In a candid new interview, Swedish actress Alicia Vikander has offered a rare glimpse into her family life with husband Michael Fassbender, detailing their unique co-parenting arrangements and nomadic lifestyle across Europe.
A Decade-Long Romance and Growing Family
The couple, who first met on the set of The Light Between Oceans in 2014, married in a private ceremony in Ibiza, Spain, in October 2017. They welcomed their first son in 2021 and their second son, whose name remains private, earlier in 2024. The family now resides in Lisbon, Portugal, though their lives are far from stationary.
The Nomadic Existence of Hollywood Parents
Despite establishing Lisbon as their home base, Vikander humorously described the family as 'nomads' due to their constant movement between homes in four different countries—Portugal, the United Kingdom, Italy, and France—primarily driven by work commitments. 'We've been in Lisbon; we've been in London a lot, and we spend a lot of time in Italy and France. We’re nomads,' she told The Independent.
The actress highlighted the challenges of planning ahead, noting, 'That's the hard part with work, we can't plan far ahead.' This transient lifestyle requires meticulous coordination to ensure one parent is always home with their sons, aged approximately five and two.
Navigating Co-Parenting and 'Mum Guilt'
Vikander opened up about the emotional toll of balancing demanding careers with parenting, admitting to frequent battles with 'mum guilt.' In a previous interview with British Vogue, she explained that she and Fassbender deliberately avoid working simultaneously to maintain a stable presence for their children.
'It can be very long days, and a lot of the time you will leave before the kids get up and then maybe not be back before they sleep. So knowing that one parent is always home. With all the parent and mum guilt that you already carry with you constantly – I am battling that a lot, all the time,' she confessed.
Embracing Life in Lisbon
The move to Portugal has brought a refreshing change, with Vikander sharing that Fassbender's desire to surf daily influenced their relocation. 'My husband said he wanted to surf every day. We’re on the beach with the kids every weekend we are there,' she revealed, painting a picture of idyllic family weekends by the sea.
Motherhood's Transformative Impact
Reflecting on her journey into motherhood, Vikander admitted she was not particularly maternal before having children and even felt terrified at the prospect initially. However, the arrival of her second son brought a newfound confidence. 'I wasn’t really very maternal until I had my own children. But maybe even more after the second one arrived, I started to feel like: "OK, I know this a little bit now". I’m a bit kinder to myself too,' she said.
The Physical Demands of Motherhood and Acting
In a separate interview with ELLE UK, Vikander discussed the physical challenges of motherhood, especially after her second pregnancy, which she found harder than the first. She emphasized the importance of fitness, stating, 'But I think training made it easier. Going through those nine months is like a marathon, so it does help if you're strong going into it.'
Interestingly, Vikander has portrayed childbirth on-screen four times before experiencing it herself, leading to feelings of being an 'imposter.' 'Your job is to pretend as an actor, but every time I had to give birth, I said to every woman on set, "I'm sorry." I felt like such an imposter,' she recalled, expressing admiration for all mothers.
Through these revelations, Alicia Vikander provides a heartfelt look at the realities of modern celebrity parenting, blending professional ambition with personal devotion in a constantly moving household.
