Alexander Skarsgård loved ‘tactile real experience’ of becoming a Wicker man

Alexander Skarsgård stars opposite Olivia Colman in the new movie, as a wicker husband constructed by a basket maker for a local spinster fisherwoman.

Alexander Skarsgård loved having the “tactile real experience” of getting made up for Wicker.

The Swedish actor stars opposite Olivia Colman in the new movie, as a wicker husband constructed by a basket maker for a local spinster fisherwoman.

The role required an extensive amount of special effect prosthetics to be applied to Alexander before shooting, but the 50-year-old told The Playlist that he jumped at the chance to sit in the make-up chair for hours on end rather than having the effects applied via CGI.

He said: “I have worked quite a bit with CGI characters, and it’s fun to have a tactile real experience of a real old school prosthetic character.

“I couldn’t take it off at lunch and have a little break time.”

There were also downsides to that as well though, as Alexander said of the prosthetic make-up and functional suit from the pros at Weta Workshop: “The fact that it was glued to my face meant that I couldn’t really sweat.

“So, that made it a bit tricky to regulate my temperature. But no one wants to read about f***** spoiled actors.”

Olivia added that she “never assumed” that her Wicker husband would be created with CGI, as she said her brain doesn’t “go there”.

She added: “So I thought someone would come up with something clever. They said Wicker person. I knew it would be a person.”

Alexander went on to admit that they first time they watched the film with an audience was an “extraordinary experience” – especially as they hadn’t anticipated exactly the reaction it would receive.

He mused: “I always assumed 12 people would watch a trailer when it comes out. I was like, ‘It’s not the Avengers. It’s an Indie film, new IP, no one knows anything about this.’ I was like, ‘It’s a great one for the 12 people who watch it and enjoy it.’ And then it just kind of exploded and took off in a very interesting, very fun, creative way.

“People look like they’re here for love and a lot of fun, taking it in different directions. And it means a lot to us, obviously. If people are curious about the movie and want to go see it, that is fantastic.”