Happy Sad Confused - Alexander Skarsgard

Episode Date: August 10, 2015

Tall drink of water Alexander Skarsgard joins Josh to talk about his role in Diary of a Teenage Girl, why he stopped acting after having a steady career as a child actor, why he’s doubtful that his character in Zoolander will return in the sequel, what he remembers fondly from his time on True Blood, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Thanks for tuning in. And welcome to this week's show featuring Mr. Alexander Scars Guard, that tall drink of water, that a strapping young man. Thanks for having me. Appreciate it. No, that's not, Joel, quiet. I will call on you when it is your time. Sorry.

That's Joel. For those of you that was in the last week's episode with Kevin Bacon, uh, Joel paid us a visit. Uh, and he's paying us a return visit this week. We're going to see how it goes. He's on probation.

We'll see it's week to week, Joel. No, second week more than I thought. I already passed that quick day. The response was overwhelming. They wanted to hear more from Joel and how he's doing on Avengers Alliance. We'll get to that in a second.

But first, let's talk a little bit more about Alex who was fantastic. He came by as I taped this yesterday, promoting a excellent new film called Diary of a Teenage Girl, something you know a lot about the dot. Don't you collect diaries of teenage girls? I know a lot about diaries, but not teenage girls. Do you keep a diary? It's a journal. Um, you don't keep a journal. Do you ever keep a journal, seriously? No. Although I was a big journal enthusiast. Doug funny, he used to have one. Doug. No, I don't know. Do yourself a favor. Every week I'm going to recommend you something to watch. Last week is Faluz this week. Go watch the whole series of Doug. Okay. A Nickelodeon. That's great.

Okay. I'll do that. I kept, not that you asked me, but I had a journal with a, it will surprise, no one that had a Yoda cover on it. And I think I kept it for like three days. And this was last week? You were getting back into a journal? For my 35th birthday, I got that.

No, this was when I was a wee child. And no, I'd never, I didn't have the discipline, sadly. So for the presidential archives, there will be no journal to. look at. Well, this is an audio journal of sorts. Excellent point, an audio journal. Mr. Scarsgaard was delightful. He is starring, as I said, in Diary of a Teenage Girl, which is an excellent new film starring him and Kristen Wigg and a young woman by the name of Bell Pauley. I believe I'm pronouncing her name correctly. She's getting great notices for this, and rightfully so. She is kind of the breakout of the film. It's a very, you know, true to life, authentic, funny

at times, sad at times, the serving at times, a tale of a girl growing up in the 70s, I believe, in San Francisco. And Scarsgaard actually plays the mom, who's Kristen Wiggs, boyfriend, who begins kind of an affair with the girl, which sounds, it is insane, obviously, and really creepy. But his performance is really interesting

in that he plays it in almost a sympathetic way. He's, you know, you never side with him, certainly, but you are certainly seeing how he is racked with guilt for what it's worth, et cetera. So it's a nuanced good portrayal from Scarsguard who's a guy that since True Blood has

he's kind of avoided the Hollywood thing. He did battleship, yes, but all is forgiven, right? No, no, you're too soon. It's too soon. And he's also, I'm excited. He's going to be starring in Tarzan, which co-stars Margo Robbie and is going to be directed by, or has been directed

by David Yates, who did the last few Harry Potter movies and that they shot last year and it comes out next summer. So we have a while to wait, but I'm actually hopeful that that turns into something great because I think Yates did really good work on the Potter franchise. That's not the Kellyn-Lutz Tarzan? No, that was, I think that was animated. Oh, yeah. Oh, you sure? Maybe in your minds are, you brought it brought it to life so much. I know you're big. Was Colin your favorite part of Twilight? He, affectionately, is probably number one. The Fatch.

It's a co-award between the Fetch and Lutz. What else to tell you about by the time you listen to this fantastic Fours in theaters, what can we say about it? I saw it. It's got some issues.

I love the cast. It's not their fault. Wow. It's not their fault. So, I mean, I know how you feel about the movie. Well, no, I mean, I don't think it's honestly

as big a train wreck as a lot of people said. I think there's some good stuff in there. And I kind of hope, actually, that enough people see. it that they can write the ship and they can do another one with maybe a different writer, different filmmaker, and because they cast it really well, and I think they had, they had the right intentions. I think it's a movie that you can see suffers from some reshoot problems and script

problems and, uh, does it feel like it belongs in this new Fox comic universe? Like, is the tone on point or is it like a new? It's, it's a more definitely, it's certainly like 180 from the Chris Evans, Jessica Alba stuff, which was kind of like popcorn for the whole family kind of thing. This one's definitely more grounded and gritty, I guess. But I don't know, there's some good elements in there. It just doesn't come together in the end, sadly. But I'm, you know, let's give it another shot.

I'd want to see it. I want to see them get it right. Sure. Yeah. Why not? Anyway, what else to tell you guys about for those that are checking out our fun stuff on the website? Ed Helms did a great sketch with us that while we're checking out, go to the MTV.

After Hours channel on YouTube, look it up. He was a delight, as is expected, because he's kind of one of the best comedians on the planet. And we've got a lot of cool folks coming up. I don't want to reveal too much. Should I reveal too much? No, but you're trailing off and you're getting very quiet. Why are you telling all these secrets?

