Alexander Skarsgård on Gay Sex Scenes, His Queer Uncle, and Gaga

Actor Alexander Skarsgard is known, loved, and worshipped for his iconic role as the pansexual, devilishly sexy vampire Eric in the dear departed series True Blood, but fans have been biting their lips for his next big smash: The Legend of Tarzan, out this Friday. (As if you haven't seen the trailer.)

When the actor spoke with Pridesource about the film, he revealed some interesting tidbits. Born and raised in Stockholm, the actor says he never understood why kids would tease each other about being gay, because he had always looked up to his gay uncle (brother of Good Will Hunting actor Stellan Skarsgard), who is also his godfather. "He was, by far...the most fashionable and the most trendy, cool guy," Skarsgard says. "So, when I was a kid, he was the one I looked up to. I thought he was really badass: fit and awesome and cool."

Fast forward to just before his star rose with True Blood, when a music video director friend of his, the Madonna-approved Jonas Akerlund, asked him to be a part of the "Paparazzi"clip for Ms. Gaga. "He just basically pitched me the idea: 'You throw her off the balcony and then she comes back and she poisons you.' [Laughs] It sounded like a fun love story, so of course I said yes. I had a super fun day."

Then came the phenomenon known as True Blood, a show that pressed the envelope when it came to sexuality, which Skarsgard is of course proud to have been a part of. Regarding his two steamy gay sex scenes on the series, the actor says "they're incredible scenes."

His partner for the memorable scene in which Eric stabs Talbot in the, er, back, went something like this: "He's also a straight guy and he was nervous; he had never kissed a guy before. I just said, 'Look at the scene,'" Skarsgard remembers telling Theo Alexander, who played Talbot. "'In two minutes, look at this emotional rollercoaster we're taking the audience on. If we commit to this, it's going to be an amazing scene and we're going to be very happy with it forever. If we hold back, that's when it gets awkward.'"

The Swede then teased that the next time he does something gay will probably be "next time I get drunk." Well, we can dream...

Read the full interview here.