‘Fjord’ Star Sebastian Stan Didn’t Set Out to Play Another Conservative After Trump

Two years ago, Sebastian Stan starred as Donald Trump in “The Apprentice,” drawing reactions across the spectrum from fans — and earning himself a Best Actor Oscar nomination in the process. Now, in his new movie “Fjord,” the actor is once again playing a conservative figure likely to draw criticism. But, according to the actor, he did not set out to play such divisive, conservative men back to back. In the film, Stan plays Mihai Gheorghiu, a conservative Christian who’s relocated from Romania to an isolated Norwegian town with his wife (Renate Reinsve) and five children. The family is rigid in their beliefs and draws criticism from the town, especially when one of the kids has visible bruising, which Mihai owns up to being responsible for. Stopping by TheWrap’s studio at the Toronto International Film Festival on Friday, Stan noted that there’s not one specific draw that’s pulled him toward playing controversial characters in the last few years. It’s just how schedules worked out. “To be honest, the timing of these movies was very serendipitous in a way, and then I’m sometimes like, ‘Look, how did this all happen?’” he explained. “You know, I’ve been around trying to work with these guys, with these directors for so many years, and suddenly now is the time. I don’t know!” “But I’m grateful as an actor to be part of these important things that are happening right now, you know, these timely issues in Trump’s America,” Stan continued. “We’re living in crazy times, and again, I still think yes, I have my responsibility as an actor. That’s what I chose to do. I didn’t become a firefighter … so I have to find my way of trying to communicate some things that I’m trying to figure out. Not to mention as a parent. So it’s just how it played out.” Stan explained that he first became aware of director Cristian Mungiu and his work about a decade ago. Soon after, the two men began discussions to try and work together at some point. “Fjord” proved to be the right project to make it happen. “The timing of this was great, because I was also in a place where I’d gotten a little bit older, and I was thinking about kids, and I was thinking about how, you know, my own relationship with my father, and my parents, and how I grew up,” Stan said. The actor himself is from Romania, though he left at an early age, and says the “upbringing that came from there still followed me.” “Fjord” now stands as the official entry for Romania at the 99th Academy Awards after winning the coveted Palme d’Or at Cannes. Neon will distribute the project in the U.S. later this year.