Because that's my secret voice. That's when I get mysterious. Every week, I ask you guys for questions. What do you want to know? And let's see, one question that came in. This is from, I'm going to mangle your name. I apologize in advance. Atalija Lima.

The pronunciation was excellent. I can't believe you. Yeah, okay. I'm sorry, Adelija Lima. What would you say that? He's looking at the name. Yeah. Thank you.

Okay. Shut up, Joel. Best movie party ever, as in parties that took place in movies, not premiered or Oscar parties, obviously. Best movie party ever. That is a, that's a top. question here let's see i have a couple that come to mind i think of old school had a great party frank the tank went crazy remember that this is true feral that was good um does the does the sequence

in the beginning of return the jett i consulate party at javas palace no at tatuine yes anything with the sarlac pit is a party that's always that's always a party what's your what's your answer jolly uh coming back to fatch can't hardly wait fat chanelli can't hardly wait i love can't way the whole movie's a party basically it is it's like it's it's my it's it's a it's just as good as a john hughes movie it's i am not overselling this movie it's great he's a good memory jeff hewitt seth green um what dharma and gregg um jena elthin is a great cameo on that that's true darman gregg gone too soon yeah what poor chuck lorry i don't know what happened he paid to do obscurity chuck glory thing that actually was on for a while but before we go off on a tangent on

Darwin and Greg and talking about our favorite episodes. We'll save that for next week. Let's let Mr. Alexander Scarsgaard dominate the rest 40 minutes of conversation because he's more interesting than either of us. I mean, the man... You sound bitter about that. Well, I know. I'm bitter only because, and I mentioned this in the podcast, when you're sitting across from Alexander Scarsguard and you, when you've done research and realize that you're exactly the same age as him, basically, and you're looking at this specimen that is like... It's hard not to... God got everything right on him and... I, the troll man, have to talk to him for 40 minutes.

It's a bitter mangel. It must be hard. It's rough. It's a rough life. Here you go, guys. Mr. Alexander Scarsgard. Enjoy. How is Andrew?

It's good to see you, man. Thank you for coming by today. Pleasure, man. Nice being here. I was saying before, we saw each other in Glass and Sundance for this great film, Diary of a Teenage Girl. The only thing I think of when I think of, of that interview was, and I'm sorry, this is going to cloud the conversation, was the horrible

sweater I was wearing. So I appreciate you coming by. Was that the Christmas theme? Well, there was a very, it wasn't right for me. This is my usual wardrobe. Did that raindiers on it and stuff? It felt like it should have. But it didn't, not? It didn't, literally. But maybe you did you extrapolate in your mind that it had reindeer on it? I saw a lot of reindeer sweaters out there and I'm pretty sure I saw one on you at some point. I went too far. So if this interview is nothing else it's a an amends for yeah I'm lovely a shirt by the way thank you I wasn't fishing for a comment but I'll take it um I was just telling you that I got a chance this is my second scars guard in about a month I got a chance to chat a bit

pretty much all you can is that the limit you think that's pretty much so Bill Bill's doing the whole crazy divergent series thing I saw him and he's a I guess he's now a wannabe New Yorker is he an official New Yorker yet he was saying he's no he's not I'm I was in LA for 11 years and moved out here about six months ago, and I moved into my place, and five days later, I went down to Albuquerque for a movie and was gone for two months. And Bill, that little brat, moved into my place pretty much. He's still based in Stockholm, but he kind of moved into my place and has been, because he's shooting down in Atlanta, so he's been basically staying there more than I have.

So how many Scars Guard boys are there? It feels like you guys are like gremlins you multiply. I feel like, I feel like they're two, and then suddenly there are seven. I mean, how many currently are there? We're seven boys and one girl. It's a lot. Yeah. Are you guys old? So, like, mom and dad had six kids. Yeah.

Five boys, one girl. And then dad and his new wife, they have two young boys. Right. So a three-year-old brother and a five-year-old brother. What's the defining trait that characterizes Scars Guard men that you all share, you think? Well, we all think we're all, we're always, we always think we're right. But only in reality you are all the time. Obviously.

So family dinners are quite interesting. And you were saying, I was. I promise, we're going to talk a lot about this movie because I really enjoyed it. It's great it features you, Bell, who is a revelation. She's amazing, huh? Really a revelation. I'd never seen her in anything, and I think people are going to be blown away. But I vacationed in Stockholm last year, and this was the indelible image I had walking

out of the airport terminal, was your father's face on a giant, like, poster, literally in the terminal. Is that disconcerting? Have you seen that, like, when you're in the Stockholm airport to see, like, your dad's staring right back at you when you exit a plane? Yeah. Judging me. Usually it's just in your mind's eye, but here it's a literal representation. Yeah.

I mean, to be fair, it's not only my dad. Like the whole, like all the walls of the airport are kind of, the theme is like, welcome to my hometown. And they're all these, like, celebrities from Stockholm. Yeah. So there's about 300 people from all, like, you know, sports, I mean, from sports or music or politics and, you know. And, you know, but yeah, but obviously dad, I mean, he's right there.

