Childhood and youth
Alicia was born in the Swedish city of Gothenburg on October 3, 1988. She was born into a large family of local drama theater actress Maria Fal and psychiatrist Svante Vikander. Besides her, there were 5 more brothers and sisters from her father’s first marriage growing up in the family. The parents' relationship came to an end when the daughter was 3 months old. After the divorce, Alicia stayed with her mother, which did not prevent her from regularly visiting her father’s large family (he later married 2 more times) and communicating with her relatives.
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Actress Alicia Vikander
From an early age, Alicia Amanda showed considerable artistic abilities, which Maria immediately noticed. The daughter was very flexible and danced well; she had a well-trained voice and excellent hearing. Therefore, parents did everything possible to develop the abilities inherent in nature. The girl attended music lessons, studied vocals and took drama courses. She also devoted 9 years to ballet dancing at a specialized school in Gothenburg.
In 2001, the 13-year-old actress made her debut on television and on stage. Alicia Vikander's cinematic biography began with her participation in the drama series Second Direction. As for the theater, the girl was involved in several musicals that were performed on the stage of the Gothenburg Opera.
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Alicia Vikander
In 2003, Vikander decided to enter a theater university, but did not score the required number of points in the entrance exams. Then Alicia chose the profession of a lawyer, but soon realized that this was not her path. At the age of 16, Vikander continued to improve her dancing skills at the Royal Ballet School, where she stayed for 3 years. Due to a professional injury and the desire to be an actress, Alicia left ballet and began attending film auditions.
Before world fame
In 2007, ballerina and aspiring actress Alicia Vikander again appeared on the movie screens of her native country. She starred in two short films and also appeared in one of the episodes of the popular Swedish series “Eva Heek”. It cannot be said that these roles, like several subsequent ones, brought Alicia wild popularity, but a certain recognition did appear. And then 2010 came, bringing with it participation in the dramatic film “Purity”. It was this film that turned out to be a fateful step on the path to real success - for her work in it, Alicia received the country's most prestigious award (Golden Bug) and became the best actress of the year.
For the first time, people started talking about the talented girl outside her native Sweden. And soon she had the chance to clearly confirm her acting talents: director Joe Wright invited Vikander to his new film - an adaptation of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. Alicia was supposed to sing the role of Kitty. So the girl left for London.
Movies
19-year-old Alicia is increasingly receiving offers to star in various projects. In 2007, it was a Swedish crime series about the everyday life of the police station "Eva Heck", which was released for the 2nd season. The young actress appeared in the image of the girl Katarina. In the same year, Vikander starred in 2 more films - the short films “Darkness of Truth” and “Rain”, which did not bring fame.
Alicia Vikander (still from the series “Second Direction”)
2008 turned out to be more generous for Alicia Vikander in star roles. One of them is the main character Zhossan in the serial drama “Second Direction”. The film was broadcast for 3 seasons on the central Swedish television channel and received a national award in the category “Best TV Series of the Year”. Having starred in two more short films – “My Name is Love” and “Susan’s Longing”, Alicia again appeared on the big screen.
In 2010, Vikander's career continued to move upward. The 22-year-old actress played the second starring role in director Lisa Langseth's film Towards Something Beautiful, receiving an award for this work at the Stockholm Film Festival. Alicia's character lives with her boyfriend in a poor suburb and leads a boring and unremarkable life.
But only until she heard Mozart’s “Requiem,” which so impressed the young girl that she decided to make drastic changes. She gets a job in a concert hall and improves herself. Critics and viewers received the film very warmly, noting the brilliant debut of the young actress. Vikander was given the status of a rising star.
Alicia Vikander (still from the movie “The Crown Jewels”)
In 2011, the drama “The Royal Jewels” by Swedish director Ella Lemhagen was released. This film received a standing ovation at the Berlin Film Festival and was awarded a prize. The role of Fragancia, a girl accused of attempted murder, finally brings the actress out of the shadows and ensures recognition in the film world.
