Stellan Skarsgård Opens Up About Stroke Recovery Challenges
Acclaimed Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård has candidly discussed the ongoing effects of a stroke he suffered in 2022, revealing significant changes to his cognitive abilities and professional approach. The 74-year-old star, whose illustrious career spans five remarkable decades, detailed how the medical event has impacted his memory, humour, and working methods on film sets.
Lasting Cognitive Effects and Professional Adaptations
In a revealing interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Skarsgård explained that the stroke caused lasting damage to his short-term memory and focus. 'I had a stroke that makes me forget my language, forget my words, makes me more stupid, less funny and everything,' the actor stated frankly. He added with characteristic self-deprecation, 'I felt so funny before.'
These cognitive changes have necessitated significant adjustments to his acting process. Skarsgård now relies on an earpiece and prompter to deliver lines during filming, a method he describes as more complicated than traditional line learning. 'It's actually more complicated than learning the lines because the prompter has to say their line while the other actor is talking,' he explained.
Despite these challenges, the veteran performer maintains a philosophical perspective. When asked about dealing with stroke side effects, he responded pragmatically, 'Yeah well I'm 74 years old and I'm alive.' This resilience comes amid continued professional success, with Skarsgård recently winning the Best Supporting Actor award at the Golden Globes for his performance in the Norwegian film Sentimental Value.
Family Dynamics and Nepotism Discussions
The conversation also turned to Skarsgård's extensive family and the contemporary debate surrounding nepotism in entertainment. With six of his eight children having pursued acting careers, including notable names like Alexander Skarsgård (True Blood) and Bill Skarsgård (renowned for portraying Pennywise the Clown), the actor humorously described himself as a 'nepo daddy.'
However, Skarsgård revealed a more serious dimension to this label, particularly regarding his youngest son, 13-year-old Kolbjorn. 'When his pals at school call him nepo baby, he gets so sad. He doesn't have any friends at school. He gets isolated,' the concerned father shared. He defended his children's professional merits, stating, 'Nobody would hire you, at least not for anything good, if you're not good enough.'
The actor elaborated on his family philosophy, explaining that he doesn't demand respect from his children simply for being their father. 'They have no respect for me just because I'm their father. Because that's bulls***. You shouldn't be respected for five minutes of joy,' he told Vulture. Instead, he values respect earned through genuine achievement and good ideas.
Personal Life and Family Structure
Skarsgård's family tree is nearly as prominent as his acting portfolio. His first marriage to Swedish doctor My produced six children:
- Alexander (born 1976) - Actor
- Gustaf (born 1980) - Actor
- Sam (born 1982) - Doctor
- Bill (born 1990) - Actor
- Eija (born 1992) - Former model
- Valter (born 1995) - Actor
Following his divorce from My in 2007, Skarsgård married Irish screenwriter and producer Megan Everett in 2009. The couple have two sons together: 15-year-old Ossian and 13-year-old Kolbjorn, who recently secured a role in the horror series Blood Cruise. The actor welcomed his first grandchild in 2022, expanding the already substantial Skarsgård dynasty.
Through both professional adaptation and family navigation, Stellan Skarsgård continues to demonstrate the resilience and candour that have characterised his long career, offering rare insight into the personal challenges behind his public persona.
