Stellan Skarsgård, head of a prominent acting family, recently opened up about a harsh nickname given to his youngest child by schoolmates.
As a seasoned Swedish actor, Stellan has built a career in both European films and Hollywood, appearing in notable works such as Good Will Hunting, Mamma Mia!, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Chernobyl.
His influence extends through his eight children, with two kids from his current marriage to Megan Everett-Skarsgård and six from his previous marriage to My Skarsgård. Many of his children have pursued acting careers.
His eldest, Alexander Skarsgård, aged 49, is particularly renowned for his roles in series like True Blood, Big Little Lies, The Northman, and Succession.
Gustaf Skarsgård, 44, has gained attention for his role as Floki in Vikings and his performance in Westworld as Karl Strand.
Bill Skarsgård, 35, is widely recognized for his role as Pennywise the Clown in It and for his work in Hemlock Grove.
Valter Skarsgård, 29, continues to grow his reputation in Swedish cinema and television, with appearances in Black Lake and Lords of Chaos.
Stellan’s youngest child, Kolbjörn Skarsgård, at 13, is already making strides in acting. However, despite his early success, schoolmates have given him the nickname “nepo baby” due to his family connections.
In an interview with Vulture, Stellan shared that his son Kolbjörn feels “so sad” and experiences “isolation” at school. Classmates use the term “nepo baby,” implying his success is due to family ties rather than his talent.
When questioned about the “nepo baby” label, Stellan responded, “No. I consider myself a nepo daddy because I get so much goodwill and maybe jobs because of them.”
He elaborated, “My 13-year-old, Kolbjörn, the youngest, suffers from that. When his pals at school call him nepo baby, he gets so sad. He doesn’t have any friends at school. He gets isolated. Cruel kids – or cruel and ignorant. They love it on the internet. But it is such a bullshit thing. Because nobody would hire you, at least not for anything good, if you’re not good enough.”
Kolbjörn debuted in the Netflix series Clark at just nine years old, alongside his half-brother Bill. He is set to appear in the upcoming 2025 Swedish horror series Blood Cruise, marking a promising beginning to his career, even if it hasn’t won over his peers.