Stephen Presents: Bill Skarsgård (Extended)

Summary

Detailed Summary of "Stephen Presents: Bill Skarsgård (Extended)" Episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Release Date: January 1, 2025

---

1. Introduction and Guest Appearance

The episode opens with a warm introduction from Stephen Colbert, accompanied by Becca, one of the show's producers. The hosts engage in playful banter, setting a relaxed and friendly tone for the extended interview with their special guest, Swedish actor Bill Skarsgård.

Notable Quote:

• Stephen Colbert [01:38]: “I think we're both in the sidecar, which is pretty dangerous.”

2. Exploring Swedish Culture and Traditions

Stephen delves into Swedish traditions, particularly focusing on Aquavit (a traditional Scandinavian spirit) and pickled herring, which Bill brings to share with the hosts. The conversation highlights Bill's efforts to introduce authentic Swedish customs to the show's American audience.

Notable Quotes:

• Bill Skarsgård [02:07]: “Aquavit is a schnapps. That's sweet. And it's flavored with caraway. Other things, too, but it's like drinking a loaf of rye bread.”
• Stephen Colbert [07:22]: “What do I need to know about Aquavit? I've never had it.”

3. Sharing Culinary Experiences

The trio taste various types of pickled herring and Aquavit, discussing the flavors and cultural significance. Stephen humorously describes his experience with the rich flavors, while Bill explains the traditional methods of preparing these delicacies.

Notable Quotes:

• Stephen Colbert [02:19]: “I like pickled fish plenty, but I never had pickled herring.”
• Bill Skarsgård [16:24]: “Caraway. Seafood. Fennel. Mustard to salmon. Seafood. Mature cheese.”

4. Christmas Traditions in the Skarsgård Family

A significant portion of the conversation revolves around Christmas traditions in Sweden. Bill shares heartfelt memories of celebrating Christmas Eve with his large family, emphasizing the role of Tomten (the Swedish Santa Claus figure) and the unique customs that differentiate Swedish celebrations from American ones.

Notable Quotes:

• Bill Skarsgård [06:36]: “Our Santa Claus is a little bit more kind of influenced by our folklore.”
• Stephen Colbert [17:03]: “So you retconned the tomten into Santa Claus?”

5. Reflections on Childhood and Family

Bill reminisces about his upbringing in a large family, discussing the dynamics of having multiple siblings and the impact it had on his early exposure to film and storytelling. This segment provides insight into his personal life and the foundational experiences that shaped his career.

Notable Quotes:

• Bill Skarsgård [09:05]: “I come from a very big family.”
• Stephen Colbert [09:09]: “Yeah. I did.”

6. Transition to Acting Career and Nosferatu

The discussion shifts to Bill's acting career, specifically his role in the highly anticipated film Nosferatu. He shares his journey to securing the role of Count Orlok, including his dedication and the challenges he faced in convincing director Robert Eggers of his suitability for the character.

Notable Quotes:

• Bill Skarsgård [14:02]: “And I heard this was the point where it was just all rumors of the casting, but I wrote this, like, very, very, very shamefully earnest letter to Rob.”
• Stephen Colbert [15:58]: “Did you say Arrow Run.”

7. The Making of Count Orlok

Bill elaborates on his transformation into Count Orlok, discussing the vocal and physical nuances required to portray the iconic vampire character. His commitment to authenticity and the depth of his preparation are evident as he explains the creative process behind bringing Count Orlok to life.

Notable Quotes:

• Bill Skarsgård [15:56]: “That's all me, baby.”
• Stephen Colbert [16:03]: “That sounds like it might hurt. Hold on. It sounds like it.”

8. Final Reflections and Cultural Insights

Concluding the interview, Stephen and Bill reflect on the blending of Swedish folklore with modern traditions, the cultural significance of maintaining such practices, and the humorous aspects of these traditions. The conversation wraps up with light-hearted exchanges, leaving listeners with a deeper appreciation of Swedish culture and Bill Skarsgård's personal stories.

Notable Quotes:

• Bill Skarsgård [17:31]: “They were like these, like, tiny little kind of like gnomes.”
• Stephen Colbert [19:08]: “Nosferatu is in theaters Christmas Day.”

---

Conclusion

This extended episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert offers listeners an engaging and intimate glimpse into Bill Skarsgård's life, Swedish traditions, and his journey as an actor. Through rich storytelling and heartfelt conversations, both hosts and guest create a captivating narrative that resonates with fans and newcomers alike.

