Stellan Skarsgård, the Academy Award-nominated actor of Sentimental Value and two-time Golden Globes winner known for his performances in Chernobyl, Andor, and the new Dune films, discussed his first time getting in drag at 15 years old — one that involved wigs, makeup, lingerie, going out, and getting the attention of flirtatious men.
When asked about typecasting in a new interview, Skarsgård replied that he hadn't experienced that practice throughout his career. "The last four projects I've done, I look completely different," the Swedish actor told The New York Times. "From the fat guy in Dune to the wigs in Andor and this one [Sentimental Value]. I come from theater, so you're used to wigs and doing several different characters…There's a childish satisfaction of becoming an invented person."
Following the cue, the New York Times reporter asked Skarsgård about his recent W magazine feature that included an in-drag photo shoot of the actor. "It was their idea, and I went for it," Skarsgård mentioned, adding: "I've seen my son do it with success."
Bel Powley, Alexander Skarsgård, and director Marielle Heller at the San Francisco red carpet premiere of The Diary Of a Teenage Girl at the Castro Theatre in August 2015.
Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images
The son in question is Alexander Skarsgård, Out's latest cover star for his performance as Ray in the queer dom-com Pillion, who attended a red carpet premiere in 2015 dressed in full drag. Yet, Stellan Skarsgård continued, "I dressed the first time in drag when I was 15 years old."
According to Stellan Skarsgård, his first experience with drag — at 15 years old — had nothing to do with any project or character. "I just borrowed a girlfriend's clothes, and I put socks in the bra and put on makeup and went out," he remarked.
The actor went on, "I was flabbergasted over how young men were treating me — the notice you got, and the eyes, and everything. It was a very different experience. So I know that it can be seductive and also objectifying to be a woman."
Earlier this year, the 74-year-old Skarsgård brought back that fantasy for a photo shoot by Tyrone Lebon for W magazine, which can be seen below.
The New York Times interview ended with an acknowledgement that the actor wasn't particularly drawn to Hollywood as a location or as a concept, though he could see now that it was "naïve and snobbish" of his younger self to think so.
Ultimately, Skarsgård remarked that "it's always hard to find good roles," adding: "About every 10 years I've had one. And that's good."
Sentimental Value is now streaming on-demand (VOD) on platforms like Apple TV.
