Handsome leading-man Alexander Skarsgård — not to confuse with Maggie Gyllenhaal’s handsome leading-man husband Peter Sarsgaard — is everywhere. Ten minutes earlier he burbled about his new film “What Maisie Knew” with Julianne Moore. Ten minutes later he burbled about his newer film “The East” with Ellen Page.
Blond, Swedish, 6-foot-4, a bloodsucking vampire in “True Blood,” a rapist in “Straw Dogs,” a nudist in “The East,” and Hollywood’s new sex object on the (pardon the expression) rise, he says:
“I never wanted to act. My father was in the business. I grew up with it. I was inspired by him. So, although I didn’t want it, I was a kid actor at 13. I have seven younger siblings. I’m the oldest of eight. Then I studied political science. Then in the military. Then in New York at 20 in management school.
“At 21, I got into trouble and had to figure what I wanted to do. Dropping out of everything, missing the theatrical excitement, with everything else going weird, I went back to being an actor.
“I originally returned to Sweden but afterwards learned work in Hollywood’s so much easier. On vacation in LA, visiting my dad, who was my manager, he said, ‘You’re an actor. Go on auditions.’ My first audition was ‘Zoolander’ with Ben Stiller. A small part.”
Skarsgård loved bathing naked in one movie, loved dripping blood in another, loved playing “not a leader of men but a lost insecure guy who dates Julianne Moore and ends up taking care of this little child . . . it’s all very fulfilling.”
Luncheon drama
At the Drama League Luncheon, Tom Hanks said: “Working on Broadway’s more scary and lonely” than he figured. Per fotog Bettina Cirone, he also took cell photos of the audience . . . Judith Light: “I’m never unhappy while I’m eating — so thank you.” Donna Murphy: “When I heard I was nominated, I said, ‘For what?’ ” Holland Taylor playing Gov. Ann Richards: “It’s 3:15. The longest lunch in Broadway history.” Cicely Tyson: “I only know I’m going to sit down because if I don’t I’m going to check out.”
From the mouths of celebs
Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert’s agent got introduced as: “You should know this guy. He’s rich as s – – t” . . . How rich Kerry Washington is, I don’t know. I know how thin she is. Sideways, inside a borrowed Marc Jacobs leather dress, I thought she was a strap . . . James Caan: “ABC-TV’s strict about what goes over the air. No bad words or nothing. Yet on ‘Back in the Game,’ which is on Wednesday nights they let me adlib some f – – king dialogue.” . . . SIGOURNEY Weaver on “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” Tony-nominated six times: “We’re a tight ensemble. Together a year. But, truth is, we all get into periodic kerfuffles onstage.”. . . Lady Antebellum pit-stopped at West 27th’s McKittrick Hotel . . . Top financier: “Washington insiders are loathe to take increase in salaries because constituents won’t like that — but they’re not loathe to take outside sources.”. . . You should know that Fares Rizk, a k a Sultana the lady imposter, is having an art show.
Value unknown
TD Bank Senior VP Ryan Bailey shipped notes to “Dear Valued Customer.” They stated 3-by-5 safe deposit box discounts were available, adding: “Any questions about this, please call” and listed a number. One longtime box owner called. Result? The TD person answering said he never heard of Bailey nor about that signed letter.
Clark Gregg, who plays agent Phil Coulson in “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”: “I adore New York. Instantly I get out of a plane, into a yellow taxi — I already feel funnier and smarter. The town itself has a sense of humor. Just walking down the street looking at the people, the stores, the life, the hustle, bustle, rustle, is funny. Anyone who lives in New York is lucky.”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.