Stellan Skarsgård on ‘Sentimental Value,’ Lars von Trier, and the Art of Letting Go

It has been a long awards season for Stellan Skarsgård – and there’s still almost a month to go before the Academy Awards. The Best Supporting Actor nominee has been discussing his much-lauded role in Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value since the film’s world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025. “It’s been exhausting,” the 74-year-old Swedish actor told Gold Derby on the latest edition of Awards Magnet. “We’ve been doing this since Cannes, and it’s a full-time job! I’d like to go back to my day job afterwards.”

A Career Defined, and a First Nomination

That “day job,” of course, is acting – something that Skarsgård is supremely skilled at, as evidenced by his celebrated roles in films such as Breaking the Waves, Good Will Hunting, and the Mamma Mia! movies. But Sentimental Value marks the actor’s first-ever Oscar nomination, lending the film special resonance. Skarsgård plays Gustav Borg, a film director who has the opportunity for a late-career comeback after connecting with a Hollywood star looking to venture outside her comfort zone (Elle Fanning). However, this re-opens old wounds with his adult daughters, Nora (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas), who are still unhappy about his less-than-involved parenting style.

Critical Acclaim and Audience Connection

All three actresses – Reinsve, Lilleaas, and Fanning – are also Oscar-nominated, reflecting the film’s popularity with Academy voters and audiences. “People really touched by this film,” Skarsgård marvels. “You get huge feedback. One person told me they’ve seen it six times — I’ve only seen it three times!”

On Playing a Director and Finding the Artist

In conversation with Gold Derby, Skarsgård discussed his approach to portraying Gustav Borg. Initially, he considered channeling frustration with directors, but ultimately focused on the character’s artistic obsession. “I initially said to myself: ‘I’m going to play a director – revenge!’ But I didn’t, and that’s since I’m playing an artist, and that’s the important thing,” he explained. “As with every artist, he is his job and he’s obsessed by it. He could just as well be a painter, or a musician, so I didn’t think of a director as being any different from that. I made him very blunt and incapable of having an emotional life with his family. He’s always saying the wrong thing; sometimes that’s funny and sometimes that’s tragic. At the same time, he’s very sensitive and listens, and sees everything you do and understands everything you do. That’s not an uncommon combination; a lot of directors are like that. Ingmar Bergman was like that. He didn’t see his family.”

Evolving Relationships with Directors

Skarsgård reflected on how his relationships with directors have changed over his career. “As a younger actor, you are more at the mercy of the director, because the director doesn’t ask you [about your performance]. You come in like nobody, and they say: ‘Stand over there.’ Eventually, when you have a couple of years under your wings, then they’ll say, ‘What do you think?’ I’ve also developed my way of working with directors and am more loyal to them now than I’ve ever been before, because for a film to develop into a good piece of art, it has to be subjective. It has to come out of one worldview. My job is find out what kind of film does the director wants to make so I can support him or her.”

Advice to His Younger Self

When asked what advice he would give his younger self, Skarsgård offered a simple insight: “I would say don’t try so hard! [Laughs] The film camera sees the effort and the effort is not good.” He highlighted a scene in Sentimental Value, particularly the drunk scenes, as examples where his relaxed approach benefited the performance.

Mortality and Connection

Skarsgård discussed a poignant scene where Gustav visits his former cinematographer, confronting his own mortality. “I had to perceive the shock, because when I saw that he couldn’t barely move, I realize that he’s aged and I had not realized that I’ve aged myself. So I saw myself in the mirror and I knew it was just a matter of weeks before I would conclude up there somehow. I also had to let him down and not hire him, and he understood that. So it’s quite a moving scene in that sense.”

Family Dynamics and Artistic Temperament

Regarding Gustav’s relationships with his daughters, Skarsgård noted the complexities of their dynamic. Nora, the older sister, shares similarities with her father – stubbornness and impulsivity – while Agnes serves as a voice of reason and love. He emphasized that Gustav doesn’t impose ambitions on his children, believing they should pursue what they’re good at.

A Family of Actors

Skarsgård acknowledged that five of his children are now actors, but he intentionally avoids offering them advice. “No, I didn’t give them any advice, and they didn’t ask for advice! [Laughs] That’s good, because five of them are actors now — that’s a lot! If you advise them or project your own ambitions onto your kids, you destroy the relationship in a way. If they’re successful because of your advice, then you’ll get the glory for it in a way. And if they’re unsuccessful, you’ll get the shame! So it’s a lose-lose situation; best just to step back and shut up. Don’t interfere with your kids so much.”

Reflections on Past Collaborations

Skarsgård fondly recalled his experience on Lars von Trier’s Breaking the Waves, praising von Trier’s technical expertise and his willingness to allow actors freedom. He remembered von Trier’s on-set signs that read, “Make mistakes.” He also discussed his experience on Mike Figgis’s Timecode, an improvised film shot in one seize, highlighting the collaborative and spontaneous nature of the project.

Looking Ahead

When asked about a potential third Mamma Mia! film, Skarsgård jokingly offered to appear as ashes in an urn. Reflecting on his journey with Sentimental Value, he expressed gratitude for the camaraderie among the cast. “Of course, the insanity and and the whirlwind of it all. But it’s also nice that we’re four actors who have been together for half-a-year all over the world, and we liked each other from start and we don’t hate each other now! That’s a wonderful feeling.”