Key Takeaways:

• Cultural Exchange: The episode emphasizes the beauty of sharing and preserving cultural traditions across different societies.
• Personal Insights: Bill Skarsgård's anecdotes provide a personal touch, revealing the man behind the iconic characters.
• Professional Journey: Insights into Bill's acting career highlight his dedication and passion for his craft.

Listeners are encouraged to watch Nosferatu, set to release on Christmas Day, to see Bill's remarkable portrayal of Count Orlok.

---

Enjoy more engaging conversations and exclusive content by subscribing to The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert. Don't forget to use the discount code "TLS20" for 20% off all Late Show products on ParamountShop.com.

Transcript

[Bill Skarsgård]

In all new All Access Paramount plus original docu series. Christopolisic is captain of the US national team. Take a sneak peek into my trailer following America's captain. Soccer brings out a different character in me. On his quest for global victory, Captain America has taken his team on his shoulders. Balancing fame, Christian's never wanted the spotlight and the game.

[Stephen Colbert]

These are the goals that create legends.

[Bill Skarsgård]

I want to be the best player in the world. Pulisic presented by Michelob Ultra New docu series now streaming exclusively on Paramount plus Welcome to the oil business. Billy Bob Thornton, Demi Moore and Jon Hamm star in a new Paramount plus original series. The world has already convinced itself that.

[Stephen Colbert]

You are evil, and I am evil.

[Bill Skarsgård]

For providing them the one thing they interact with every day. You're all right.

[Stephen Colbert]

Here we go.

[Bill Skarsgård]

From Taylor Sheridan, executive producer of Yellowstone. Get everybody back. You just put a giant bullseye on this place.

[Stephen Colbert]

We rolled the dice one last time, Landman.

[Bill Skarsgård]

New series now streaming exclusively on Paramount plus.

[Becca]

Hey, everybody. This is the Late Show Pod Show. I'm Becca. I'm one of the producers here.

[Stephen Colbert]

And I'm Stephen Colbert. I'm the host of the show, and I am Becca's guest for these intros. No, you are definitely the host. You are definitely the host of. You're the producer and host of these podcast intros for our weeks off. And I am your. And I'm honored to have sort of a standard booking.

[Becca]

That's very nice. But I don't come on here when you're not here. You know, it's sort of. I'm here. I'm here to. I'm here to be with you.

[Stephen Colbert]

So you're my. You're the Sybil to my Virgil.

[Becca]

I'm riding sidecar. I'm riding sidecar.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Okay.

[Stephen Colbert]

I think we're both in the sidecar, which is pretty dangerous.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Because nobody's got their hand on the throttle.

[Becca]

Yeah, that's good. That's fun. Well, anyways, today we have an extended podcast with a very fine Swedish fellow.

[Stephen Colbert]

Who is just on the show, Bill Skarsgard. I really had a good time talking to him.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

First of all, we got. I don't know what the Swedish word for krunkt is, but probably is krunk. Krunkt. Because we were drinking aquavit.

[Becca]

Yeah, I've never had aquavit. What the heck is that?

[Stephen Colbert]

Aquavit is a schnapps. That's sweet. And it's flavored with caraway. Other things, too, but it's like drinking a loaf of rye Bread. But it's really good. And I'd never had pickled herring before.

[Becca]

Yeah, he brought it up.

[Stephen Colbert]

I like pickled fish plenty, but I never had pickled herring. And we had mustard. Pickled herring, traditional. And then this creamed pickled herring. The mustard too sweet. The creamed consistency's not working. But that original. Some capers and some onions in there. And then you have the herring, and then you slam a shot of Aquavit and you just kept going. We were feeling it by the end of it. I think I kind of drank Bill Skarsgrd under the table. Cause I kept pouring another one. He was like, what are you doing? And I'm like, we're drinking.

[Becca]

You just keep going.

[Stephen Colbert]

You're the one who said it was the festive.

[Becca]

Yeah, yeah. No. Yeah. You guys Talked for, like, 20 minutes. Yeah. You had a good time with him.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah, we went way too long. Is this extended?

[Becca]

This is extended.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, wow.

[Becca]

Yeah. You guys had a really fun time.

