‘SNL’ Spoofs Scandinavian Drama With Hilarious Cameo from Oscar-Nominated Andor Star

by

Alexander Skarsgård, known for his role in Murderbot, recently hosted Saturday Night Live. He wasn’t the only Skarsgård on stage, though – his father, Stellan Skarsgård, a veteran actor from a famous acting family, appeared with him in two sketches.

The Skarsgård family’s Swedish heritage was a running joke during a recent Saturday Night Live sketch. The sketch poked fun at the reputation of Scandinavian films for being bleak, stark, and emotionally reserved – a style that began with director Ingmar Bergman in the 1950s and continues today. This was highlighted with a reference to Sentimental Value, a new film starring Stellan Skarsgård as a father reconnecting with his children. In the sketch, Stellan plays a distant father to his on-screen sons, Alexander Skarsgård and SNL cast member Chloe Fineman, in a fictional Norwegian movie called Scent of a Family. The humor came from the contrast between the characters’ cold demeanor in the film and the actors’ surprisingly lively and cheerful behavior between takes.

Stellan Skarsgård proves he’s a naturally funny actor with a line as absurd as, “All these years you’ve hated me for flinging your mother off the dock.” This sketch continues a story that started a few months earlier, when Glen Powell played a serious, popular Scandinavian actor.

One of my favorite sketches on SNL lately features Marcello Hernández as an immigrant chatting with his neighbors about family. Alexander Skarsgård plays Heikki, this hilariously stoic Finnish neighbor who describes his parenting style as… intense. He says he’d get down on one knee, stare right into his kid’s eyes, and just let them feel the weight of their actions! Then, at the end, Stellan Skarsgård shows up as Heikki’s dad and demonstrates exactly what that looks like – it’s absolutely brilliant and so funny!

Stellan Skarsgård could ride his latest sad Scandinavian drama to Oscar gold

As a big fan, I was really excited for this weekend’s SNL! It was a packed show with Cardi B not only performing as the musical guest, but also taking on a role in a sketch. They even paid tribute to the amazing Catherine O’Hara, which was lovely. Honestly, though, as a Skarsgård family fan, I was a little disappointed Bill didn’t make a cameo. Imagine if he’d joined his brother Alexander – that would have been incredible, especially considering his work as Pennywise in IT: Welcome to Derry! It would have made an already fun episode even more special.

Stellan Skarsgård is up for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his work in Sentimental Value, competing against Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Benicio Del Toro (One Battle After Another), Sean Penn (One Battle After Another), and Delroy Lindo (Sinners). He’s already won a Golden Globe for the same role, making him a strong contender for the Oscar – and potentially the first Skarsgård to win one. This recognition might be particularly satisfying, as he wasn’t nominated for an Emmy despite his critically acclaimed performance as Luthen Rael in Star Wars: Andor, which concluded its run last year.

Read More

2026-02-01 20:49