Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård has spoken out about his personal dislike of late director Ingmar Bergman, who he claims was manipulative and had a twisted outlook on others. Skarsgård worked with Bergman on a stage production of A Dream Play in 1986.
Bergman, who grew up in a right-wing Swedish family, spoke openly about his past sympathies for Nazism. In the 1990s, he explained to author Maria-Pia Boëthius that he had admired Hitler’s charisma and even maintained support for the Nazis until the end of World War II.
However, Bergman’s views on Nazism changed after witnessing the atrocities of the Holocaust. He went on to explore themes of war and anguish in films like Winter Light and The Silence.
Skarsgård has previously expressed his distaste for Bergman in a 2012 interview, calling him an “asshole.” At this year’s Karlovy Vary film festival, Skarsgård reiterated his dislike for Bergman, saying that he was “not nice” despite being a skilled director.
Bergman’s legacy is still widely recognized, with the award-winning film Sentimental Value inspired by his work. The film has received rave reviews and is tipped for awards success later this year.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/jul/11/stellan-skarsgard-ingmar-bergman-hitler