[Stephen Colbert]

It was fun. Have I interviewed Stellan? I've met Stellan. I know I've spoken to Stellan. But I kind of confuse meeting someone, like, at a premiere or something like that with having interviewed them.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

But Alexander, of course. It might be presumptuous of me to say so, but I kind of feel like Alexander Skarsgrd and I are friends.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Like, he's done. Like, he's been so nice to me. Like, he sent me. He sent me Christmas candy from Sweden once when I did the character alph music on girls5eva.

[Becca]

So fun.

[Stephen Colbert]

He. I didn't. I didn't want to do, like, Swedish Chef. So he literally recorded all of my lines for me.

[Becca]

Amazing.

[Stephen Colbert]

With a Swedish accent. That was not a caricature, but much more of a Swedish accent than he has because he doesn't have any Swedish accent. Neither does Bill Skarsgrd.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

And it was so anyway, so grateful. So grateful to the entire Skarsgrd family. Not only for their talent, but there just seemed like a lovely hang.

[Becca]

Yeah. And this was a lovely hang. And more guests should come with pickled.

[Stephen Colbert]

Fishes and ice cold. Ice cold liquor. The thing about Aquavita is that you have to put it in barrels, and traditionally it has to go south of the equator and then back up again to Sweden. And then you bottle it.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Isn't that crazy?

[Becca]

What?

[Stephen Colbert]

I don't know what. Maybe it mixes around or the salt. I don't know what it is. Cool. It's just tradition.

[Becca]

But, yeah. Yeah. Some lovely Swedish traditions explained.

[Stephen Colbert]

I think this was op. Anderson might be the type of schnapp. I mean, the aquavit that we drank. Aquavit, by the way, I think it means water of life. Water of life. And that's what whiskey means, too. Whiskey is a Irish word. Ishka bacha. That's where it comes from. And it means water of life.

[Becca]

Cool. Have you been to Sweden?

[Stephen Colbert]

No. I'd like to go to Sweden. I've never been to Sweden. Evie's been to Norway. She spent a summer there once. But I'd like to go to Norway. Sweden, Denmark.

[Becca]

Yeah. No. Yeah, it's on my list. Well, you can. In this interview, let me tell you. You're just taking a plane trip to Sweden. Here. Yeah. So this is Bill Skarsgard. Please enjoy.

[Stephen Colbert]

Got you. Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen. My next guest is an actor. You know from it, John, Chapter Four and the Crow. His new film is Nosferatu.

[Bill Skarsgård]

I wish to depart as soon as. Well, as soon as agreeable. My service is rendered. I am much. I have been enduring the most irregular dreams. I fear I am taken ill. It is a black omen to journey in poor health.

[Stephen Colbert]

You will remain and well rest yourself.

[Bill Skarsgård]

I must object, my lord. You will obey this my counsel. But, my lord. Count.

[Stephen Colbert]

Please. Welcome back to the Late Show. Bill Skarsgrd. Nice to see you again. I gotta say, I like the outfit. It has sort of a Swedish nautical quality to it.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Thank you.

[Stephen Colbert]

You look like a defrock season. Yes.

[Bill Skarsgård]

A defrocked admiral. Yeah, that's what I was going for.

[Stephen Colbert]

You were born in Sweden, grew up there. Christmas traditions in Sweden. I understand you brought us a few things to start off the Christmas season properly over here that you might have over in Sweden this time of year.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yes. Okay, let's see. What do you have?

[Stephen Colbert]

We have. Well, this was from your instructions. You have to tell me what this is.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Oh, yes. The pickled herring.

[Stephen Colbert]

The pickled herring.

[Bill Skarsgård]

This is what we do.

[Stephen Colbert]

They look different.

[Bill Skarsgård]

I think you have. This is the mustard one, which is quite good. This is the traditional one. And this is the. I think.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, of course.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

So what is this one?

[Bill Skarsgård]

Khwagudsil.

[Stephen Colbert]

And what does that mean?

[Bill Skarsgård]

It means archipelago herring.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay. And this is. I'll try mustard first because. And it's also pickled.

[Bill Skarsgård]

It's always pickled. Mm.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's surprisingly sweet.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yeah, it's a bit sweet, yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

To go with it, we have two chilled glasses.

[Bill Skarsgård]

To have Aquavitone.

[Stephen Colbert]

What do I need to know about Aquavit? I've never had it.

[Bill Skarsgård]

It gets you drunk.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, many Things can do that. What's it got going for it?

