Bill Skarsgård

Early life

Skarsgård was born on 9 August 1990 in Vällingby, Stockholm, Sweden, the son of actor Stellan Skarsgård and physician My Skarsgård. He has seven siblings, including actors Alexander, Gustaf, Valter, and Kolbjörn.

Career

2011–2016: Early work

In 2011, Skarsgård was nominated for a Guldbagge Award for his leading role as Simon in Simple Simon. At the age of 21, he won the European Film Academy's Shooting Stars Award in 2012. Beginning in 2013, Skarsgård played the role of Roman Godfrey in the Netflix original Hemlock Grove.

In April 2014, Skarsgård featured on the cover of Hero – a bi-annual men's fashion and culture magazine, shot by Hedi Slimane. In the issue, he is interviewed by his father. Skarsgård played Matthew in the science fiction thriller The Divergent Series: Allegiant (2016), his first major American film.

2017–present: Breakthrough

Skarsgård portrayed Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the 2017 film It and reprised the role later in the 2019 sequel It Chapter Two, as well as in the 2025 prequel series It: Welcome to Derry, directed by Andy Muschietti. Speaking about what led him to casting Skarsgård, Muschietti said: "One second he can act all cute, and then the next, there's something ancestral and dark that just appears. His ability to transform is mind-blowing to me.”

Skarsgård was a series regular on 2018's Castle Rock, as a young man with an unusual legal problem. That same year, he portrayed the minor role of Zeitgeist in Deadpool 2. In 2020, he played Mateo in episode 4 of AMC's anthology series Soulmates. In 2021, he voiced the main antagonist Kro in Eternals. In the 2022 Netflix miniseries Clark, Skarsgård portrayed Clark Olofsson, the notorious Swedish criminal whose involvement in the Norrmalmstorg robbery gave rise to the term Stockholm syndrome. In 2023, Skarsgård played the lead villain role of Marquis de Gramont in John Wick: Chapter 4.

In 2024, Skarsgård began taking on more leading man roles and was the titular character in Boy Kills World. He then starred in the reboot of The Crow directed by Rupert Sanders. Skarsgård said: "I had a great shoot, a lot of night shoots. … You're kind of preoccupied in a bleak state of mind for a while. I like to be consumed by it when I'm doing it. Actually, we were working out a lot, I found it really helpful. There's nothing like being tired and sweaty to get the demons out." Finally, he co-starred as the vampire Count Orlok in the remake of Nosferatu, directed by Robert Eggers. To play the part, Skarsgård worked with an opera coach to lower his vocal register, adapted a Transylvanian accent and wore 60 prosthetics. Speaking on his experience portraying the titular role, Skarsgård said: "It was like conjuring pure evil. It took a while for me to shake off the demon that had been conjured inside of me." Nicholas Hoult, Skarsgård's co-star in the film, proclaimed that Skarsgård "gives a truly transformative performance ... it's scary and intimidating. His voice, his physicality ... it's really a wonderful character and he did beautiful character work with it."

In 2025, Skarsgård starred in Locked. Skarsgård said performing alone and the "street weasel quality" of his character drew him to the part and added: "I read the script for Locked around the tail end of Nosferatu production ... I often instinctively want to go somewhere that's the polar opposite of my current project, just to keep challenging myself." He then starred in the critically acclaimed crime thriller Dead Man's Wire, directed by Gus Van Sant. Speaking about taking on his role in the film, Skarsgård said: "It was very juicy and it's a character that I was so blessed with: very complex, fun and dynamic, and [it required] a type of performance I certainly haven't done in America before... There's no blocking, there are no real hit marks (and) that presents accidents and spontaneous things. You feel very free." Skarsgård's performance in the film was praised, with William Bibbiani of TheWrap calling him "brilliant" and writing "Skarsgård is a captivating chaos gremlin... he's such a chameleon..." David Rooney of TheHollywoodReporter, deemed it his best work so far and said it was "a crackling performance full of unforced humor." Co-star Dacre Montgomery commented on working with Skarsgard: "I just can’t say enough good things about Bill. He’s wonderful. He’s the best friend I’ve made on a set. He’s one of the best scene partners I’ve ever had. He gives it his all."

