Norwegian actress Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, recently nominated for an Oscar, candidly shared her journey and experiences in a revealing conversation with Sebastian Stan. Their discussion, centered on her breakthrough role in Joachim Trier’s film Sentimental Value, offers insights into the challenges and surreal moments leading up to the awards season.
From a Norwegian Village to Oscar Recognition
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas’s voyage to Hollywood’s spotlight was far from direct. Raised in a small Norwegian village and surrounded by her parents’ theater production company, her path was shaped by unexpected turns. After being denied entry to Norway’s most prestigious acting school, she pursued an exchange year in Brazil at age 17, swiftly learning Portuguese despite initial language barriers. Returning home, she enrolled in psychology studies before attending New York’s Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute for a semester. Ultimately, she continued her training in Norway’s northern acting school, benefiting from a theater background while discovering her attraction to more intimate film acting.
Her first major film role came in Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, where she plays Agnes, a woman confronting familial complexities alongside her on-screen sister, portrayed by Renate Reinsve. The film also stars Stellan Skarsgård as their estranged filmmaker father. Known for its subtle exploration of memory and trauma, the film has resonated deeply with critics and audiences alike, leading to Academy Award nominations for all three lead actors and Trier for direction.
An Open Dialogue with Sebastian Stan
The interview began with familiar exchanges about daily life, with Lilleaas speaking from Norway after putting her son to bed. She shared the challenges of balancing motherhood with a demanding awards circuit, a feat she and co-star Renate Reinsve have managed over several months. Stan expressed admiration for their dedication.
“Sometimes it feels like it actually. [Laughs]”
Lilleaas admitted about the superhuman effort it requires.
Stan showed curiosity about Lilleaas’s unconventional steps into acting, including her immersive year in Brazil. Although her exchange program was academic and isolating due to language gaps, she acknowledged it planted early seeds for her artistic ambitions. Raised amidst theater production rather than acting itself, she gradually realized the acting profession was attainable.
“I actually wanted to apply to the school in Norway, the most famous one, but I didn’t get in,”
she revealed, recalling her first setbacks. After a year studying psychology, she followed her mother’s advice to explore different acting schools, leading her to the Lee Strasberg Institute, which broadened her perspective and helped her mature.
Discovering Artistic Roots and Influences
Regarding her connection to director Joachim Trier, Lilleaas recounted first encountering his work with his film Reprise, which captivated her during her university years. She admired its naturalistic performances and the unspoken emotional currents within the stories. Since then, she eagerly followed Trier’s career, harboring a hope to collaborate with him despite doubts about working with him in Norway again after The Worst Person in the World.
The opportunity came unexpectedly when a casting director familiar with her called her for an audition. The process was marked by a unique approach from Trier, who conducted extensive conversations not just about the script but about life and art. Lilleaas described this as a rare and valuable experience for her.
“Rarely do I feel like I’m able to find anything of value in an audition, but now I felt like I had some valuable experience going through these meetings and these tests,”
she said.
Personal Connections Within the Film’s Story
When reflecting on her character’s familial background, Lilleaas found parallels with her own upbringing surrounded by parents dedicated to theater production. While not literal, the passion and sacrifices of artist parents influenced her understanding of Agnes’s complex relationship with her filmmaker father.
She also related to the dynamic among siblings, being the middle child herself between an older sister and younger brother. The emotional honesty of the script struck a chord, especially portraying a father still searching for his own mother’s love while grappling with artistic ambition and family ties.
The film’s inclusion of an American actress character also resonated with Lilleaas, who recognized universal struggles of actors striving for depth and authenticity in their craft, regardless of background or fame.
Collaborative Process and Creative Freedom on Set
Lilleaas described Trier’s rehearsal strategy, which involved filming all rehearsals and encouraging improvisation alongside scripted work. This method allowed genuine interactions and refinements, often leading to cuts and adjustments to better capture emotional truth.
She recalled how Trier would film “jazz takes,” moments when the actors could freely explore and take risks without concern for perfection. This approach challenged her own fear of making mistakes, as she admitted struggling with the pressure to perform flawlessly.
Filming Experience and Working with Stellan Skarsgård
During the shoot, Lilleaas felt an overwhelming sense of creating something special despite initial nerves about the film’s potential. She was struck by the collective excellence of all involved, praising the editor and cinematographer for their contributions.
Acting opposite Stellan Skarsgård, a revered figure in Nordic cinema, brought both respect and ease. Lilleaas noted that her character’s relationship with the father figure required a nuanced balance of comfort within emotional discomfort, which Skarsgård’s grounded presence helped facilitate.
“He takes a little [space] and then he leaves a lot for the rest of us,”
she said, describing his natural humility and consistency on set.
Oscar Buzz and Industry Encounters
As the film gained traction, the cast found themselves navigating high-profile industry events. Lilleaas highlighted a poignant moment at a New York luncheon when Susan Sarandon praised the movie and its actors, stirring deep emotions among the cast members.
Furthermore, acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson had called Lilleaas
“the best special effect of the year,”
an acknowledgment that astonished her. When Stan asked how she managed such moments, she recalled both excitement and emotional overwhelm.
Future Prospects and Hollywood Reflections
Lilleaas’s growing involvement with the U.S. industry, through agencies like CAA, presents potential new opportunities. However, she remains cautious and grounded, reflecting the uncertainty inherent in an actor’s life where tomorrow’s plans are often unknown.
Despite this, she expresses interest in collaborating with American filmmakers she admires, although she finds imagining a permanent move to the U.S. unlikely given her established life and responsibilities in Norway.
Addressing questions about participating in large franchises such as Marvel or Jurassic Park, Lilleaas laughed off the speculation without outright rejection. She acknowledged the common assumption that actors balance artistic projects with more commercial roles to support their careers but remains deliberate about her choices.
Insights on the Acting Journey and Emotional Demands
Throughout the conversation, Lilleaas shared candid reflections on the emotional vulnerability required to act and how curiosity drives her artistic exploration. She seeks to understand herself and others through her performances, finding value in the shared human experience that acting reveals.
Referencing an exchange with Julianne Moore, Stan conveyed the universal apprehension actors face before emotionally intense scenes. Moore’s nervousness and self-doubt resonated with Lilleaas, underscoring that even seasoned professionals grapple with fear of exposure.
“I hate doing this. I never think I’m going to be able to do these kinds of scenes.”
Julianne Moore, Actress
Lilleaas embraced this tension as part of her acting process, fueled by an innate curiosity about people.
Balancing Family Life Amidst Rising Stardom
A humorous yet heartfelt discussion illuminated how Lilleaas attempts to explain the significance of the Oscars to her young son, who is four-and-a-half years old. She admitted the concept of an awards competition is abstract and remote for him, leading to amusing yet challenging explanations.
Stan joked about showing the film The Hunger Games to her son to illustrate the intensity of her profession, likening the awards season to a survival contest.
“This is what your mom had to do.”
Sebastian Stan, Actor
Despite the exhilarating but exhausting nature of this period, Lilleaas and Stan acknowledged the unique, sometimes overwhelming experience of being part of a film that sparks long-lasting conversations about family, memory, and artistic legacy.
An Unforgettable Experience and What Lies Ahead
As the interview drew to a close, both expressed a sense of gratitude and excitement for the celebrations to come. Stan predicted the film would be remembered for years, while Lilleaas looked forward to sharing the experience with her castmates and embracing whatever future roles may arise.
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas stands as a testament to resilience and dedication in acting, having transformed early obstacles into opportunities for artistic growth, all while navigating the pressures and joys of rising international acclaim.
