The Northman star Alexander Skarsgård says he wasn’t taken seriously as an actor early in his career. The Swedish star is well known for playing assertive male characters, as well as his willingness to bare-all on screen. Though he initially made a name for himself nationally, Skarsgård gained prominence further afield after his flamboyant portrayal of Meekus in 2001’s Zoolander.

Joining the cast of HBO’s hit fantasy series True Blood from 2008 to 2014, Skarsgård began to build a reputation playing handsome villains and dark anti-heroes, starring in the likes of Straw Dogs and Hold the Dark. Most recently, Skarsgård has garnered praise for his portrayal of the aloof tech tycoon Lukas Matsson in Succession, as well as Perry Wright, the violent husband of Celeste Wright (Nicole Kidman), in Big Little Lies. The actor is currently awaiting the release of his latest picture, Robert Eggers' The Northman, later this month, which will see Skarsgård again channel his inner anti-hero as a Viking searching for bloodthirsty vengeance.

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Now, speaking in an interview with The Sunday Times, Skarsgård has lamented the fact that he wasn’t taken “seriously” early in his career. Expressing regret that some of his earliest roles seemed to typecast him based on his appearance, Skarsgård said that he was placed on a so-called “sexy hunky hot list.” He added that his reputation as “a dude who takes his shirt off” meant that he lost out on offers for characters with “depth.” Check out his remarks below:

"After my first job I was on a stupid ‘sexy hunky hot list’ and then people didn’t take me seriously. If you want characters with depth but have been labelled ‘a dude who takes his shirt off’, you’re not going to get those offers."

Alexander Skarsgård in Godzilla vs Kong

Arguably Skarsgård's most on-the-nose part as a shirtless “sexy hunk” was his starring role opposite Margot Robbie in the 2016 adventure film, The Legend of Tarzan. Though his roles have diversified in recent years, Skarsgård has continued to draw interest for his portrayal of the bad guy, perhaps in part due to the example set by his father and Hollywood veteran, Stellan Skarsgård, known for titles such as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Nymphomaniac and, more recently, Dune. Though his siblings Gustaf (Vikings) and Bill (It) also seem to draw in offers for darker characters, it appears that they have mostly avoided the 'shirtless hunk’ trope lamented by their older brother.

Though Skarsgård's physical appearance may have proven to be a source of frustration early in his career, his more recent work shows that he has demonstrated his talent and ability to represent complex characters. Branding his upcoming performance in The Northman as “the most difficult job [he’s] ever had,” Skarsgård has certainly set the bar of expectation high, while simultaneously bolstering excitement around Eggers' new project. Regardless of the film’s reception on April 22, Skarsgård will once again hope to show his value in a multifaceted, physically demanding role, without being judged on his appearance alone.

More: Everything We Know About Succession Season 4

Source: The Sunday Times

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