Actor Stellan Skarsgard doesn't believe in bad guys

"They're flawed, they're sad, and they're comic. ... They are everything. Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård expresses his philosophy that human beings are nuanced creatures rather than simply good or evil, reflecting his approach to character development and his rejection of one-dimensional villains."

"The conflict between working as an artist and combining that with a personal life is difficult, and those problems I have. But that goes for every artist. Skarsgård acknowledges the tension between professional artistic pursuits and maintaining meaningful personal relationships, a struggle he shares with his character in Sentimental Value and believes is universal among creative professionals."

"It's quite complicated in terms of simultaneous work. But it's feasible, and we did it. So I don't think there's any trace of the stroke in my work. Skarsgård describes his experience using an earpiece with a prompter during filming after suffering a mild stroke, emphasizing that despite the technical complexity, the accommodation allowed him to deliver a performance unaffected by his health challenges."

Stellan Skarsgård, a 74-year-old Swedish actor with over 100 film credits, rejects the concept of purely evil characters, viewing humans as complex and multifaceted. He received an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor for his performance in Sentimental Value, directed by Joachim Trier, where he portrays an accomplished filmmaker struggling to maintain relationships with his adult daughters due to his career demands. As a father of eight, Skarsgård relates to his character's internal conflict between artistic ambition and personal relationships. Four years prior, he suffered a mild stroke affecting his balance and ability to memorize lines. During filming of Sentimental Value, he used an earpiece connected to a prompter to receive lines during scenes, demonstrating his commitment to continuing his craft despite physical challenges.

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