Alexander Skarsgård Jokes About Awards Snubs While Boosting His Ego at Sundance

Alexander Skarsgård has had an emotional awards season — and he’s handling it with humor.

Speaking at Variety’s Cover Party at the Sundance Film Festival, Skarsgård joked about the highs and lows of recent months. In December, he was feeling confident after earning nominations at the British Independent Film Awards and the Gotham Awards for his performance in the gay BDSM drama “Pillion.” At the time, he even teased the idea of outshining his famous father, Stellan Skarsgård.

“I felt like I could take that motherfucker down,” Skarsgård said during his self-mocking speech. “Life was fucking great.”

But the momentum didn’t last. Skarsgård ultimately walked away empty-handed from those ceremonies and failed to receive further major nominations. Meanwhile, his father surged ahead in the awards race with an Oscar nomination for the family drama “Sentimental Value.”

“So my self-esteem’s been on the bottom,” Skarsgård joked, winning laughs from the crowd. “You start thinking, what’s the point if you’re not getting nominated and winning awards?”

His time at Sundance Film Festival, however, has helped restore his spirits. Skarsgård arrived in Park City with two films premiering at the festival. One is A24’s music mockumentary “The Moment,” which stars Charli xcx playing a fictionalized version of herself. The other is “Wicker,” an unconventional romantic drama co-starring Olivia Colman and Peter Dinklage.

“This is great for my ego,” Skarsgård said. “I may not be nominated, but I’m on the cover of a magazine. I look fucking fabulous. My inflated ego is back.”

Saturday night’s party also marked a turning point for Sundance itself. The 2026 festival is the last to be held in Park City before the event relocates to Boulder, Colorado, in 2027.

For Skarsgård, the night offered more than just laughs — it provided a reminder that even without trophies, there’s still plenty to celebrate.