This Cultural Life Alicia Vikander
Sep 18, 2025
Alicia Vikander, the Swedish-born Academy Award-winning actress, shares a glimpse into her fascinating journey from performing in ABBA musicals at age seven to her upcoming return to the London stage. She reflects on how her mother's influence sparked her passion for acting and discusses the rigorous ballet training that shaped her artistic sensibility. Alicia dives into her memorable roles in Ex Machina and The Danish Girl, the challenges of portraying complex female characters, and her excitement for contemporary Ibsen's The Lady from the Sea.
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Moved Alone At Fifteen For Ballet
- At 15 Alicia moved to Stockholm alone to train in ballet, living independently with classmates and long daily schedules.
- She balanced intense six-day weeks and long hours while discovering nightlife and independence quickly.
Ballet Informs Her Acting
- Ballet training shaped Alicia's acting through physicality, choreography exercises and creative movement tasks.
- She uses those skills for character physicality and still incorporates dance into film performances.
Psychiatrist Father Fueled Sci‑Fi Curiosity
- Alicia's father, a psychiatrist, encouraged conversations about human behavior and shared sci‑fi books like Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness.
- Those discussions influenced her curiosity about gender and psychology relevant to roles like in The Danish Girl and Ex Machina.