Upcoming

In 2026, Skarsgård will co-star opposite Hugh Jackman in The Death of Robin Hood as Little John. Skarsgård started shooting the film only three days after wrapping Dead Man's Wire; he shaved his head and did a Yorkshire accent for his part. Skarsgård will also appear in The Mosquito Bowl.

Personal life

Skarsgård is in a relationship with actress Alida Morberg. In October 2018, the couple had their first child. They had a second child in 2023.

In February 2024, Skarsgård was arrested and fined for cannabis possession in Sweden.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. Coman, Monica. (14 November 2024). "'A Mutual Kind of Attraction': Bill Skarsgard Explains Picking Dark Roles Like Pennywise and Nosferatu".
2. Lund, Anthony. (18 November 2024). "Bill Skarsgård Never Planned to Be a "Go-To Monster Actor", but Is Not Afraid of Typecasting Either".
3. George, Joe. (27 December 2024). "Nosferatu Proves Bill Skarsgård Is a Movie Monster Icon Worthy of the Silent Era".
4. "Bill Skarsgård - Box Office".
5. (15 March 2018). "'Black Panther,' 'Walking Dead' Rule Saturn Awards Nominations". Variety Media, LLC..
6. Nordyke, Kimberly. (3 May 2018). "MTV Movie & TV Awards: 'Black Panther,' 'Stranger Things' Top Nominations". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
7. Vlessing, Etan. (15 August 2024). "David Yarovesky, Christopher Leone, Sergio Navarretta Titles Tapped for Toronto Film Festival Sales Market".
8. [https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/jul/20/on-my-radar-bill-skarsgard-hemlock-grove On my radar: Bill Skarsgård's culturala highlights] {{Webarchive. link. (3 August 2017 ; ''[[The Guardian]]'', 20 July 2014)
9. Lindholm, Peter. (22 March 2009). "Bill Skarsgård: Stellan är min största förebild". [[Metro International]].
10. "Stellans exfru talar ut om missbruket". [[Aftonbladet]].
11. (27 August 2019). "Skarsgård-barnen – så lever de i dag".
12. "The Skarsgård Family: Everything to Know".
13. Pehanick, Maggie. "Meet Bill Skarsgard, the Guy Terrorizing You as Pennywise". POPSUGAR Celebrity.
14. "BILL SKARSGÅRD SELECTED AS SHOOTING STAR 2012 – TrustNordisk".
15. ""HERO 11: Shift Zero"".
16. Close, Murray. "Bill Skarsgård portrays Matthew in The Divergent Series: Allegiant".
17. (2 June 2016). "Stephen King's 'It' Adaptation Finds Its Pennywise the Clown (Exclusive)". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
18. Wagmeister, Elizabeth. (10 July 2017). "'It' Star Bill Skarsgård Joins Stephen King Hulu Series 'Castle Rock'".
19. Sharf, Zack. (27 April 2018). "Bill Skarsgård Makes 'Deadpool 2' Debut: 'It' Actor Confirmed as X-Force Mutant Zeitgeist — First Look". Indiewire.
20. "Bill Skarsgard: I Dare you to Watch Clark".
21. Grater, Tom. (7 October 2021). "Bill Skarsgard, Samara Weaving & Yayan Ruhian Starring In ''Boy Kills World''; Sam Raimi & Roy Lee Producing".
22. Kroll, Justin. (1 April 2022). "'The Crow': Bill Skarsgard Tapped To Play Eric Draven In New Reimagining From Rupert Sanders". Deadline Hollywood.
23. Thompson, Jaden. (21 August 2024). "Bill Skarsgard on His "Bleak State of Mind" While Filming 'The Crow': "I Like to Be Consumed by It"".
24. Kroll, Justin. (30 September 2022). "Bill Skarsgard & Lily-Rose Depp To Star In 'Nosferatu', Robert Eggers' Follow-Up To 'Northman' For Focus". [[Deadline (website).
