Alexander Skarsgard : Friendship in the time of war

MANILA, Philippines – War brings out the best and the worst in people. On the set of the new series Generation Kill (premieres tonight at 9 on Max/Cinemax), it only brought out the best from the actors. Take it from Alexander Skarsgard, who plays Sgt. Brad “Iceman” Colbert in the series.

“We shot the episodes for seven months in Namibia,” reveals the 32-year-old Swedish actor. “We were so isolated. It was like we were stuck in a different planet. You embark on the same journey for several months with people you haven’t met before.”

When this happens, human nature dictates that you stick to each other like Mighty Bond. In-between takes, Skarsgard got to know his co-stars’ families, girlfriends and significant others like never before. They became instant family. And this showed on screen. Theirs is a chemistry as strong, if not stronger than blood. It’s borne of kinship for the past seven months in a place far, far away from home.

It would have been totally different, says Skarsgard, had they been shooting say in nearby California, where they could just jump into their cars and go home to their families after a shoot.

“I had 32 brothers for life at the end of the shoot,” reports Skarsgard.

He also came away from the experience a lot richer as an actor. As battalion leader, Skarsgard plays someone who doesn’t like being in the limelight but must do so because it’s his job.

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