Handsome face, chiseled abs and brains? Alexander Skarsgard has them all – with a degree to prove it!
The “True Blood” hunk – who hails from Sweden – was gifted with an honorary doctorate from his collegiate alma mater, Leeds Metropolitan University, during a recent trip to England.
“I want you to call me Dr. Skarsgard for now – I insist,” Alexander jokingly told Access Hollywood during an interview at the 2011 Comic-Con in San Diego, Calif., on Friday. “No, it was a very humbling experience. [My family] was all laughing because my brother just went through med school.
“So he spent six years in med school and he’s doing his residency now in southern Sweden for two years, and my mom’s a medical doctor as well, so they’re like, ‘This is ridiculous. We studied for six years and you go to Leeds for a weekend and pick up the award?’” he explained. “I don’t deserve it. But it was very flattering obviously.”
The striking actor, who plays ruthless vampire/recent amnesiac Eric Northman on “True Blood,” said his character’s memory loss has paved the way for a welcome departure from Eric’s usually vicious ways.
“It’s been great. This season has been so much fun,” he told Access. “It’s been very different, obviously, exploring that side of Eric and I’ve loved every minute of it.”
His character’s newly-revealed sensitive side may pave the way for a long-awaited romance with Sookie, played by Anna Paquin (who is married to fellow “True Blood” star Stephen Moyer off-screen).
However, despite Anna and Stephen’s real life love, Alexander said there’s no jealousy on set when it comes to filming flirtatious scenes.
“We’re super tight – we’re good friends, all of us, so I know he doesn’t see me as a potential threat, and it’s really not uncomfortable at all,” he told Access. “I think people have a tendency to believe that it is, or would be uncomfortable, but this is what we do for a living.”
Additionally, Alexander recently wrapped filming on Peter Berg’s upcoming adventure movie, “Battleship” – slated to hit theaters in May 2012 — alongside Rihanna, Liam Neeson and “Friday Night Lights” hunk Taylor Kitsch.
“It was amazing,” he told Access of his “Battleship” experience. “It was big and fun and crazy. I loved working with all of those guys.”
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