Bill Skarsgård on Playing Pennywise the Clown

Jimmy Kimmel Live

6 Sept 201705:43

Summary

TLDRIn this interview excerpt, the guest from Stockholm discusses their acting career and family, including their father Stellan Skarsgård and brother Alexander Skarsgård. They share anecdotes about growing up with an actor for a father, visiting exotic film locations, and the impact on their own acting aspirations. The conversation also touches on their role in the movie 'IT,' including interactions with young actors on set and the challenges of playing a frightening character.

Takeaways

🌍 The guest is from Stockholm, Sweden, and has been living on the road for seven years.
🎬 The guest's father, Stellan Skarsgård, is a well-known actor, and the family has a strong acting background.
👨‍👧‍👦 The guest has eight siblings, with half of them pursuing acting careers, including the guest's brother Alexander.
🏠 The guest's father would bring the entire family to his international film shoots, creating a unique childhood experience.
🎭 The guest's interest in acting was sparked at a young age, influenced by seeing their father on sets with different personas.
🤡 The guest plays the character Pennywise the Clown in the movie 'IT', which is a role that involves scaring children.
👶 The guest had a memorable first day on set with a young actor named Jack Racer, who played Eddie in the movie.
😱 The guest was concerned about traumatizing the young actors while performing intense scenes but was reassured by their professionalism.
🎉 The guest received applause from the audience for the portrayal of Pennywise, indicating a positive reception of their performance.
😂 Jimmy, the host, jokes about the reason clowns hate children being related to the guest's performance.
😨 The guest has become known for acting in scary movies, despite not particularly enjoying the sensation of fear themselves.

Q & A

Where is the interviewee from?
-The interviewee is from Stockholm, Sweden.
How long has the interviewee been 'on the road'?
-The interviewee has been 'on the road' for seven years.
What is the interviewee's relationship to Stellan Skarsgård?
-The interviewee is Stellan Skarsgård's child.
How many of Stellan Skarsgård's children are actors?
-Half of Stellan Skarsgård's eight children are actors.
What was the interviewee's experience growing up in an acting family?
-The interviewee grew up visiting exotic locations with their father, Stellan Skarsgård, who would bring the entire family to film sets.
What was the interviewee's first impression of acting as a child?
-As a child, the interviewee found acting appealing, particularly the idea of being paid to act like a child in a fantastical way.
What was the interviewee's experience on the set of the movie 'IT'?
-The interviewee played a clown character that was intense and scary, which led to a memorable first day of shooting with a young actor named Jack Racer.
How did the young actors on the set of 'IT' react to the interviewee's character?
-The young actors were professional, and one, Jack Racer, appreciated the intensity the interviewee brought to the character despite the scary scenes.
How does the interviewee feel about scary movies?
-The interviewee has become a genre actor in scary movies but personally does not enjoy being scared and gets upset and angry.
What is the interviewee's opinion on the sensation of fear?
-The interviewee believes that the sensation of fear is something people should avoid, aligning with the idea that fear is a signal to escape danger.
What was Jimmy's reaction to the interviewee's description of the 'IT' movie scene?
-Jimmy expressed concern that the interviewee was traumatizing the child actor during the intense scene, but also found it amusing.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Acting Family Legacy and Early Exposure to Film Sets

The conversation begins with a warm welcome for a guest from Sweden, specifically Stockholm. The guest shares that they've been traveling for seven years and discusses their acting career. The interview delves into the guest's family background, revealing that their father, Stellan Skarsgård, is a well-known actor with a significant filmography, including 'Good Will Hunting' and 'Thor'. The guest also mentions that their brother, Alexander, is an actor, and half of their siblings are in the acting profession. The discussion highlights the guest's childhood experiences on film sets with their father, who would bring the entire family to exotic locations, instilling a fascination with acting from a young age. The guest humorously mentions the family rule that all children should become actors, and they recall a particularly intense scene from a movie where they played a frightening clown, causing a young co-star to cry, but the child actor later expressed admiration for the performance.

