Bill Skarsgård is out here making us all look like we’ve been skipping leg day. The 34-year-old actor has been turning heads on the set of The Crow remake, where his body has apparently transformed from “just chilling” to “chiseled out of marble.” I mean, who knew that Pennywise could go from terrifying kids to giving gym bros an existential crisis?
In a recent interview, Bill got real about his training for the role of Eric, a character who’s apparently both “ripped” and “not ripped” at the same time. Confused? Yeah, same. Bill explains, “So I’ve been working out for ages, lifting weights like I’m trying to impress Thor or something. But here’s the kicker—they wanted the Crow to be jacked, but my character Eric? Nah, he’s gotta stay all emo and brooding. So, it’s like, ‘Do I want to be The Hulk, or do I want to be someone who listens to sad music in the rain?’” Truly, the age-old dilemma.
Instead of bulking up to WWE levels, Bill had to thread the needle of being just ripped enough to make you go “wow,” but not so much that you’d expect him to wrestle a bear. “We were like, let’s do weight training, let’s eat protein, but let’s not scare the children,” Bill told Variety. You know, because if anyone’s going to scare kids, it should be his role as Pennywise, not his biceps.
The Real MVP: Steak Tartare and… Raw Eggs?!
Now, let’s talk food. Bill’s director, Rupert Sanders, dropped some serious knowledge on what kept Bill looking like a Marvel audition reject. Apparently, every time they went out to eat, Rupert would just order for Bill, because, you know, he’s got that weird “I know what you need” energy. “Bill was on this crazy diet of steak tartare and raw eggs, like he was auditioning for Rocky VII: The Vegan Strikes Back or something,” Rupert confessed. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew? Oh, they were inhaling burgers and hot dogs like it was their last meal. So, moral of the story: If you’re feeling guilty about that extra slice of pizza, just know Bill Skarsgård was munching on raw cow and chicken embryos. Live your life.
But What About Cheat Meals? Does Bill Ever Eat Cake?
Here’s where things get really wild—Bill doesn’t do cheat meals. That’s right. While you’re over here smashing an entire tub of ice cream after a workout, Bill’s idea of “cheating” is, wait for it… an alcoholic beer. Yep, that’s right. Not even a burger or a slice of pizza. His biggest indulgence is cracking open a cold one.
“I didn’t even feel like I needed to cheat,” Bill admitted, probably while sipping a protein shake made of pure discipline. “I didn’t eat sugar, but honestly, I don’t have a sweet tooth. If anything, I celebrated the end of filming with a beer. You know, because I’m just wild like that.”
The Trainer Behind the Buff Bod
And in case you’re wondering who’s behind this miraculous transformation, look no further than Valdemar Fredriksson, Bill’s personal trainer, who posted about Bill’s journey on social media. Apparently, Valdemar made sure Bill stayed lean, mean, and steak-tartare fueled. So, if you’re thinking about hitting the gym, maybe it’s time to swap out that protein bar for raw eggs? Or not. Definitely not.