He's right there, right in front of him when I get off the plane. As if you needed that reminder. Staring me down. This film was great, as I said. It's you. It's Kristen's Bell. It's a film that it struck me that I've seen two movies this summer that are about what goes on inside the mind of a young girl in San Francisco, this one in Inside Out.

So I don't know if there's a trend going or what. Have you noticed that? Did you see Inside Out? I've not seen that one. Do you know that? Yeah, I mean, yeah. And that takes place in San Francisco. It's bizarre.

Oh, does it? We're starting a new trend. Is it good? It's great. I mean, it's much different than this one, clearly. I like Pixar lots. They never fail, right? No.

So talk to me a little bit about when this one comes around. What's the initial attraction? Is this an easy choice to make? It kind of was an easy choice to make. I didn't get the script through my agents, like the way you usually get your scripts. You know, Jack McBrayer is the actor and comedian? actor and comedian so we were neighbors when I lived back back in LA and and um it was a dear friend of mine and he basically said like so my my my friend wrote this script like she's really

cool and smart and I like it you want to read it it's a tiny little indie but right you know and I said sure and I read it and I was just I really blown away by the story and it felt so unique and I felt like well very often when you read a script it feels like a version of a greater movie that you've seen. Like a lesser version of that or like a, you know, but this felt so unique and I felt like I hadn't seen it before and I was really intrigued by the characters

and I felt like without getting too political about it, I felt that it was an important movie to tell because I thought there's been so many movies and television shows and novels about, you know, boys coming of age or adolescents or like finding their sexuality. But when it comes to girls that age, it's so prudish in a way. And it's, you know, they're either, if it's the protagonist, she is so,

she's just waiting for that night shining armor to come and save her and, you know, dreaming of kids and a puppy and, you know, a nice little house. Sure. Or if she's promiscuous, then she's the slut. And, you know, this felt so just on a, apologetic and real. And being a teenager is incredibly tough and confusing for everyone. And I think you feel even more alienated if you're, if you as a girl watch movies and you don't feel represented anywhere. And I think it's, it's smart in that it's, it's not judging

like any of these characters in a way. I mean, your character can easily be judged from a part. He's doing some pretty despicable things. And Kristen's character, too, and they're all flawed individuals. But in a weird way, you're empathizing with all the three kind of leads in this, which is kind of fascinating. That was kind of the other reason I wanted to be in the movie because, again, I thought I really fell in love with the script and the story, but then I also thought it, playing Monroe would be very difficult and an interesting challenge, because again, like, how do you play someone who has sex with his girlfriend's teenage daughter without just being too much

of a predator, without, like, condoning what he does, just saying that, like, trying to justify this, the, what, what happens, how do you play him without, to make it interesting and to make that relationship real? Yeah. I was just, I didn't know how to do that and that kind of intrigued me, I guess. So when you go into, when you say you don't, didn't know how to do that, at what point do you feel like I do know how to do that when you get on set? I still have no idea. In retrospect, do you think you know how to do that? No. Well, that was kind of the process and that, that's what got me excited creatively about it. Because, I felt like I was really intrigued by the character, but I, again, like, and that's always

the best when you read a script, when you're intrigued, then you're, you want to learn more about the character, but you don't have all the answers. Yeah. Like sometimes, if you don't connect at all, you're probably not right for it, but, and also, if you know everything about him, the first time you read through the script, there's no discovery which, and then it won't be fun, and I don't think I would ever be able to do a good job in that case. So this was just like, I was just really intrigued and trying to, like, flesh that

out that relationship and find moments where, you know, you would, you know, feel a bit, a little bit of empathy or at least understand him or like maybe even hope that they would stay together in a brief moment and then like not like him. And, you know, just to make it real and layered in a way. And then so I told Jack, I was like, I think this is really, really great. And I want to meet Maury, the filmmaker. It was her first feature. This movie came out of the Sundance lab. She did the director lab and then the writer lab. And I was, again, like just meeting Mara. I don't know if you, well, you met her at Sundance, right? She's just so, this has been her baby for eight years of this project. And she first, it's based on a comic book,

or a comic slash, like it's a hybrid diary comic book. And she adapted into a play here in New York, did it off Broadway, played many herself. And then, you know, wrote the screenplay and, you know, spent three, four years trying to get this off the ground. So just her enthusiasm and her, how excited she was about the project and her talking about their relationships and the characters. And it was, I mean, it was, I just called my agents immediately. And I said, I read this, like, tiny little indie. And it's, I love it. I want to do it. Yeah. Because I mean, you mentioned that enthusiasm. I would think there's nothing more deflating for an actor than to sign onto something with the best intentions. And

to realize it's, I don't know if this has happened. Probably the law of averages, it does happen, where like you're working for somebody or a filmmaker that it feels more like a job than a passion. And that must come through on set and permeate through the top down. Yeah. And that kind of extended to everyone who worked on the movie.

That's why it was, I'm not exaggerating. I mean, it really was one of the greatest experiences of my career working on this movie because no one got paid, really. Everyone did it because they loved Mari and they loved their project. So just the vibe on set was unbelievable. Everyone was so, it was so, there was no hierarchy.

