Alexander Skarsgård may be handsome and formidable, but foolish has never been part of the reputation. Renowned for punishing intensity in The Northman and clinical restraint in Succession, he thrives on precision. On Wicker, however, a single exaggerated character tick made him feel painfully self-aware opposite Olivia Wilde’s steady presence.

Alexander Skarsgård admitted to Variety on the red carpet of the Sundance Film Festival 2026 that his embarrassment began the moment the straw prosthetic touched his face. The practical construction was glued directly onto his skin, limiting facial mobility. As a result, every emotion required deliberate exaggeration, which immediately triggered self-consciousness during performance.

"You feel like an idiot when you're like Haa Huu (imitating his character from Wicker)." Alexander Skarsgård explained that the immobile wicker forced enlarged gestures and overemphasized reactions.

The heightened physicality made him fear that his performance bordered on theatrical excess rather than grounded character work.

That anxiety sharpened when acting opposite Olivia Colman, whose reputation rests on microscopic control and restraint. The contrast felt unforgiving. Skarsgård ultimately relied on director Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson to confirm that the visual language would translate, trusting the framing despite private doubt.

Alexander Skarsgård might have felt like an idiot, but that was far from the impression he made on Olivia Colman.

What does Olivia Colman think of Alexander Skarsgård?

Olivia Colman has recently shared enthusiastic praise for Alexander Skarsgård after their collaboration on Wicker, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Speaking to TheWrap, she joked that being face to face with the most beautiful creature made of wicker made swooning inevitable.

She also focused on the physical demands of the role. Olivia Colman admired Skarsgård’s ability to perform while wearing a wicker body suit and mask glued to his face and body, noting the sustained control required under constant restriction.

That respect extended to the material itself. Colman described the Wicker screenplay as one of her top three favorite scripts and pursued the role of the stinky fisherwoman with determination, admitting she would have been genuinely angry if another actor had been cast.

How do you think Alexander Skarsgård would have looked with wick prosthetics? Let us know in the comments!

Written by

Iffat Siddiqui

Edited by

Aliza Siddiqui