Alexander Skarsgård Shares His First Movie Crush and a Sweet Story About Meeting Her at an Awards Show

Alexander Skarsgard attends the 31st Annual Critics’ Choice Awards.
Credit:

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

NEED TO KNOW

• Alexander Skarsgård revealed his first “cinematic crush” during a recent interview with W Magazine.
• “It was the first time I felt butterflies … I was mesmerized by her,” he recalled of seeing the actress on the screen when he was younger.
• Now, the Pillion star shares one child with his girlfriend, Tuva Novotny.

In a recent interview with W Magazine, actor Alexander Skarsgård shared insights about his first celebrity crush.

The 49-year-old star of Pillion described his initial cinematic infatuation with legendary actress Jessica Lange, whom he first saw in the 1982 film Tootsie. “It was the first time I felt butterflies. I was mesmerized by her,” he recounted.

Despite never having met the now 76-year-old actress, Skarsgård reminisced about a distant encounter at an awards show: “I saw her at an awards show a couple of years ago, and I definitely got starstruck. I did not say hello. I was intimidated.”

Jessica Lange and Dustin Hoffman in ‘Tootsie’.

Columbia/Kobal/Shutterstock

While Lange will always hold a special place in Skarsgård’s heart, he has been in a relationship with fellow actress Tuva Novotny since early 2022. The couple has maintained a relatively private life, but Skarsgård confirmed the birth of their first child at the Succession season 4 premiere in March 2023.

Skarsgård, who grew up as the son of acclaimed actor Stellan Skarsgård, revealed that he initially resisted following in his father’s footsteps. “I wanted to blend in. My biggest dream was for my dad to work in an office, a cubicle, wear a gray suit, drive a Saab to work, and have a briefcase,” he stated.

Alexander Skarsgard at the 35th Annual Gotham Film Awards.

John Nacion/Variety via Getty

Reflecting on his early experiences, Skarsgård confessed that he initially stepped away from acting after a brief foray into the profession during his childhood. However, he returned to the craft in his twenties, citing a rekindled passion for being on set and pursuing an education in theater.