25. [https://ew.com/nosferatu-bill-skarsgard-transformation-count-orlok-8765103 Bill Skarsgård unpacks his dramatic Nosferatu transformation: 'Either this will come alive or it won't']
26. [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/bill-skarsgard-transformation-hair-makeup-nosferatu-1236104307/ How ‘Nosferatu’ Hair and Makeup Teams Transformed Bill Skarsgard From a “Sweet, Charming Guy” Into Count Orlok]
27. (29 May 2024). "Bill Skarsgård Likes It Darker".
28. [https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/nicholas-hoult-teases-bill-skarsgard-nosferatu-performance-1235045227/ Nicholas Hoult Says That ‘There Is Not Anything of Bill Skarsgård Left’ in His Performance in ‘Nosferatu’]
29. [https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/bill-skarsgard-locked-polar-opposite-nosferatu-1235110678/ Bill Skarsgård Took on His Role in ‘Locked’ Because It Was the ‘Polar Opposite’ of ‘Nosferatu’]
30. [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/bill-skarsgard-interview-dead-mans-wire-1236451416/ Why Bill Skarsgard Cut His Acting Break Short for ‘Dead Man’s Wire’]
31. [https://www.thewrap.com/dead-mans-wire-review-bill-skarsgard-gus-van-sant/ Dead Man’s Wire’ Review: Bill Skarsgård Is Brilliant in Gus Van Sant’s Mixed-Bag Thriller]
32. [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/dead-mans-wire-review-bill-skarsgard-gus-van-sant-1236358582/ ‘Dead Man’s Wire’ Review: Bill Skarsgard Does His Strongest Work to Date in Gus Van Sant’s Stylish and Gripping ’70s Throwback]
33. [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/dead-mans-wire-richard-hall-dacre-montgomery-interview-1236471994/ Never Question Dacre Montgomery’s Commitment to a Role, Especially in ‘Dead Man’s Wire’]
34. (20 July 2018). "Bill Skarsgård to become a father".
35. (8 October 2018). "Bebislycka för Bill Skarsgård och Alida Morberg".
36. Risberg, Moa. (16 August 2023). "Bill Skarsgård och Alida Morbergs dotters ovanliga namnval".
37. (15 February 2024). "Bill Skarsgård Arrested For Marijuana Possession in Sweden".
38. "Bill Skarsgard Joins Alicia Vikander in Voice Cast for 'Moomins' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
39. Kroll, Justin. (1 April 2022). "'The Crow': Bill Skarsgard Tapped To Play Eric Draven In New Reimagining From Rupert Sanders".
40. Squires, John. (30 May 2023). "Filming on the Robert Eggers 'Nosferatu' Remake Has Reportedly Wrapped in Prague".
41. Vlessing, Etan. (7 February 2025). "Bill Skarsgard, Murray Bartlett, Noah Jupe Join 'The Death of Robin Hood'".
42. McNary, Dave. (18 August 2014). "TORONTO: Sophie Cookson Starring Opposite Adrien Brody in 'Emperor'".
43. "See Behind-the-Scenes Photos from Director Peter Berg's The Mosquito Bowl". [[Tudum]].
44. Grobar, Matt. (15 April 2025). "Nicholas Galitzine & Bill Skarsgård To Star In Netflix's 'Mosquito Bowl' From Director Peter Berg".
45. Andreeva, Nellie. (30 May 2024). "'Welcome To Derry': Bill Skarsgård To Reprise Pennywise Role In 'It' Prequel On Max".
46. Nordyke, Kimberly. (3 May 2018). "MTV Movie & TV Awards: 'Black Panther,' 'Stranger Things' Top Nominations". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
47. Templeton, Molly. (January 28, 2026). "Here Are the Nominees for the 53rd Annual Saturn Awards".