This high-profile project was immediately followed by another - the drama “Royal Romance”, for the sake of work in which the artist learned Danish. The plot of the historical film directed by Nikolai Arcel is based on the novel by writer and screenwriter Bodil Stensen-Leth “Princess of Blood”.
Alicia got the role of the young Queen Caroline Matilda. Vikander's stage partners were European artists Mads Mikkelsen and Mikkel Felsgaard, who played the roles of court physician Johann Friedrich Struensee, an educator of Denmark, and the mentally ill King Christian VII, respectively.
Alicia Vikander (still from the film "A Royal Affair")
The film was released in 2012 and received awards at the Berlin Film Festival, nominations for an Oscar and a Golden Globe. In the costume films, the fragile Alicia Vikander (the girl’s height is 166 cm, weight – 52 kg) looked very organic, which was noted more than once by film critics and fans.
Soon the actress received an offer to star in the British version of Leo Tolstoy's novel Anna Karenina. Joe Wright's ambitious project was a huge success. In this film, Vikander appeared in the image of the innocent Russian noblewoman Kitty. The role of Konstantin Levin, her happy husband, was played by Domhnall Gleeson. The incomparable Keira Knightley shone in the role of Anna Karenina, her wife was played by Jude Law, and Alexei Vronsky was played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. The film won two major awards - Oscar and BAFTA.
Alicia Vikander (still from the film "Anna Karenina")
In 2013, the filmography of the Swedish actress was supplemented with two more works. The biographical thriller “The Fifth Estate” was filmed by British filmmakers. Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Brühl and David Thewlis are invited to play the main roles. Bill Condon's film was about people who know how to find information that compromises world leaders. Alicia played the role of Anke Domscheit-Berg.
In the same year, director Lisa Langseth again invited Alicia to a new project - the drama “Hotel”, where the actress introduced the main character Erica, a girl who was forced to resort to the help of psychiatry.
Vikander will once again meet with Langseth on the set, only this time in the English-language film Euphoria. Here Alicia and Eva Green will play sisters who have been at odds for many years. But this continues until one of them finds out that she is terminally ill and decides to undergo euthanasia. Euphoria is the first film released by the actress as a producer and founder of her own production company, Vikarious Productions.
Alicia Vikander (still from the film “Memories of the Future”)
In 2014, the artist pleased fans with her role in the action film Young Blood by Australian Julius Avery, where she played the main character Natalie in the company of Brenton Thwaites and Ewan McGregor. Soon, the drama “Memories of the Future” by British director James Kent was released, where three main performers - Alicia Vikander, Kit Harington and Taron Egerton - told the audience a love story against the backdrop of the unfolding events of the First World War. The premiere screening of the film took place in London at the film festival.
A year later, Vikander received a supporting role in the fantasy film “Seventh Son” by Russian director Sergei Bodrov. Work on the film took place in Canada and the USA at Hollywood film studios. The main characters were played by A-list stars - Ben Barnes, Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore.
Alicia Vikander (still from the movie "The Agents of U.N.C.L.")
In August 2020, a new film by Guy Ritchie called “The Agents of U.N.C.L.E.” was presented to the audience. The events described in the film take place at the height of the Cold War between the USA and the USSR. Agents of the CIA and KGB, who are at first at odds, are forced to unite for the sake of a noble mission - to stop a criminal international group.
Working with them is the daughter of a German scientist, Gabi Teller, who helps infiltrate the gang. Alicia played Gabi. Along with her, Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer appeared on the screen, playing the roles of intelligence agents.
Vikander soon joined the main cast of the sci-fi thriller Ex Machina, and also appeared in the Hollywood comedy Chief Adam Jones in the company of a star-studded ensemble of Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Uma Thurman and Emma Thompson.
Alicia Vikander (still from the film “The Danish Girl”)
At the beginning of September 2020, the world premiere of the drama “The Danish Girl,” directed by Tom Hooper, about the world’s first young man who changed his gender, took place. The film takes place in the early 20th century, and the main characters are played by Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander. For her participation in the film, the actress received the Oscar and Sputnik awards, as well as the Screen Actors Guild award.