Everyone cared so deeply about the project and the characters. And at lunch, we would all sit and discuss the scenes. And like, it didn't matter if you were a runner or working in catering or the producer of the movie. Everyone was there pitching in, talking, like having ideas. And it was just, and those are just like the dream experience. Yeah. What kind of movie would your teenage years be turned into? Would that be a comedy, a tragedy, a soul-searching?

It's definitely a movie I wouldn't want to see. Would it be entertaining for me to watch for others to watch? No, no, I'd be a train wreck the whole thing. Were you a train wreck in high school? What were you like in those years? I spent 15 years trying to forget what I was like. It's been the next 20 minutes trying to remember. Yeah, no, oh God, I don't know.

It was bad. What was your peak year of nine? I peaked at 9. Oh, yeah, that was one. What was going on? well at nine. I had a good year. I'm not going to lie, man. You won the coloring contest? What? It was just like... Yeah, you know, school was going all right. It wasn't too tough. I was dating two girls at the same time. You weren't. Yeah. Were you really? Then they both broke up with me

at the same time. What happened? Well, they collectively asked if they want, if they, if they, if they, we could date. So it was their initiative. Wow. Very forward thinking. It wasn't like, they knew it. It was very in the open yeah um and yeah and then laid up me when i was 10 so that when i was 10 was the worst year that was the worst year in my life yeah yeah and how are you doing now it we're still i'm getting over it you know it would surprise people to look at us but we're basically the same exact age i don't know you're from a different end of the three as well yeah yeah happy birthday happy birthday man we're holding up pretty well yeah we are all the oil of the way we soak in every day right yeah yeah don't make me smile because my face would crack right

So I want to talk a little bit because we have some time to talk background in terms of your interest and stuff. I mean, when you were growing up, obviously coming from a family where your dad was a pretty big deal in terms of where you were and then eventually here in the States, was acting something, I mean, acting was something that came around early and then you took a break. So was it, when did it turn into a passion? Was it a passion as a 12-year-old? And then- I wouldn't call it a passion. I was when I was, so I kind of, I wasn't. When I say I was a child actor, people imagine, like, Hollywood child actors with resumes and, like, you know.

You weren't sounding serial. Yeah. No, I kind of, because my dad's an actor, so he had a friend who's a director. When I was seven, he was like, oh, Alex, like, not making this movie, I need a kid. Do you want to be in it? Yeah. And I was like, oh, sure. And I did that.

And it was fun. And then that led to another project, and that led to another project. So it was just kind of, it just happened. And I had fun. I worked from the age of seven to 13, probably. Never read a script. Didn't do any, like, because I've worked with child actors now that are like seven, and they talk backstory and, like, art and, like, motivation.

And, like, yeah, it scares me in a way. And I, you know, I just, like, showed up. It was play. It was just, it was fun. The director told me to say something, and I said it and did something. And, yeah, I did enjoy it. It'd be very pretentious to me to say that I enjoy. they created a process because it wasn't really a process.

I was hanging out eating like Cinebuns on set, and it was great. Sounds amazing. It was amazing. People were really nice, you know. So then, but what happened was I did something, a movie when I was 13, that got some attention in Sweden. It made me uncomfortable. I just didn't like being recognized.

Being noticed, yeah. Yeah, I didn't like the attention. And because I wasn't a professional child actor, it was. It wasn't a difficult decision for me to quit. It was just like, yeah, this was fun, but I can buy my little sin a bun or my parents can buy them before me. So, like, I just decided, like, it's not worth it. I want it to be a normal kid and just hang out with my friends

and, like, not be recognized on the street. And were you a big consumer of pop culture, a film and TV because of your upbringing because of your dad or just generally because, I mean, every kid's into movies in TV, I would think. Like, what were you getting off on as, like, a 13, 14-year-old in terms of pop culture? When I was, when I was very young, we would, like, on every Sunday, the whole family would watch Dad had these old VHS cassettes of, like, the Marks brothers and, like, good movies quality stuff, like, you know, like Charlie Chaplin and amazing old, like, black and white

movies. And I really enjoyed them. I really did. But then when I was a teenager, I probably, I was more into, like, Star Wars and that kind of stuff. Right. Yeah. Is your relationship, I would think, this is- Not that that's not quality, right?

I mean, hello. A couple of Fire Strikes Back, one of the best movies ever made. It really is. Your relationship with watching, because I said before, we're basically the same age, I remember, like, when I was 14 or 15 seeing, like, your dad in Huntford, October, and, like, oh, this is an amazing movie. Were you, like, oh, dad's selling out to Hollywood, because you were just, like, rebelling as every son does against the child?

Or were you like, oh, that's awesome. My dad's in a movie with Sean Connery at the time. No, I think when I was a teenager, well, because I come from a very bohemian household, like my whole family and extended family, there was. all kind of artists and musicians and a lot of weirdos, a lot of very, that I, I mean, today because they're very amazing, eccentric, interesting people. But when I was 13, I just, again, like one of the reasons I quit was just I wanted to be normal and I wanted my family to just be normal. Yeah. Not like, I didn't like attention or anything. And my family just got a lot

of attention because my dad was famous and there were a lot of, you know, creative, interesting people there. I'm sure. So I, no, I just kind of wanted dad to have work in an office and wear a suit and drive a sob. Right. I think no matter what, the grass is always greener. You want your dad to do the opposite.

