Source: Vision Hoglandet Magazine
[edited]
Date: May 13, 2013
Our Swedish Hollywood hunk is more
successful than ever and he has just released his second
autobiography. He lives his dream, but as a red thread
throughout his life, doubt remains no matter what
success and fame he attains. There is doubt if he is
really good enough but also in the brief moments of
happiness when he feels he is.
It's not a flattering self-portrait
that Michael Nyqvist gives us in his second
autobiography "Dance for us".
At the age of 52, Michael has not managed to master his
stage fright. As a little boy, he thought he looked like
a semla - a cream-filled Swedish bun. Today he is one of
our most engaged actors, especially in Hollywood where
his career has rocketed, especially after the success of
the Millennium Trilogy. Despite the successes after 30
years in the acting profession, he seeks as much
confirmation today as when he was little. As a child he
stood dancing and singing for the guests his parents had
invited home for dinner.
"I was asked to behave. I became Jonny Rocker in the
living room. It was a cool feeling..."
Imagine you're in a big Hollywood
movie, sitting and sweating, dressed in a tuxedo at the
premiere. You're expecting to see your performance and
then you notice that many scenes are deleted.
"In the USA's major productions, it's more commercial
there. They never told me that my scenes would be
deleted. In my eyes, they were the best scenes, so of
course I was shocked... (This is described in his book).
You are in someone else's hands. Someone else has made
these decisions. I think we all encounter this
powerlessness a little bit everywhere, for example, in
marriage or in different jobs."
"To me, doubt is an incredible rocket fuel for
creativity, a necessary evil. Doubt leads to useful
self-examination that we all need. Just look at the
great prophets. They are all doubtless as a factor - one
should doubt his God and his thesis, or else you will
not develop... From my shortcomings, I have had
experiences that I have developed from. When in doubt,
it's terrible, but afterwards you can see how you've
developed. Two steps backwards, one step forward."
One could easily believe that Michael's sense of doubt
is linked to poor self-esteem, but it is not.
"No... But to have self-esteem, be aware and dare to
have shortcomings, that's another matter..."
Was the theater the world you dreamed of?
"Today I think the theater is
incredibly much better than I could ever imagine. I meet
so many amazing people. I run around in various hats and
caps and play theater in the world's various corners
with different world stars. People come up and thank me
for different movies. That's wonderful."
What are you like as a father?
"I'm probably pretty shy and curious.
We have fun together as a family. I can be afraid that
my life takes too much focus in the family. I have felt
that throughout the children's upbringing. One of my
children is engaged in art and the other with music. We
often say that we are proud of each other. But I think,
for example, it feels awkward when I'm going to be tied
to my children's exhibition. I do not want to be the
focus there. It's a difficult situation when I would
prefer to sneak into the swamp of anonymity."
"I bring my family as much as I can on my travels and
jobs abroad. It's fun. We experience a lot together. A
trip every three weeks will be enough. But the kids go
to school so it's not as easy to bring them as it is to
bring Catharina.
The most important thing to Michael
is honesty.
"To be honest is the whole thing.
That's what it's all about. I am so tired of all the
attitudes in our society."
Do you have a faith?
"We must believe in a higher power.
There is a big difference in faith and knowledge. I like
people who believe. Faith is just about doubt.
What do you prefer film or theater?
"Movies are sad to do, but fun to
watch. With the theater, it is the other way around.
There is a harmony in standing on the theater stage
which is unbeatable. An original ecstasy."
Is there something that scares you?
"Man's ingenuity when it comes to
wounding and being stupid against others. No, I'm now
pessimistic. What is amazing with man is that we all
know that love is strongest. It's something
outstanding."
What is the most important ingredient in a long and
loving relationship?
"Crisis, scream and shout clearly at
each other BEFORE you lie down. You should not go to
sleep on a lot of uneasiness."
What are you most proud of?
"I'm proud that I followed a certain
path. I dared to write books, that I dared to testify to
people about what it's like to be human, that we all
bear the same doubts. Personally, I am most proud of my
family and that I actually dared meet my biological
parents."
How would you describe your lifestyle?
"I think I'm very spoiled. I carry a
lot of gold cards... I do not live as I wish because I
think it's so hard when everyone looks at me. But
there are positive things about being a public person.
The biggest advantage in my life right now is that I
give myself breaks and can control my life as I want. It
has meant a lot of hard working hours, but it's a luxury
to be able to take vacation whenever I want to."
Michael thinks that, despite this, he
works more than ever. Offers come in from all directions
and besides here in Sweden, he has agents in France and
the United States who help him choose roles and inform
him when he needs to calm down and to what movies he
should say no to.
Future Dreams?
"To continue like this, to work and
do films and theater. And I have a lot of ideas for new
books. For example, I'm curious about the subject of
lies... I was in a slalom competition when I was
10 years old. An absolutely awesome competition that I
won. But at some point I felt that I was on the national
team and competed at a high level and over the years it
snowballed and the lie became bigger. The one who found
me out was Pernilla August. She was good at skiing and
realized that I was bluffing. This is a subject that is
interesting, I think we all carry on little lies."
Michael continues to talk about
different possible future topics to put his claws into.
He now stars in five major Hollywood
productions that are soon on the market. One of them is
a modern version of Chekhov's "The Seagull".
"I am joining Katie Holmes. I met
Katie during the filming of Mission Impossible 4
with Tom Cruise when they were still a couple. I still
have great contact with both of them. Katie is really a
nice person with both feet on the ground. She's a little
funny. I especially remember a scene where we sat on a
pier and she sat with a big beer bottle at her mouth.
She plays my daughter and hates me. We noticed that on
the other side the lake were a lot of paparazzi in the
bushes and she took the bottle and grimaced. The next
day, it was over the media that she had alcohol
problems."
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