Alexander Skarsgard on the Cover of GQ

True Blood star Alexander Skarsgard is no stranger to GQ, but this is the first time he’s covered the magazine all by his onesies (last year he shared the honor with co-stars Stephen Moyer and Ryan Kwanten in a multi-cover set). Alex graces the cover of the June issue, on sale May 24, and we have some excerpts from the interview inside:

photo credit: Carter Smith/GQ

With his totally convincing American accent and eyes deep as a glacial fjord, Alexander Skarsgård has won over fans of HBO’s True Blood (especially the female ones). Now the Swede is ready for the big screen with three major films opening soon—one of them being Straw Dogs, where he met his current flame, Kate Bosworth. Brett Martin catches up with Skarsgård while whale-watching off the coast of California and the actor opens up about filming love scenes with Anna Paquin, his time spent in the Swedish military, his relationship with his famous father, Stellan Skarsgård, and more. I’ve pulled some key quotes for you below:

Skarsgård on the love scenes with Anna Paquin – who is married to their True Blood co-star Stephen Moyer:
“It’s really clear to Steve and to everybody else what the deal is—which is that Anna is like a sister to me… Those love scenes take quite a bit of acting, actually. A lot of acting.”

…on why he decided to join the Swedish military:
“It was my way of going off into the unknown,” he says. “I didn’t want to just be somebody’s son.”

…on LA versus his native country:
“You walk into the coffee shop, and the girl asks how your day is. When I first moved here, I loved that. I know it’s shallow and superficial and she doesn’t give a f*ck about my day, but I still like it,” he says. Sweden, by contrast, is more reserved. “It’s difficult to get to know a Swede. But once you do, you’re in,” he says. And there’s a stronger sense of boundaries. “You’re never going to see a television show The Skarsgårds.”

…on his famous father, actor Stellan Skarsgård:
“I don’t think I came to acting to compete with my father. But, you know, he wasn’t around as much as normal dads, and seeing his passion…Maybe it was a way to get his attention… I mean, if anything, we’re trying to take care of him. He’s over the hill.”

Stellan on Alex and his brothers:
“Of course I’m threatened,” he says of his sons. “They’re younger, they’re better-looking, and they’re all trying to kill me.”

The father-son bantering cracks me up. Perhaps his comment about filming the Eric/Sookie scenes will soothe some ruffled feathers? Alex’s issue of GQ will be available at newsstands nationwide May 24.