Who does Stellan Skarsgard play in Chernobyl? Details explored

HBO's hit historical miniseries, Chernobyl, remains one of the highly rated projects to this date.

It premiered in 2019 and won several accolades, including the Golden Globes for Best Limited Series. Stellan Skarsgard also won the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series for his performance in the series.

Skarsgard won his second Golden Globe award this year for his role as Gustav Borg in Sentimental Value. He bagged the award for Best Performance by Male Actor in a Supporting Film role. He delivered a hilarious speech and thanked his wife for her "brutal support" and called her a "tough lover." But do you remember what role earned him his first Golden Globe in Chernobyl? Here's more about it.

Stellan Skarsgard played Boris Schnerbina in Chernobyl. Schnerbina held a pivotal position (deputy chairman) at the Council of Ministers. Additionally, he was also the head of the Bureau of Fuel and Energy Department. Schnerbina was appointed by Kremlin to manage any crisis. He appeared as a fiery and imposing man. Initially, he seemed like any power-hungry politician, but as the series unfolded, his character arc stood out. Schnerbia had no idea what he was walking into. Stellan Skarsgard played Boris Schnerbina with sharp wit and a slow shift from a loyal bureaucrat to someone who sees the truth.

Chernobyl: Stellan Skarsgard as Boris Schnerbina

Stellan Skarsgard's performance as Boris Schnerbina in Chernobyl was impeccable. As a high-ranking Soviet officer sent to handle the nuclear disaster, he seemed unaware. The series not only showed how the repercussions of the nuclear accident or the hours that led to it, but it also explains how government functions under such pressure and how their denial can cost lives.

What stood out was Schnerbina's changing attitude as soon as he grasped the intensity of the situation. Initially, he sided with the higher authorities, refusing to believe the scientist. As the damage became more visible, he began to cooperate with those who understood the situation. His partnership with Valery Legaslov (Jared Harris) stood out. There was suspicion, loyalty, and even the need.

In a candid chat with Digital Spy, Skarsgard revealed how he felt whole playing Boris Schnerbina. He said:

"The way I played him, he hadn't even considered death. He was a man in the government at the very top of the pyramid in this society, and there were a lot of things he hadn't questioned, and he probably hadn't even considered his own mortality."

He continued:

"But I think he eventually accepted it, and he didn't leave the place, he took his responsibility and stayed and did the job even if it was going to be his death"

Stellan Skarsgard's notable projects

Stellan Skarsgard needs no introduction. He's a popular Swedish actor, producer, and writer. He started his career early. For almost six decades, he has appeared in several projects. Some of them are Andor, Good Will Hunting, Thor, King Arthur, and the Dune franchise, to name a few.

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Also Read: 7 shows like Chernobyl that’ll leave you shaken, awed, and thinking about them for days

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