The Northman featured some of Hollywood’s most competent talents united for a revenge thriller premise. Alexander Skarsgård, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicole Kidman, Björk, Willem Dafoe, etc., are among the names that embellished the Robert Eggers-helmed endeavor. Influenced by Norse mythology, the film centers itself on the legend of Amleth. The movie was shot mainly in Iceland and Northern Ireland, which entailed a damp, chilly experience for the cast and crew.
When allowed to participate in a project where you’re surrounded by historical or memorable props, not ones usually found in the current reality, most actors nab something from the set as a keepsake. The Northman cast wasn’t any different. Kidman took home a sword. Dafoe possibly got to keep a longship. Björk received three Icelandic horses.
When it was Alexander Skarsgård’s turn, he was gifted an unconventional souvenir. As you might’ve guessed from the title, it was a thong. Not just any thong, but a bloodied thong! Looking back, the actor revealed the tale behind the surprising present.
Alexander Skarsgård Describes The Northman Shooting Experience
Skarsgård, who once shared the screen with Margot Robbie in The Legend of Tarzan, amazed the movie-going audience with his electrifying performance as Amleth, a Viking warrior prince in visionary filmmaker Robert Eggers‘ The Northman. If you’re acquainted with Eggers’ filmography, you’d know they’re notable for their folkloric, historical precision. The sets and their visual aesthetic often work wonders in transporting the viewers into a realm carefully crafted by the talented director.
When lead actor Alexander Skarsgård appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, he was asked to disclose his experiences of working in an environment that was bitterly cold and numbing. In a response to this, the actor shared:
“I was wet, muddy, and bloody for seven months. We all were. The director, Robert Eggers, believes in very immersive filmmaking. […] He’s incredible. All these sets were built. He’s all about authenticity and historical accuracy.”
Skarsgård went on to explain that Eggers’ adherence to accuracy and precision is what led the sets of The Northman to be built a year before the team commenced filming. Moreover, Viking historians and experts assisted in refining the process. The 47-year-old Swedish actor then said that entering such a historically accurate set fully immerses you in that world. This is how it worked for The Northman team.
A curious Stephen Colbert then queried, “What did the set smell like?” Skarsgård humored, “Death, basically. Death and feces.”
That certainly seems extreme. But not as extreme as the souvenir the actor received after the filming of the historical revenge thriller concluded.
Alexander Skarsgård Took Home A Bloodied Thong
The Succession star, unlike his co-stars who took home mind-blowing souvenirs like swords, horses, and possibly even a longship, was gifted a bloodied thong. Under most circumstances, that is not a gift that anybody would accept. But it was significant in this situation. The actor also clarified that the item he received was not something he picked, but rather something that was handed to him. Following was his statement:
“It wasn’t a choice, It was a gift. That’s how much they valued my performance, my contribution to the movie.”
Explaining the bloodied thong that he received as a present, Skarsgård remarked:
“It’s a G-string that I wore for the end fight [that] takes place on an erupting volcano. And we’re naked. So, that’s what I wore for a week. And my character’s quite wounded, so he’s bleeding a lot, profusely. That was my wrap gift.”
Working on a Robert Eggers film is a memorable experience in and of itself. But receiving a bloody thong as a parting gift? That is something to remember for a lifetime. We can only hope Alexander Skarsgård liked his unconventional souvenir.
The Northman is available for streaming on Peacock.
Source: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