[Bill Skarsgård]

It gets you drunk.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay, let me wipe that up there for you. I'm your waiter, right? Now. Is it true that aquavit, like, has to, like, go in barrels that have to go below the equator and then back up again before they.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yes, that's true.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes. Why do you do that?

[Bill Skarsgård]

I don't know. It's just. It's part of the magic because it gets you really drunk.

[Stephen Colbert]

All right?

[Bill Skarsgård]

And then you sing a little song. Do you want to sing a little Swedish Christmas song?

[Stephen Colbert]

Of course. Are we. Do we shoot this or do we sip?

[Bill Skarsgård]

We shoot it.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay.

[Bill Skarsgård]

It's the festive season, Steve.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm not fighting you.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Hey, Tom te go bashoi gloss luste gabora. Hey, Tom tego busto egloss figavora heli tenti villier. Yeah, yeah, baby. There you go.

[Stephen Colbert]

So. So. What did that mean? Is that just jingle bells in Swedish?

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm moving on. I'm moving on.

[Bill Skarsgård]

I don't even think I can translate it for you, but it's.

[Stephen Colbert]

Does everyone sing that?

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

What are some of the other traditions you had as a kid growing up in the Skarsgrd family?

[Bill Skarsgård]

Well, I come from a very big family.

[Stephen Colbert]

How many kids?

[Bill Skarsgård]

Eight. I know. You beat me with two, right?

[Stephen Colbert]

Eleven.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Eleven. Three.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Oh, my God.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Put me to shame.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah, I did.

[Bill Skarsgård]

So not as good. Oh, the.

[Stephen Colbert]

Not as good.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yeah, it's like. What's going on here? Just, like, some.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's a creamy fish.

[Bill Skarsgård]

I kind of like it. I'm not mad about it. All right, well, this is pretty good, too. This is the traditional one's really good.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay, so in the Skarsgrd family, the big family, what's happening on Christmas Day?

[Bill Skarsgård]

Well, first of all, we celebrate Christmas Eve. That's, like, our big day of celebration. Okay, so in Sweden, Santa Claus appears on Christmas Eve and gives out gifts.

[Stephen Colbert]

He doesn't come down the chimney.

[Bill Skarsgård]

No. He. He comes knocking on your door, and he's usually a really drunk uncle. Okay.

[Stephen Colbert]

I like it.

[Bill Skarsgård]

And I rem. I'll. I. I remember this. And it was always Yoan Hamet, who. You know, friend of our family, sort of uncle. Uncle Johan. And. And. And he really liked to drink kizakh. And so he would get really, really drunk. And. And it was just like, you know, oh, someone's knocking on the door. Bill. Why don't you. Kids. Kids go and open the door, see who it is, and you open. And it was just. And Then I cried for two hours.

[Stephen Colbert]

There you go. Sack of presents and all that kind of thing.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yeah. And that's a sack of presents. And he sort of handing them out. But since there were so many and then, you know, we also have a lot of cousins, so there would be a lot of us. And I think I remember at one point, just the handing out of the presents took five hours.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow.

[Bill Skarsgård]

So it was a five hour sitting of just like, oh, and Bill, here's another for you. And Aya, here's one for you.

[Stephen Colbert]

While the uncle's getting dangerously.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Sam and Alex and everybody. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

And the uncle is getting more sober as the evening goes on.

[Bill Skarsgård]

No, no, no, no, no. The first thing he asked for asks Santa Claus is like, well, Santa needs a drink. Cheers.

[Stephen Colbert]

The last time. The last time you were here was for it. Chapter two.

[Bill Skarsgård]

That's right.

[Stephen Colbert]

And now you're here for Nosferatu. Yeah. Very highly anticipated coming out on Christmas Day. Great to have a ghost story on Christmas day or a scary story on Christmas day. Um, do you remember the first horror movie you saw?

[Bill Skarsgård]

Um, yeah, yeah. It was An American Werewolf in London.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, that's a good one.

[Bill Skarsgård]

It's a pretty good one.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes.

[Bill Skarsgård]

It's a pretty good one. And I saw, like, I got exposed to horror films way too early because I have three older brothers.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, and you want to play up to their level.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yeah. And like they sit in all the, you know, the knowledge, all the danger. And I remember the VHS cover of American Werewolf in London. Do you remember, like, it's the face of the werewolf screaming. And it just said like 18. Like, you had to be 18 years old to see it. And I was like 6. And I was like, all right, let's see what this has to offer.

