Alexander Skarsgard, the Swedish actor, has spent his career alternating between big budget productions and smaller, director driven films, a balance he has described as a deliberate way to keep the work varied.
The eldest of the acting Skarsgard siblings, he broke through internationally in television before moving into a run of film roles that spanned action, horror and prestige drama.
He has often talked about drawing on his Swedish upbringing and theatre background when approaching characters, even in English language projects.
His outlook reflects a wider view among Swedish performers who treat the international industry as an extension of, rather than a break from, their roots.
