Stellan Skarsgård earned his first Oscar nomination on Jan. 22 for his performance in Joachim Trier’s family drama “Sentimental Value,” a film that broke out across the ballot with nine nominations. The Academy set the ceremony for March 15 at the Dolby Theatre, with nominations announced by Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman in a livestream from Beverly Hills.
Skarsgård reacted with disbelief and a little swagger. “It’s absolutely incredible,” he told TT, then blurted, “Nine nominations! Is that a Scandinavian record?” He framed the season as a steady climb rather than a pressure cooker, saying each step “has felt so good.” He said he planned a quiet night after a run of events, “without champagne.”
“Sentimental Value” centers on sisters Nora and Agnes as they reconnect with their estranged father, Gustav, a once-renowned director who returns with a comeback project and an offer for Nora that lands like an emotional trap. When she refuses, he turns to an eager young American star, forcing the family to confront old wounds in a room suddenly crowded with ambition.
The nominations spread reflects how broadly the film played with Academy voters. Alongside Skarsgård in supporting actor, Renate Reinsve made the Best Actress lineup, and Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas landed in supporting actress; Trier scored directing and original screenplay mentions, and the film also appeared in Best Picture, Best International Feature and editing. Norwegian Film Institute CEO Kjersti Mo called the tally “historic,” saying no Norwegian film has received this many nominations and pointing to the Best Picture slot as a first for the country.
The surge also tracks a wider European push in this year’s race, with “Sentimental Value” leading the region’s pack in nominations behind top U.S. contenders. Skarsgård, meanwhile, has leaned into the role’s bite in interviews; he said his first instinct playing a director was “revenge,” and he wanted to make fun of directors before aligning with Trier’s more human read on the character. Final voting runs Feb. 26 through March 5.