[Stephen Colbert]

Did you ever see the original Nosferatu?

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yeah, yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow. How old when you were watching that? Because that's a silent film, right?

[Bill Skarsgård]

It's a silent film. And you know, my dad Stellan was an actor as well, and he. We would have this, like, I have this cherished memory, but we would watch movies together. He would show me movies and we had a sort of a silent film era phase. And it was like Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and then Nosferatu. So I saw it as a young kid. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow. It's also terrifying.

[Bill Skarsgård]

It's also terrifying. Yeah. And it was extra terrifying because it was like, it's silent era. So it's like, you know, as a kid, you're like, this is a hundred years old and it's set 200 years back. And it just felt as ancient as the story that it was trying to portray. In a way, you know, people thought he was a real vampire. Max Shrek, who played those front.

[Stephen Colbert]

They thought Max Shrek was a real vampire?

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yeah, yeah, the actor. Yeah. And Willem Dafoe played him and they made a movie about it called the Shadow of a Vampire.

[Stephen Colbert]

Why did they think he was a real vampire?

[Bill Skarsgård]

Cause nobody. I mean, this is like 1922. So, you know, like a couple years before this, you would have. The audience would. The first time they would see film. So, you know, there's this ancient story about like, you know, the train coming towards you.

[Stephen Colbert]

Remember, like the train entering a station by the airport.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yeah. And people are like, ah. They're just like screaming and leaving the audience.

[Stephen Colbert]

Because I thought the train was going to kill them.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yeah. I thought it was going to kill them. And imagine seeing, you know, a vampire in it, you know. Of course you thought it was real. It's a wild town, man.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. How did you become. How did you become Count Arlok? I understand that it was a. That. That it was. Okay, well, I'm gonna. Okay.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Oh, my God, this is about to get good.

[Stephen Colbert]

So now I understand that you had to make a personal appeal to be Count Orlok. Who is. Who is the vampire here?

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

What's the story there? How did that. Why would you have to go to such measures?

[Bill Skarsgård]

I don't know. I saw Robert Eggers first film, the Witch, which is incredible. Sure. And then I met with him after I'd seen him seen the film, and I fell in love with him even more meeting him. So I met with eggers. And then 10 years ago, I read the first draft of Nosferatu and I loved the script. And then I read for Frederick Hartinger, which Aaron Taylor Johnson plays in the movie. And then Rob saw it and he was like, I think Bill can do Thomas Hutter, which Nicholas Hoult plays in the movie. And I read for Hutter and then I booked it. So I was supposed to play Hutter 10 years ago. And then the movie fell apart. And then he went into the lighthouse and the movie fell apart and the movie fell apart. And then when it finally came about again, I was like, well, I'm Hutter. I'm Hutter. Right. I'm Thomas Hutter in the movie. No, no, he casted Nicholas Hoult. And I was like, well, okay, well, maybe Freddie Hardinger. Like, that's a good part too. No, Aaron Taylor Johnson. And then I was like, you know, and I heard this was the Point where it was just all rumors of the casting, but I wrote this, like, very, very, very shamefully earnest letter to Rob, just going like, listen, man, listen here. I'm destined to be a part of this film and to work together. And, like, I was like, really, really pleading and no response.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's tough.

[Bill Skarsgård]

But then he turned around and he came with me and he thought, what about Orlok? And I was like, what about him?

[Stephen Colbert]

But I love the voice that you're using in that. Is there any effect on that, or is that just you?

[Bill Skarsgård]

That's all me, baby. Wow.

[Stephen Colbert]

Did that hurt? Yeah, it sounds like it might hurt. Hold on. It sounds like it.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Cheers.

[Stephen Colbert]

Sounds like it might hurt to do that.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Cheers.

[Stephen Colbert]

What is that flavor?

[Bill Skarsgård]

It's good, right?

[Stephen Colbert]

Fantastic. What is that? After several. It gets even better.

[Bill Skarsgård]

It's like, you know, it's the Swedish aquavit. I don't know. It's like. It's.

[Stephen Colbert]

What's the flavor?

[Bill Skarsgård]

It tastes like something familiar, you know, but it's.

[Stephen Colbert]

It smells like a loaf of rye bread with caraway.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Caraway.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's what it is.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Seafood. Fennel. Match to salmon. Seafood. Mature cheese.