Vikander left the treasured figurine with a friend because she was leaving for filming the day after the ceremony, and the children are now playing with it. In one interview, the girl said that, as a practical person, she would like to find a worthy use for the Oscar.
“For example, attaching a brush to clean the toilet so that everyone has a chance to hold onto it.”
Alicia Vikander (still from the film “Jason Bourne”)
In 2020, Alicia took part in the creation of the romantic drama “The Light Between Oceans” and the action-packed Hollywood action film “Jason Bourne.” On August 24, 2017, the premiere of the drama “Tulip Fever” took place in Russia, in which Vikander played the main role of the married aristocrat Sofia. The plot is based on the events described in the novel of the same name by Deborah Moggak.
In the melodrama “Dive,” the actress played a deep sea explorer who, during the Christmas holidays, met a military intelligence officer who introduced himself as a simple engineer. The plot is based on the memories of a man who was captured by Islamic terrorists about the days spent with an attractive woman. The heroine is preparing for a dangerous dive on the submersible and unsuccessfully tries to contact the one who managed to sink into her heart in such a short time.
Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft (still from the film “The Danish Girl”)
For the next episode of the Lara Croft franchise, in which she received the main role, Alicia had to carefully work on her figure. For 4 months, every morning began with a workout, Vikander ate food 5 times a day.
“I wanted Lara to be strong. I'm very petite myself and I wanted the audience to feel the action sequences were real. And so that everything looks real, so that the viewer believes that I’m really doing the same thing as Lara on the screen.”
The girl was noticeably inferior compared to her star predecessor Angelina Jolie, but did not resort to plastic surgery: the producers thought that breast correction would be too conspicuous. Instead, under the supervision of a personal trainer, Alicia practiced rock climbing, swimming, athletics and martial arts. In the swimsuit photos that circulated online after filming, Vikander's sculpted muscles are clearly visible.
Creative biography
1. Alicia most clearly declared herself by playing one of the main roles in the film “Purity”. This project was completed in 2010, was enthusiastically received by the audience and received excellent marks from film critics. For filming this film, Vikander was able to receive her first award, the Golden Bug, as the best female performer.
2. Even though there are not many roles in the girl’s filmography yet, they are all bright and memorable. Alicia talentedly conveyed the image of Queen Caroline in the historical film “A Royal Romance.” The aspiring Swedish actress was able to show the uniqueness of her heroine, her inner world. The level of performance of the role speaks of skill and excellent acting abilities.
3. Then there was work on the role of Kitty in the next film adaptation of Tolstoy’s great novel “Anna Karenina”. The film premiered in 2012, and Kitty, performed by Vikander, turned out to be tender, charming, and deep.
4. Success in acting was awarded the “Rising Star” award from BAFTA, which is valuable for artists.
5. Directors are not afraid to entrust complex characters and roles of famous people to a young actress. So in 2020, Alicia successfully played the role of the famous writer Vera Brittain (England). The film was called “Memories of the Future” and became an event in the world of cinema.
6. Vikander also found her work in the sci-fi film Ex Machina interesting. The girl had to play not a human, but a cyborg. This role became a new step in the professional growth of the star.
7. Another “intellectual” role is the artist Gerda Wegener. The famous director Tom Hooper made the film “The Danish Girl” about her. The film did not go unnoticed; it participated in many nominations at prestigious film festivals. And Alicia was again rewarded for her work, this time with a victory in the nomination for the SAG Awards and the Golden Globe.
Personal life
At a film festival in Canada, Alicia Vikander began an affair with Michael Fassbender, who is 14 years older than the girl. In the film “The Light Between Oceans” they played a married couple. The relationship between the colleagues lasted 10 months, and in 2015 the celebrities announced their separation, citing workload.