05:02

😱 Fear and the Impact of Scary Movies

In this segment, the conversation shifts to the topic of fear and scary movies. The guest admits to not enjoying being scared and shares a humorous anecdote about their reaction to fear, which aligns with Jimmy's views. They discuss the natural human response to fear, using the example of running from bears, and how some people enjoy the sensation of fear, while others, like the guest and Jimmy, become upset and angry. The guest humorously suggests that they have become a 'genre actor' for scary movies, despite their personal aversion to the genre. The interview concludes with Jimmy expressing that he will not watch the movie 'IT' due to his fear of scary movies, and the guest playfully encourages him to see it.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Stockholm

Stockholm is the capital city of Sweden and is known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and modern urban life. In the video, the guest hails from Stockholm, which sets the stage for a discussion about their background and upbringing. The city's mention also adds a layer of cultural context to the conversation, as it's a place known for its unique blend of tradition and innovation.

💡Actor

An actor is a person who portrays characters in performances, such as in theater, film, television, or radio. The script revolves around the guest's acting career, with discussions about their family's involvement in the acting industry. The term 'actor' is central to the narrative as it defines the guest's profession and the career paths of their family members.

💡Family

Family refers to a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationships). The script highlights the guest's large family, with a focus on how many of them are involved in acting. The concept of family is integral to the discussion, as it shapes the guest's identity and career choices.

💡Acting

Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a performance in which they usually pretend to be someone else. The script explores the guest's experiences in acting, including the challenges and rewards of the profession. Acting is a key theme in the video, as it is the primary focus of the guest's life and career.

💡Pennywise

Pennywise is a fictional character from Stephen King's novel 'It' and its film adaptations, known for being a shape-shifting entity that often appears as a clown to attract and prey on children. In the script, the guest discusses playing Pennywise, indicating the character's significance in their acting career and the impact of such a role on their public image.

💡Clown

A clown is a person who performs in a theatrical or circus setting, often wearing outlandish costumes and makeup to entertain audiences. The script mentions the guest's portrayal of a clown, which is a significant part of their role in 'It.' The clown concept is central to the video, as it explores the character's impact on the audience and the actor's experience playing such a role.

💡Exotic Locations

Exotic locations refer to places that are distant, culturally different, or simply unusual, often associated with travel and adventure. The script mentions the guest's father shooting in exotic locations, which not only provides a glimpse into the family's lifestyle but also highlights the global nature of the film industry.

💡Movie Sets

A movie set is a physical location where a film or television production is shot. The script discusses the guest's childhood experiences on movie sets with their father, which likely influenced their decision to pursue acting. Movie sets are a significant part of the narrative, as they represent the guest's early exposure to the acting world.

💡Child Actors

Child actors are young performers who play roles in films, television shows, or theater. The script touches on the guest's interactions with child actors on set, particularly their professional approach to acting despite their young age. This keyword is important as it reflects the guest's respect for young talent and the challenges of working with children in the industry.

💡Traumatizing

To traumatize means to cause someone to experience extreme emotional shock and distress, often leading to lasting psychological harm. The guest humorously discusses the possibility of traumatizing a child actor during a scene, which adds a layer of humor and self-awareness to the conversation. This term is used to illustrate the intensity of the guest's character and the dedication of the young actor.

💡Genre Actor

A genre actor is someone who is known for appearing in films or television shows within a specific genre, often becoming synonymous with that type of content. The guest mentions becoming a 'genre actor,' which in this context refers to their association with horror films due to their role in 'It.' This term is significant as it discusses the guest's evolving career and public perception.

Highlights

Guest mentions being from Stockholm, Sweden.

Guest reveals they have been on the road for seven years, trying to figure out where to settle.

Host acknowledges the guest's famous family, including father Stellan Skarsgård and brother Alexander.

Guest humorously notes that in their family, the rule is you have to become an actor.

Half of the guest's eight siblings are actors, with more potentially joining the family tradition.

Guest shares experiences of traveling to exotic locations with their father during his acting career.

The appeal of acting was instilled in the guest at a young age, seeing their father on set in action-packed roles.

Guest reflects on how acting allows them to be paid for playing like a child, a passion rooted in childhood.

Host brings up the guest’s role as Pennywise the clown, and the guest discusses the intense scenes involving children on set.

Guest recalls being concerned about traumatizing a child actor during an intense scene, only for the child to compliment their performance.

The guest comments on the professionalism of the child actors on set.

The host jokes about clowns disliking children and admits to avoiding scary movies due to fear.

Guest mentions becoming a genre actor in horror films, despite not being a fan of getting scared.

The host shares their belief that fear is a natural response meant to warn us of danger, such as facing a bear.

The guest promotes the movie 'It,' while the host admits they will never watch it due to fear.