Stellan Skarsgard has been a familiar face in films — Holly biggies to indie fare — and has played memorable roles, including Bootstrap Bill Turner in the Pirates of the Caribbean films and Erik Selvig in the Avengers franchise. With Sony PIX celebrating the Swedish actor’s birthday by screening some of his films, t2 caught up with 67-year-old Skarsgard for a phone chat.   

When you look back at your body of work, what’s the emotion like — humility, amazement, regret or that you aren’t really done yet?

Honestly, I never look back at what I’ve done. I just approach every project as if it’s my first and my last. I don’t watch my own films very much. I really enjoy my work, but I don’t see it as a ‘body’ of work or anything that’s monumental by any means. 

You continue to make many movies every year. What would you say has been the defining moment for you as an actor?     
Though I have never been interested in a career, I have always loved being an actor. When I work with other actors, I always look at what they give me and what I can give them and what we can create together. I am as happy as a child in a sandbox when that happens. 

Superhero films to intimate indie productions, which genre challenges you and what do you enjoy doing most?

Films are like food… you want a varied diet. So when I am doing a Hollywood movie where there is an interesting mix of top actors, then I like doing that. Similarly, I am kicked when I am approached for an indie film because that means that the director is the one completely in charge. I’ve made over a 100 films and if I had done all of them in the same genre, then I would have been bored by now. I really enjoyed the variety. 

You’ve made many notable films with director Lars Von Trier. What works for this winner of a working relationship that you share?

The wonderful thing about working with him is that he always makes films no one has seen or attempted before. He doesn’t copy anyone… everything he does is original. Whether you like his films or not, they all have a distinct voice. Also, it’s the most relaxed set you can be on. He’s the friendliest man and there’s no hierarchy on his set. Everybody is allowed to say what they think. On his set, it’s like being with siblings — good siblings — and you just enjoy the process. And I know that I can always trust him with the final product. 

After being in the business for 46 years, how do you pick and choose your roles now? 

I don’t know whether it’s really changed much from before, but I now look at who are the people I sign up to work with. With Nymphomaniac (a 2013 film directed by Lars von Trier), many people cautioned me saying he was making a porn film, but when he asked me to play the lead, I didn’t think twice because I trust him so much. I have definitely become picky over the years and I am finding myself wanting to take up more daring projects and films that are in a new territory. 

Of course, when you act in a superhero movie, your role is only a sketch and you try and bring as much meat as you can into it. I always look for characters that are complex, that have contradictions. That’s because I feel that the universe is not constructed as good guys and bad guys. We can all be good guys and bad guys at various points and I love these contradictions. 

If there was one role you could play again, which would it be?

(Laughs) I don’t want to do anything again! I still haven’t done a role that I have been completely happy with. 

Your sons Alexander, Gustaf and Bill are all actors. Have you had any advice for them?

My ideology is that parents need to interfere as little as possible in the lives of their children. Parents need to give them a good, solid base of love and trust and then they have to get on with their lives. If I coached any of my sons and they were unsuccessful, then they would blame me… and I don’t want that! 

You came to India several years ago. What are your impressions of the country?

I went to India to do a film (The Perfect Murder, 1987) with Naseeruddin Shah several years ago. I come from a very secluded and unpopulated part of the world — Sweden — and it was a shock to see the crowds in India. But I really loved it. I met Madhur Jaffrey on that trip and she cooked some of her recipes. I have those recipes and I cook them sometimes. India is not a country… it’s a continent, and it’s fascinating.