6 Hollywood Stars You Didn't Know Were Swedish

Everyone knows Alicia Vikander is Swedish, as well as Alexander Skarsgård and his dad Stellan, too. Following in the great Swedish tradition of leaving home for Hollywood like the iconic Greta Garbo and Ingrid Bergman, these are some Hollywood stars you might not have known are Swedish.

Max von Sydow

Von Sydow has had a long successful career starring in films both in Europe and Hollywood. He launched an international career thanks to his role in the Ingmar Bergman film The Seventh Seal (1957) where he plays chess with Death. He went on to play several notable roles before Father Merrin, the priest in the cult classic Exorcist in 1973. Von Sydow, son of a Swedish baroness, was born Carl Adolf von Sydow in Lund, southern Sweden. He is the only Swedish male actor to be nominated for an Oscar (in 1988 and in 2011). In 2016, he joined the popular TV series Game of Thrones as The Three-Eyed Raven and received an Emmy nomination for his performance.

Von Sydow at the Canne Film Festival in 2016

Dolph Lundgren

Lena Olin

Lena is the internationally renowned Swedish actress that had a successful career at home before heading to Hollywood. Her international debut was in the Bergman film After The Rehearsal (1984). We now know her as Jennifer Garner’s mom in the hit TV series Alias and for her moving role in her husband Lasse Hallström‘s hit movie Chocolat. Acting is in her genes as her parents Britta Holmberg and Stig Olin, both successful actors, starred in six Bergman films. Lena continues to take touching roles, including her comedic role as a Swedish mom in the American-Swedish co-production called Welcome To Sweden.

Olin with a Swedish midsummer garland on her hair in 2015

Peter Stormare

Now giving us a dose of uncomfortable Swedish humor in the comedy-detective series Swedish Dicks, Peter Stormare previously embodied many nationalities in his varied roles, including as a French man in Chocolat, where he played across from Lena Olin as her husband. He is well-loved in Sweden and continues to add to his successful career in the US and at home.

Malin Akerman

Malin Akerman was born in Sweden and moved to Canada with her parents at an early age. She is a celebrated sweetheart on both sides of the Atlantic. Malin was a Ford Supermodel and graced European runways for years before her breakthrough role as Silk Spectre in Watchmen (2009). She has also been in hit romantic comedies, notably with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds in The Proposal (2009) and in American TV series Suburgatory and Trophy Wife.

Joel Kinnaman

Sweden’s newest Hollywood Star is Joel Kinnaman. Many of us first noticed him in the later seasons of House of Cards. And now Kinnaman is starring in the Netflix original series called Altered Carbon. He has won awards for his film work in Sweden and continues to enjoy success at home as well as in the US. He is featured in Volvo’s 2018 advertising campaign under the luxury car brand’s “Made in Sweden” theme.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.