Steve Granitz\/FilmMagic<\/p>\n
Stellan Skarsg\u00e5rd in Los Angeles on Nov. 5, 2025<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
Key points<\/h3>\n\n- \n\n
Stellan Skarsg\u00e5rd never considered parallels between himself and his character in Sentimental Value<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n- \n\n
However, one of his kids suggested similarities between the two patriarchs: “My son saw the film and said to me, ‘You recognize yourself?'”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
- \n\n
The actor opined that “You can never be a good parent to a kid, because truthfully, they have things to complain about.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Stellan Skarsg\u00e5rd<\/a> didn’t see many parallels between himself and his Sentimental Value<\/em> character \u2014 until his son saw the film for the first time.<\/p>\nIn the latest film from Joachim Trier, the Andor<\/em> star portrays Gustav Borg, a self-centered film director who seldom interacts with his daughters after divorcing their mother and leaving the country.<\/p>\n“I never thought of Gustav as being like me in any way,” he told<\/a> The Independent<\/em>. “Our situations are similar, but it’s totally different.”<\/p>\n\n\n![\"Ibl\/Shutterstock](\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/IdPyAEoD4m44puppnAQqjA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD03OTQ-\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/aol_entertainment_weekly_articles_368\/cd9511da9137b6c4b4a034da2577f130\"\/)
<\/div>\n\nIbl\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n
Gustaf Skarsg\u00e5rd, Bill Skarsg\u00e5rd, Valter Skarsg\u00e5rd, Eija Skarsg\u00e5rd, Sam Skarsg\u00e5rd, Gro Skarsg\u00e5rd, Megan Everett, and Stellan Skarsg\u00e5rd in Stockholm on May 6, 2013<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
Skarsg\u00e5rd has eight children, including True Blood<\/em> star Alexander Skarsg\u00e5rd<\/a> and It<\/em> actor Bill Skarsg\u00e5rd<\/a> \u2014 and explained that one of his offspring prompted comparisons between his Sentimental Value<\/em> character and his real-life personality.<\/p>\n“My son saw the film and said to me, ‘You recognize yourself?'” he remembered. “I said, no! But of course, they see things that I don’t see \u2014 but you can never satisfy a kid.”<\/p>\n
Skarsg\u00e5rd believes that all parents are flawed, no matter how hard they try. “You can never be a good parent to a kid, because truthfully, they have things to complain about because we’re only human,” he opined. “And they’re not perfect either. So you’ve got to live with it.”<\/p>\n\n\n![\"NEON](\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/yQ0_IXbIL2hFvop0af31bw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/aol_entertainment_weekly_articles_368\/4be7037e0bfcebbb2d435f040ec32e74\"\/)
<\/div>\n\nNEON<\/p>\n
Stellan Skarsg\u00e5rd in ‘Sentimental Value’<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
Eventually, the Breaking the Waves<\/em> actor recognized the similarities that his son might have seen. “I realized more that maybe I wasn’t totally present when my kids were growing up,” Skarsg\u00e5rd said. “But I have eight kids \u2013 it’s f—ing impossible.”<\/p>\nThe Mamma Mia<\/em> star said that he and his children all allow each other to pursue their interests to whatever extent they desire. “I have been very tolerant to my kids, and they have to be tolerant of me, too,” he said. “I’ve let them go and do whatever they want, and they can let me go and do whatever I want.”<\/p>\nSkarsg\u00e5rd added that he couldn’t imagine participating in traditional parental activities, like hanging around his kids’ soccer practice. “It would be so boring,” he said. “I would die.”<\/p>\n
Many analysts expect Skarsg\u00e5rd to land an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his work in Sentimental Value<\/em>, which would mark his first recognition from the Academy in a career spanning 50 years. “I’ve done pretty well without them,” he said of Oscar nominations. “But of course it’s exciting and good for the film \u2013 and good for cinemas.”<\/p>\nGet your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Stellan Skarsg\u00e5rd never considered parallels between himself and his character in Sentimental Value<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n However, one of his kids suggested similarities between the two patriarchs: “My son saw the film and said to me, ‘You recognize yourself?'”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n The actor opined that “You can never be a good parent to a kid, because truthfully, they have things to complain about.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Stellan Skarsg\u00e5rd<\/a> didn’t see many parallels between himself and his Sentimental Value<\/em> character \u2014 until his son saw the film for the first time.<\/p>\n In the latest film from Joachim Trier, the Andor<\/em> star portrays Gustav Borg, a self-centered film director who seldom interacts with his daughters after divorcing their mother and leaving the country.<\/p>\n “I never thought of Gustav as being like me in any way,” he told<\/a> The Independent<\/em>. “Our situations are similar, but it’s totally different.”<\/p>\n Ibl\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n Gustaf Skarsg\u00e5rd, Bill Skarsg\u00e5rd, Valter Skarsg\u00e5rd, Eija Skarsg\u00e5rd, Sam Skarsg\u00e5rd, Gro Skarsg\u00e5rd, Megan Everett, and Stellan Skarsg\u00e5rd in Stockholm on May 6, 2013<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Skarsg\u00e5rd has eight children, including True Blood<\/em> star Alexander Skarsg\u00e5rd<\/a> and It<\/em> actor Bill Skarsg\u00e5rd<\/a> \u2014 and explained that one of his offspring prompted comparisons between his Sentimental Value<\/em> character and his real-life personality.<\/p>\n “My son saw the film and said to me, ‘You recognize yourself?'” he remembered. “I said, no! But of course, they see things that I don’t see \u2014 but you can never satisfy a kid.”<\/p>\n Skarsg\u00e5rd believes that all parents are flawed, no matter how hard they try. “You can never be a good parent to a kid, because truthfully, they have things to complain about because we’re only human,” he opined. “And they’re not perfect either. So you’ve got to live with it.”<\/p>\n NEON<\/p>\n Stellan Skarsg\u00e5rd in ‘Sentimental Value’<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Eventually, the Breaking the Waves<\/em> actor recognized the similarities that his son might have seen. “I realized more that maybe I wasn’t totally present when my kids were growing up,” Skarsg\u00e5rd said. “But I have eight kids \u2013 it’s f—ing impossible.”<\/p>\n The Mamma Mia<\/em> star said that he and his children all allow each other to pursue their interests to whatever extent they desire. “I have been very tolerant to my kids, and they have to be tolerant of me, too,” he said. “I’ve let them go and do whatever they want, and they can let me go and do whatever I want.”<\/p>\n Skarsg\u00e5rd added that he couldn’t imagine participating in traditional parental activities, like hanging around his kids’ soccer practice. “It would be so boring,” he said. “I would die.”<\/p>\n Many analysts expect Skarsg\u00e5rd to land an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his work in Sentimental Value<\/em>, which would mark his first recognition from the Academy in a career spanning 50 years. “I’ve done pretty well without them,” he said of Oscar nominations. “But of course it’s exciting and good for the film \u2013 and good for cinemas.”<\/p>\n Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>
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