Yeah. So, and a long break, I mean, you started in the military for a bit and, like, what precipitated coming back around to it? I just kind of realized that I sucked at everything. It's the last resort? Yeah. That's kind of what happened. What did you suck at?

No, well, so I went through, like, high school and I was in the military for about a year and a half. I lived in Leeds in England. Sure. And I was just, you know, I was 21. I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do for a second. I was, I was into architecture, so I was thinking of maybe become an architect. Right.

I'm studying that. And then someone was like, no, it's not creative at all. It's like six years of math, and you're not going to enjoy it. And then so I was like, oh, that sounds terrible. And then later people told me that it's not like that. It's pretty amazing. A deep regret. Not really.

You could have been successful. You could have had a real successful career. Yeah. I could have built your home, man. My dad's an architect. There to go. Right? Is he creative and, yeah.

Absolutely. Is he enjoying it? Yeah. Well, there you go. Still going strong. Um, well, so that kind of, I was like, oh, okay, well, then that's not for me. Like, I, that, I want to do something more creative. Um, so yeah, and I started thinking about acting and I was like, well, all right, I'm 21. Now, why did I quit? What was the reason? And I realized that it had nothing to do with, actually, like, being on stage or being in front of the camera. It was all about the stuff that came with it. And I thought, or, you know, I was 13 and it's a weird age again, like, for anyone. one, especially being in the spotlight like that. So I thought, well, maybe I should at least try it now and see what it feels like,

see how I feel about it. And then if I don't like it or if I don't like, if I by chance get any attention and I'm uncomfortable with it, then I'll just know it. And I'll like, okay, this is not for me. But I felt like at least I should do it now so that I don't look back when I'm 65 and, you know, regret it. I mean, you know, in recent years, you've done a lot of, like, I mean, you've been at Sundance, I feel like a few times, you've done a lot of independent films, and you've done some bigger

films, Battleship and Tarzan's going to be a big moment where you're going to do a thousand interviews, I'm sure, and justifiably so. It's a big property. Is that something do you feel like you have control over in terms of that balance of like, of not getting all that baggage of the celebrity? Because it feels like it follows you in any actor that's successful, whether they want to or not. Do you feel like you have any control over your image, over maintaining your sanity, of maintaining all the things that you were talking about before, that you don't want involved in your life? I mean, does it feel like sometimes you're just sort of, that you're out of control in this thing or that you feel you have control in this situation? Well, I think I've

learned over the years that not, to not, like, to simplify the, the decision making in a way, and base it on the gut reaction, like the feeling when I read this script. Looking back, the few projects I haven't had a great time on have been projects where I've, I haven't felt that strong connection, but then I've kind of opened up a negotiation with myself where I'm like, well, it makes sense.

Because it's like, well, you know, and then like, okay, well, I'm not quite feeling it, but she is in the movie or he is in the movie and it'd be fun to work with them or, oh, yeah, but this might be like for whatever reason like when you start down that path i've i've always regretted it in a way so it's it's a very very strong reaction like you just read the script and you either feel it or you don't yeah um and then what if you if you're if you if you feel connected and you feel strongly about the character and the script it might still not be right for you

because then you got to obviously got to meet the filmmaker and you like you've got to put all the pieces of the puzzle together and feel like, all right, is this what I want to do? But at least that's a starting point. If I don't feel that, and that can be, that, that can be Tarzan or diary of a teenage girl. Yeah. You know, that are on the, you know, it's like complete ends up spectrum in terms of budget and size and everything. But I felt the same way when I read Tarzan as I did when I felt Diary of a Teenage Girl. I was really into the story. I was really intrigued and love the character. So, yeah, so I think for me it's been about simplifying it and just like feeling that or if you don't, just like it's not right for you. And I'm also like, I have

very good representation, very good agents that are very supportive. And if I say that I want to go back and do regional theater in Sweden for two and a half years, they're actually, they would support it. That's awesome. Maybe not two and a half years. But like a six months, what's your overriding memory when you think of Zoolander, of that experience? Like how many days on set Was that absurd fun? Was it like, what the fuck did I get myself into here? Well, it was kind of, yeah, it was very surreal because I wasn't, I wasn't out in the states. I was working.

I just like, I went back from New York. I was studying theater here for a bit and then went back to Sweden. I'd worked in Sweden for about a year as an actor, and I was on holiday on vacation in L.A., visiting my dad. he was shooting something out there and his agent said like oh well you're you're an actor now Alex like do you want to do want to send you out on you know you want to try and go on an audition out here and I was like well that'd be a fun story to tell people back home like I'm in Hollywood and I'm going to audition you know um so I went to one and it happened to be Zoolander and like I had no because I didn't know what like it's just so different the system in

Sweden so I to me I didn't realize how crazy it was that like I was suddenly in a room with Ben Stiller and I was like doing something and then like they were like oh we're going to fly you to New York now to shoot this I was like okay so it works okay I was in New York you know driving down like Wall Street and Trebekah with with Ben Stiller listening to Wham what was the audition what did that entail what did you have to do um it was the orange mugger Frappuccino right scene yeah because that's pretty much me only seen at the movie so I guess we did that 45 times and so seemingly you didn't make it you you did not serve Is there any chance I'm going to see you in Zooland or two?