[Stephen Colbert]

Mature cheese.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Mature cheese and Scandinavian cuisine, so. And we're eating Scandinavian cuisine here, so.

[Stephen Colbert]

This is good, by the way. I like the plain.

[Bill Skarsgård]

The plain's the best, right?

[Stephen Colbert]

The plain. Was this just traditional?

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yeah, that's the traditional one.

[Stephen Colbert]

This is it for me, baby.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yeah. Good.

[Stephen Colbert]

This right here?

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yeah. Cause, like, these two are, like, for the faint of heart, you know?

[Stephen Colbert]

These are for children.

[Bill Skarsgård]

These are for children. That's right. But you want the real deal, baby.

[Stephen Colbert]

What's your Santa like? What's your Santa's name again?

[Bill Skarsgård]

It's my drunk. My drunk uncle.

[Stephen Colbert]

No, but Xander's got a name like Tomanen or something like that.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Tom 10 to what? Hey, Tom. Tigger. But. Tomten.

[Stephen Colbert]

Tomten.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Tomten.

[Stephen Colbert]

Tomten.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Tomten.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah, Tomten. So not Santa?

[Bill Skarsgård]

No, no. And he's like. Our Santa Claus is a little bit more kind of influenced by our folklore. Swedish folklore had tomtar, which were these, like, tiny little kind of like gnomes. You know, they look like you're gnomes.

[Stephen Colbert]

Sure.

[Bill Skarsgård]

And those were called tomtar. And then I guess I don't know who invented Santa Claus, but like Coca.

[Stephen Colbert]

Cola in America, kind of like the fat guy with the red suit and the white fur. Yeah, yeah.

[Bill Skarsgård]

But in Sweden, I guess they were like, oh, we've had these little gnomes. So I guess Tom Santa Claus is just a. He looks like a big one of those.

[Stephen Colbert]

So you so you retconned the tomten into Santa Claus?

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yeah, yeah. And like the little gnomes are kind of mean. Tomta are mean.

[Stephen Colbert]

Really?

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yeah, they're grumpy and mean and like, you know, and if you, you know, you're supposed to put porridge like in the old times and that you would go out into the farm and you would put a little bit of porridge on Christmas morning for tomten. For tomten. So otherwise he would like bring bad luck to your farm and stuff like that.

[Stephen Colbert]

So Santa also by curious house or something.

[Bill Skarsgård]

I don't know.

[Stephen Colbert]

Santa comes with a little bit of a threat in your culture.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yeah, yeah. Well, you know, you have to just like, you know, treat them nice. And then if you treat them nice, they protect your farm and your.

[Stephen Colbert]

Sure. Do people in Sweden still believe any of that stuff? Like on a deeper level, like the Icelandic people say, like, we don't really believe in elves, but don't move that hill.

[Bill Skarsgård]

We don't believe in anything.

[Stephen Colbert]

You don't believe.

[Bill Skarsgård]

You are the most atheist place on the.

[Stephen Colbert]

Really?

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yeah. Oh, wow. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yeah. Yeah. So no, here.

[Stephen Colbert]

There you go.

[Bill Skarsgård]

And then, and then, and then we can say, go you go. You go you.

[Stephen Colbert]

What's go, you mean?

[Bill Skarsgård]

Merry Christmas. Go you God.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yule good.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Yule good. Yule good. Yule.

[Stephen Colbert]

Nosferatu is in theaters Christmas Day. Bill Scarsgard, everybody. Thank you for listening to the late show pod show with Stephen Colbert. Just one more thing. If you want to see more of me, come to the Late Show YouTube channel for more clips and exclusives.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Roll out.

[Stephen Colbert]

Transformers 1 is now streaming on Paramount Plus Awesome. It's the blast from beginning to end.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Okay, stop. I'm in.

[Stephen Colbert]

Transformers 1 rated PG. Now streaming on Paramount.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Now streaming on Paramount Plus. What's your job? When people go missing, I get hired.

[Stephen Colbert]

To help find them.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Catch up now on Tracker.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm here to help the CBS original.

[Bill Skarsgård]

Series that critics are calling a breakout hit. Nothing good comes without risks. I will drink to that. Justin Hartley stars. Hold on.

[Stephen Colbert]

Did you say Arrow Run.

[Bill Skarsgård]

That's a new one. Coulter in the CBS original Tracker. Catch up on the latest episodes now on Paramount.