarsgård Revealed His Process of Playing the Perfect Villain
Although Alexander Skarsgård has gained a reputation for playing controversial figures, he doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, the Swedish actor seems to thrive on it. Therefore, speaking with Bustle, Skarsgård admitted enjoying the challenge of playing characters that derive eye-rolls from audiences, much like his performance in Big Little Lies as the abusive husband Perry Wright.
While audiences were enraged by his abusive behavior towards Nicole Kidman‘s Celeste Wright, they were unable to look away from his tense performance in the show. Thereafter, the role quickly became a testament to Skarsgård’s ability to channel his inner darkness through his onscreen villainous characters. And how does he do it? Well, the actor revealed his secret.
It’s always more interesting if you make it uncomfortable for the audience, if you can find moments where they like the guy, and understand him.
Therefore, for Alexander Skarsgård, the key to playing a believable villain is finding the humanity within them and making the audience connect with him. Considering how even the most evil characters have their vulnerabilities, fears, and desires, the actor mentioned using those aspects to create a sense of authenticity and bond, which in return makes those characters all the more chilling.
Big Little Lies is currently available to watch on Prime Video.