I kind of die in the first one. That's what I'm saying. In a really, really bad way. There's no question about it. That guy is dead. Yeah. It's a shame. Who would have known that there would be a sequel all these years later?

Yeah, unless I make a prequel. I mean, you're getting younger by the day, so it could work. Exactly. What a Hot American Summer just did it, where they're playing younger, even though it's 10 years later, right? Yeah. When you look back at True Blood, which, you look back at True Blood, which, you can't do it. which was a significant portion of your career and a significant, you know, times spent. I mean, is there a lesson learned? I mean, there's a lot of joy, I'm sure you get from that job,

but it is a job and it does tie you down for many months and a year. I mean, what percentage of that was, do you look back on with fondness and in retrospect you say, oh, I wish I would have approached this differently, or this was a burden that's in some way? Is it all gravy? Was it all great or did it feel like... Well, in hindsight, it's all gravy. Yeah. That's pretty, always the case isn't it or most often like you know at the time there were things too yeah well you know there was there's definitely um i'm really enjoying the the freedom now like it was we were compared to other shows we were very lucky because we did seven months we had five months off every year so right it was ample time to like go see my family in sweden or do one or two once one hiatus even did

three movies so like yeah you still like have an opportunity to go and explore and do other things and then come back with, like, rejuvenated in a way, like excited to play Eric Northman again. But that said, it's still, I mean, it's still a big chunk of the year. And it's, as often happens with movies, if I read something and I get excited about it, and it fits into that, like, hiatus slot, then if that movie pushes, like, a month or two,

then it's into true, blood territory, and I can't do it. So that's obviously frustrating. but then again, like, who was out of complaint? He's like, oh, I can't do this movie that I'm excited about because I got to go and do True Blood, which I love. Yeah. So, you know, but still, like, I think creatively it's tough in a way or it can be tough.

And there were definitely moments where I was like, because acting is all about that sense of discovery and finding new things, that's kind of the engine. And how do you get six or seven years in? And if you do like 80 episodes, on it's it's tough to find that like to learn news discover new things about and we had amazing writers on the show and um and they were like doing their best and really you know finding moments where i did discover new things about eric but um there were moments where i felt like i had

really had to push and like really find something new and you know for myself just to stay motivated and stay excited about creatively excited about it on a social level it was just the most amazing experience ever because, you know, you met a bunch of the other actors. And it was just an unbelievably amazing group of people. And also to have, like, we had the same, pretty much the same crew for seven years. Yeah. So, like, Larry, the sound guy for seven years, which, like, in this industry, you work with people for a couple of months, and then most of them you'll never see again.

Right. You know, you might see each other 10 years later on another project. But to have that family, it was kind of like back to school. school feeling, you know, every, after every hiatus, we all got back together. And it was just a great experience. So I miss that a lot. Yeah. And as you say, I mean, it was such a good group. I mean, we've done a lot, I've done a lot of, like, silly sketches and stuff with like Mangonello, for instance. And to see, like, all you guys kind of push yourselves in different areas where you're seeing, you're seeing one side of you for many years. And now that

you have more time on your hands and more opportunity to get a chance to really see different sides of all of you is exciting for everybody. Yeah. And going through that, because was like when we first started, we had no idea, like, what the show was going to become. So to share that experience, to grow together for seven years with the show and experience how that kind of just, you know, what happened to the show, how it took off was, it was really amazing. Did the focus that kind of like that happened throughout the show, like the sex scenes and the nudity and all that, did that ever kind of get in your head and did that ever affect choices? Because, you know, I know a lot of the dialogue about this film, for instance, is, and

justifiably so, and sex is a huge component of it, are like the sex scenes in it. I mean, is that color your brain where you're like, I probably shouldn't do a film that has a lot of sex scenes in it because it's just going to be the same old conversation again. What's it like to shoot and what's it's, you know, how comfortable are you with that? I don't really think about it that way. To me, it's all about if it makes sense, if it's important to the storytelling or not, if it ever feels gratuitous or just like, and then he rips his shirt off, then it's just like, why? Like, it doesn't make sense. Right.

But I'm not going to not do a sex scene if it makes sense because, like, oh, I did a sex scene in my previous film, so I don't want to do it here. Or, like, he wakes up in bed, so, like, no, I want to wear a shirt. Like, no, it probably wouldn't. So you've got to just say true to the character and the situation. And whatever feels real and whatever feels important, you just got to go with it. And that was the case with Dyer of a Teenage Girl. Like, it's, it's, it's, no one can watch that movie and say that the sex is gratuitous, or the nudity is gratuitous. like it's done so tastefully and it's important to the storytelling. So it really wasn't a big

deal when we shot it. It's kind of fascinating. I mean, from your perspective, your character, it's like, and you can tell, there's a lot going on beyond just like a carnal instinct in his brain. Like, he's so conflicted in a lot of these scenes, in the actual sex scenes where he knows he shouldn't be doing this. And you feel the guilt that weighs over this character. Yeah. That adds a real power to these scenes. Yeah. It's cool. Yeah.

