If you’re a fan of HBO’s True Blood, then check out these awesome facts about Alexander Skarsgård, who plays the character Eric Northman.

His full name is Alexander Johan Hjalmar Skarsgård.

He was born on 25th August, in 1976.

He hails from Stockholm, in Sweden.

He stands at 6’4″.

He is the son of actor Stellan Skarsgård and physician, My Skarsgård.

He is the eldest of six children; Gustaf, Sam, Bill, Eija, Valter and his half-brother, Ossian.

He speaks Swedish, French and English.

At the age of seven he landed his first film role. He played Kalle Nubb in the Swedish film, Åke and His World.

He was the lead role in television series The Dog That Smiled when he was thirteen.

At nineteen, he served the Swedish military for 18 months, a role that dealt with anti-sabotage and anti-terrorism.

He attended the Leeds Metropolitan University in the UK for six months to study English.

In 2011, he received an honorary degree from Leeds Metropolitan.

In 1997, he enrolled in a theater course at the Marymount Manhattan College in New York City.

He played Meekus in the 2001 film Zoolander.

In 2003, Skarsgård played Marine Sgt Brad “Iceman” Colbert in the HBO miniseries Generation Kill.

In 2008, Skarsgård joined the cast of HBO series True Blood as vampire, Eric Northman.

In preparation for his role as Eric Northman, he studied lions and their behavior.

He has been voted the sexiest man in Sweden five times.

He supports Hammarby IF football club in Sweden.

In 2010, he autographed and auctioned his personal belongings in “Bajen Aid” to raise money for Hammarby football club.

His favorite actor is Gary Oldman.

His favorite actress is Isabelle Huppert.

He enjoys the work of Robert Duvall.

He won two Odense International Film Festival Awards for Att döda ett barn in the Grand Prix and Press Award categories.

When he was younger, Skarsgård spent two months in Texas with his father. When he returned, he was proud of his authentic cowboy boots, which he wore to school. Students told him they were girls boots, and upset, Skarsgård cried and never wore them again.