Embed from Getty Images Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender
But, according to the actress’s father, who came to see his daughter at the Oscars ceremony in 2020, Alicia did not part with the young man at all, which means that harmony and mutual understanding still reigned in the personal lives of the actors. In October 2020, media reported that Vikander and Fassbender secretly got married in Ibiza. The lovers were spotted on the island with their wedding rings. One evening, the couple gathered only their closest friends at the restaurant.
Now Alicia and her husband live in the capital of Portugal, traveling to America or European countries for filming. The couple decided to leave London after Great Britain announced its withdrawal from the European Union. In their spare time, they ride bicycles, come up with surprises for loved ones, and throw parties with friends where they play games and charades. The actress’s favorite dish is a “drunken snack”: dried black bread with pickled Swedish herring.
Embed from Getty Images Alicia Vikander and her husband Michael Fassbender
In addition to filming films, Vikander works as a model. In 2020, the style icon became the official representative of the Louis Vuitton brand. Images of the beauty regularly appear on the covers of fashion magazines Vogue and Elle.
There are pages of fans of the actress on Instagram. Alicia does not microblog on Twitter or other social networks, not out of a desire to hide from her fans, she simply does not like virtual existence. In addition, the public on the Internet admires not the person, but the acting talent, the illusion that the cinema creates.
Alicia Vikander now
In 2020, the actress starred in the funny short film “One Day of a Red Nose and a Wedding,” created specifically for a charity event to raise funds for the Comic Relief foundation. This organization funds programs to restore mental health in the UK. The film's title is a reference to Mike Newell's comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Alicia Vikander and Lily James (still from the film “One Day of a Red Nose and a Wedding”)
In the footage of the new film, Alicia Vikander “married” actress Lily James. The “bride” was led to the altar by Hugh Grant, who played the leading role in “Four Weddings,” and the “young” were married by Rowan Atkinson. Those involved in the original film included Kristin Scott Thomas and Andie MacDowell. Based on the results of the telethon, during which the film was shown, it was possible to raise over £60 million.
The fantasy character “The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance” speaks in Vikander’s voice. The adventure film about the confrontation between magical creatures in the fight for a magic stone is also voiced by Andy Samberg, Natalie Dormer, Mark Hamill.
Embed from Getty Images Alicia Vikander in 2020
According to Deadline, the celebrity plays the main role in the film adaptation of Karen Dionne's novel “Marsh King's Daughter.” The heroine Vikander keeps a terrible secret: her mother gave birth to her as a result of violence. Years later, the father escapes from prison, and the woman, fearing that the criminal will get to her family, tries to find him first.
Alicia has another key role in the crime thriller Earthquake Harbinger. The actress portrayed on screen a British translator living in Japan. The girl became one of the sides of the love triangle. Her rival is killed, and the object of her claims, a certain young photographer, disappears without a trace. And the police consider the main character to be the suspect in the incident.
Vikander is a “product” of divorced parents
Alicia Vikander grew up in Gottburg with her actress mother because the Oscar-winner's parents divorced when she was just 2 months old. Alicia usually spent weekends and summer holidays with her father, who works as a psychiatrist, and her half-siblings. This “juggling” between separated parents has certainly strengthened Vikander, so she can take her own divorce quite calmly.
Filmography
- 2007-2008 – “Eva Heck”
- 2009 – “Towards something beautiful”
- 2011 – “Royal Jewels”
- 2012 – “Royal Affair”
- 2012 – “Anna Karenina”
- 2013 – “The Fifth Estate”
- 2014 – “Young Blood”
- 2014 – “Memories of the Future”
- 2015 – “The Agents of U.N.C.L.E. »
- 2015 – “The Danish Girl”
- 2016 – “Light in the Ocean”
- 2016 – “Jason Bourne”
- 2017 – “Tulip Fever”
- 2017 – “Euphoria”
- 2018 – “Lara Croft”
- 2019 – “One Red Nose Day and a Wedding”
- 2019 – “Harbinger of an earthquake”