And there are even moments where he doesn't feel guilt, but he feels, he has to say that he feels guilt. Right. To pretend that he's guilty, it feels guilt about it. It's pretty deep, yeah. Do you feel you have greater insight into the mind of teenage girls now? Because, I mean, I've worked at MTV for a while, and I've known the power of the teenage girl for many years. Yeah. It's an intimidating thing.

Yeah. No, it's still an enigma. But so are teenage boys to me. That's true. Yeah. It's a weird age, isn't it? Yeah, it's kind of a horrible thing. Horrible period of the background.

As you were saying, as that my mind is going back, like, I don't want to think about that either. No. I want to see how well you know the mind of a teenage girl today in 2015. Okay, I'm going to ask you some questions that I think any teenage girl would be able to answer today. I don't want to see how you would do. I'm not going to get one. Okay. Alexander Scarzo, let's see how close you are to teenage girls today.

Who left One Direction recently? Did you hear the question? Yeah. Harry Styles? I'll give you a point for knowing that Harry Styles is part of one direction. Zane. Zane. We're all still pretty upset about it.

Zane left? Are you okay? Do you say? Why did he leave? He's creative pursuits. He wants to just, you know, do his own thing. Oh. Well, you got to respect that.

Right? Good for Zane. Can you define On Fleck for me? On Fleck? Sounds French. Have you ever heard that? Something's on fleek? No.

Oh, really? No. Your outfit's on fleek today, by the way. The way you say, is it good? Yeah, it's good. Yeah. Oh, so en fleek. It sounds really sophisticated, because it sounds French, doesn't it?

To be fair, I just learned that like last week, so you're not that much behind me. He's so en fleek. Can you explain why Taylor Swift is your spirit animal? Why do you connect to her in a profound way? I worked with Taylor Swift. Did you? Yeah. How did I miss that?

Yeah. The Giver two years ago. Of course. Yeah. Yeah. So she is clearly a close friend. Yeah. She's really great, actually.

There's nothing bad to say about her, right? As much as, as jaded as I am, I want to say bad things, but I can't. Yeah. And my friend wrote a lot of her music with her, so I actually know some of the stuff. So, yeah, we can talk about her for hours. Keep the tape going. Yeah. Oh, by the way, who do you think A is going to be on Pretty Little Wires?

I'm sorry? I feel like you need to get your hearing checked. Who do you think A is on Pretty Little Writers? I'm really emphasizing the fact that I'm an old man. I'm like, what, what are you saying? Come again. Who? I'll get you the tapes.

Pretty Little Wires is a show on ABC Family. A is a, it's a mystery that's been surrounding a show for a while. I guess you're behind a little bit. Oh, okay. Don't worry. Can I get like multiple options? No, I don't know. Myself, I don't know.

Okay. And finally, who would you say your Bay is right now? My Bay? Yeah. Should it be a person? Yeah, usually it's a person. It's a usual person? Yeah.

Who do you think's Bay? Turned into like Frost Nixon. Like you're sweating all of a sudden. Oh, God. Who is Bay? Don't bring this up, man. I met a lot of Bay people You're so upset

You're like your brain melted Yeah But I can tell from your answer You know what Bay is Which is, that's a step Or not? No No

I was under Scarsgaard Knows the mind of teenage girls Congratulations I feel like I'm going to offend someone No matter what I say It is Frost Nixon all over again It is I wanted to ask you, we talked about Tarzan, you also worked, I think, recently with

those crazy McDonough boys. I mean, the guard is great. Calvary was amazing. Can you tell me a little bit about that project? Yeah, it's a movie called War on Everyone that I did with Michael Pena, and John Michael McDonough directed it. It's about two corrupt cops in Albuquerque. And I had the best time.

It was just so much fun. It was after eight months of shooting. Tarzan, which was very, I mean, it was an amazing experience, but very intense. It was really great to go out and do something that, the guy, Terry I played that I play in Warren Everyone is just like, raging alcoholic, does blow all the time, beats up crooks, steals their money, like. But I'm sure it's pretty funny too. It's very, I mean, it's a McDonnell film, so it's like very, it's like a dark comedy,

but it, uh, I loved it. It was just nice to do something that was so, like, extrovert in a way. and so out there. Who are the filmmakers or films in recent, like last year or two, that, like, really, that you're obsessed with, just as a fan, because you obviously are a fan of this business as well. What's, like, the last film you obsessed over? The last, I mean, I thought Mommy was really good.

Oh, oh, the Xavier Dolan. Yeah, I really liked that one. I thought I would love to work with Wes Anderson. just I'm a big fan. I thought Grand Bluer Pes Hotel was amazing. Yeah. I mean, are you attracted to a certain kind of filmmaker? Because I think of Wes, who's like that meticulous kind of like he creates a world and knows, like, that's the shot.

There's no, I don't know what his sets are like. Just because I've never done anything like that's her stylized in a way. And I know, like, it's very different from what I'm used to, I guess. Yeah. And I think that challenge was like just watching his movies like it's, it's so stylish, which I, which I really enjoy. And it would be, you know, something different. Did Tarzan feel like a challenge in that way where we talked before? I mean, you obviously have to connect to the story. The character, Yates is a great filmmaker. But I don't know, is there a different approach when you know you have to be like that kind of classic hero in that kind of a film? Is that kind of going on in your brain too? Like there's something, there's a way to approach that, that classic kind of like leading men do?

