While certain countries claim their royal families in politics, Sweden seems to have bestowed their royalty on an acting dynasty, the SkarsgStellan, four of whose eight children, sons, Alexander, Gustaf, Valter, and Bill, have followed in his theatrical footsteps.

For a 30-year-old Bill, who got his creative feet wet in the film It, Atomic Blonde, and the TV series Castle Rock, has allowed him to secure his own singular identity. Starring in the new ensemble Southern gothic drama The Devil All the Time, Skarsgård is now given an opportunity to shed off any Pennywise stereotype that could have befallen a less charismatic actor and introduce a deeply layered and textured character in Willard Russell.

Growing up In Sweden, you had a certain type of upbringing but being an actor, you get this luxury to step into someone else’s life for a short period of time and experience their life. What kind of life did you inhabit being Willard?

There are so many things. I always try as best I can to challenge myself with every new role I do. I want to embody people who are further away from me. This story, adapted from Ray Pollack’s book, really spoke to me. I had never done this type of period piece of a gritty Americana story. For me, the challenge as this Swedish man embodies someone who grew up in the 1920s and ‘30s West Virginia, who went to fight in the Pacific for World War II and came back a damaged man. This is why I love what I do. The challenge is to portray these people as rightfully and honorably as I can.

He had a very tragic life.

It is hard for me to even imagine what someone like Willard had to endure. I try and do my best to put myself into his shoes and empathize with him. I just want to portray this man’s life the best that I can.

In this film, your father passes a lesson to you and you pass along to your son. In your own life, can you recall a life lesson that your dad passed along to you?

Hmm. I feel like I am put on the spot. My dad has taught me many things. I don’t have a storybook memory where he sat me down and told me what was wrong with the world. He did teach his kids to be good people and be nice. We should treat everyone, no matter who they are, the same. When I look at my brothers in the family that we have, it is true for all of us that we do right by ourselves and treat everyone right and just. It might sound trivial when you say it, but it is one of the most important life lessons there is.

For Willard. Who seemed to have lost his way, when he comes home and starts his own family, there is a turning point where he finds he needs to embrace it. Talk about the power of spirituality. Have you found things in your life that give you comfort in difficult times?

I am not a spiritual or religious man myself. I find comfort in that almost. Religion is a theme of the film and it is what you make of it. We, as humans, are the spiritual ape. We are internally linked to spirituality one way or the other. This movie depicts what people do and why in needing religion. It doesn’t turn out so well sometimes in the film. But that is what religion is. It is something we project on to at times. If you misinterpret it one way or the other, it can go pretty bad. Just as you do it right, it can really help people. Religion, itself, to me, is how and what you do with it that makes a difference.