Stellan Skarsgård on His Most Awkward On-Screen Moment

Stellan Skarsgård might not be the first bloke you’d picture as a box office juggernaut, but the Swedish actor’s films have raked in a staggering $11.3 billion worldwide. With roles in massive franchises like Marvel’s Avengers and Pirates of the Caribbean, he’s quietly become one of the most bankable names in the business. His family’s no stranger to the spotlight either, with his sons Bill and Alexander carving out their own acting careers. Skarsgård himself has been a fixture on the big screen for decades, popping up in everything from Good Will Hunting to Oscar-winning dramas.

But it’s not just the silver screen where he’s made his mark. Skarsgård has also delivered standout performances on telly, including a memorable turn in the Star Wars spin-off Andor and the acclaimed nuclear disaster series Chernobyl. His portrayal of Soviet deputy chairman Boris Shcherbina in the latter earned him a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor, while the show itself picked up the gong for Best Limited TV Series.

Stepping Out of His Comfort Zone

Before Chernobyl, Skarsgård took on the lead in a BBC detective drama set in London’s Metropolitan Police. The series, penned by Oscar-winner Abi Walker, saw him play River, a detective grappling with grief. Critics were quick to praise his nuanced performance, but the role wasn’t without its challenges. Some scenes pushed him well outside his comfort zone, especially those involving his character’s love interest trying to coax him back into everyday life. One particular hurdle? Karaoke.

Skarsgård didn’t mince words about how he felt filming those moments.

“Those singing and dancing scenes? I did not enjoy them. I was really embarrassed. But this profession is constant humiliation. My entire organism revolts at the thought of doing karaoke. I can’t do it. And I’m a bad singer.”

It’s safe to say the experience wasn’t his favourite, but at least the series only ran for one season before he moved on to other projects.

From British Thrillers to Sci-Fi Epics

After wrapping up the detective series, Skarsgård jumped into a British-made John le Carré thriller, Our Kind of Traitor. Not long after, he found himself back in the world of big-budget blockbusters, returning to Marvel for Thor: Love and Thunder and taking on a major role in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films. As Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, he’s helped the Dune franchise pull in over a billion dollars at the box office. However, punters won’t see him in the third instalment, which is set to hit cinemas in late 2026.

This year, Skarsgård has been getting plenty of buzz for his role in the Norwegian comedy-drama Sentimental Value, directed by Joachim Trier. The film follows two sisters trying to reconnect with their egotistical filmmaker father, played by Skarsgård. It’s already tipped as a strong contender for next year’s awards season.

Family Rivalry and Festival Success

In a twist that could only happen in showbiz, Skarsgård might find himself up against his own son when awards season rolls around. Alexander Skarsgård has been earning rave reviews for his performance in Pillion, a British drama about a gay biker gang, which also features Harry Melling of Harry Potter fame. The film has stirred up a bit of controversy thanks to its explicit BDSM scenes, but it’s also nabbed the Best Screenplay prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

With a career spanning everything from indie dramas to sci-fi epics, and a family full of acting talent, Skarsgård’s journey is anything but ordinary. Even for a seasoned pro, though, there are still moments that make him cringe—karaoke included.