Because you really haven't done that in that level of film yet. No, I haven't. And I think like that would be dangerous in a way. Yeah, to overthink it like that. Yeah, because you can't play tough. You either are or you're not. Right. And as soon as you start thinking about, like, I'm going to be tough now.

Like, then it becomes very pathetic. Yeah. So you made a very memorable appearance at the Castro the other day for this film. Yeah, I guess. I mean, you knew when you were going to step out of that car, you were going to make an impression. You were dressed as a woman. Yeah. Whose idea was that?

It was my idea. So we were in Edinburgh. at Edinburgh Film Festival with Diary and Mory's from San Francisco. We shot the movie in San Francisco. And the first AD on Diary was his name is Brian Benson, and he's also a cousin Wondelet, like a legendary drag queen from San Francisco. And Lady Bear was our extras casting director. Got it.

So there were a bunch of drag queens working on the movie. and then Samar was like, I'd love to do a screening at the castor, this legend there at theater in San Francisco and have Cousin' One Lett and Laide Bear and Peaches Christ and everyone like host it and like, do have a fun night. Yeah. And I was sitting there with my pint and I said like, it sounds amazing. I want to come and drag. And she said like, well, of course you shouldn't.

Did your friends judge you? Did they say you pulled it off? I thought, because it was pretty fetching, I would say. Thank you very much. I went for a little Farah Fawcett style there. Always creative choice. Always thinking like an actor. What angle am I going to go with your Fawcett?

Fawcett. So we went very glam. I loved it. So, yeah, we flew in just for the day. We were in London and then flew in to San Francisco and Mercedes Monroe, did my makeup. up and uh cousin one lit was there obviously and they did like a little number from rock or horror picture show before the screening um it was incredibly uncomfortable i can imagine yeah the shoes i had to wear at a tuck away so like they pulled my i'm not

going to get in it's very graphic and very painful um yeah so i mean i have a lot of respect for drank queens that that was to pull that all like i was in so much pain I think you should do this for the Tarzan Premiere, too. I'm sure Warner Bros. would appreciate it. Yeah, maybe not. I'm really, like, I really, I really enjoyed it. Maybe a bit too much. I feel really weird in my jeans, in my jeans, my shirt.

No, like, do you want to show? No makeup? Like, it's... I don't make it. We'll let you get out of here and change into what you're really comfortable in. It's good to see you, man. It's been fun to catch up today. And honestly, the movie is great.

The performance is great. You should feel very proud. All right, man. You're stopping by. Thanks, buddy. Thanks, buddy. Thanks, thank you. God, we sat in like such posers. What are we doing this for?

It's a promo to promote your show. What are you talking about? Why do I still have to do press for this thing? A lot of people don't know about it. Who doesn't know about it? Well, Barack Obama? What are you too busy? In the free world?

Get on board. Just explain what your name is and tell the premise of the show, okay, you're senior at Marina Del Rey High School. I got Ariel as his biggest dinner plates and I use shirt on. I'm promoting the show. Are you ready to tune in to these Earwolf?

You know this is only audio. What? Right? No one can see you. I thought there was a reality show that's been following me secretly. Marissa here is a young one with a lot of spirit

and she's the host of a new podcast called Womp It Up. She interviews her fellow teachers and students and people from the Marina Del Rey community. And my partner, crime, Listler, DJs, a bunch of songs you don't want to hear, and answers your love questions. I got a lot of followers on my Listler Spotify playlist.

So why don't you check this out? Listen up. You should try out for Circtus. I go to the circus often because it's... You feel in a home. Are you kidding? I love the circus. I love it.

We should go. We should go. It's one of the entertainment experience. Yeah. Makes them Seasick. Motion sick. Yeah. Seasick is reserved for people on boats trying to flee from a past.

We tried to go see the new Nicholas Sparks. movie the best part of me. threw up right away. Open the credits. All right. So listen to Wop It Up at Earwolf.com or your favorite podcast app. Or you could listen to these mamma jammers. Put them away. Flap, hop, whop.

Sound effects for your breasts. The sound of my boobs flapping in the wind. Turn around. Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop, pop, pop. Pop, pop.

Wolf Pop is part of Midroll Media, executive produced by Adam Sacks, Matt Goorley, and Paul Shear. The Old West is an iconic period of American history and full of legendary figures whose names still resonate today. Like Jesse James, Billy the Kid, and Butch and Sundance, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and Geronimo, Wyatt Earp, Batmasterson, and Bass Reeves, Buffalo Bill Cody, Wild Bill Hickok, the Texas, Rangers and many more. Hear all their stories on the Legends of the Old West podcast. We'll take you to Tombstone, Deadwood, and Dodge City, to the plains, mountains, and deserts for battles between the U.S. Army and Native American

warriors, to dark corners for the disaster of the Donner Party, and shining summits for achievements like the Transcontinental Railroad. We'll go back to the earliest days of explorers and mountain men and head up through notorious Pinkerton agents and gunmen like Tom Horn. This episode features narrative writing and cinematic music, and there are hundreds of episodes available to binge. I'm Chris Wimmer. Find Legends of the Old West, wherever you're listening now.