In fact I spent a lot of time in my childhood trying to figure out what other people wanted of me. That made me study other people very much. Then I actually started university and I got quite bored. This is when I found out I wanted to be an actor.

Sofia Helin

I always knew I wanted to have children of my own. I met my husband Daniel when I was 23; we were married when I was pregnant with my first child, Ossian. We've had our ups and downs like every couple, especially when we were younger.

Sofia Helin

I was embarrassed this spring when corona came. Everything in life had been so fast and seemed so important and then I realised the kind of stress that I allowed myself to be under, and I was embarrassed.

Sofia Helin

Acting, when you don't want to do it or you disagree with everything, is almost like having sex with someone you don't like. I had one experience like that on stage, in a terrible version of The Cherry Orchard. I put on a wig, dark-coloured contacts and just hoped no one would recognise me.

Sofia Helin

I had a talk with my older son a couple of days ago. I explained to him that I went to a therapist and I found out that I wanted two things very much: I wanted children and I wanted acting. My therapist said to combine this will be very hard. And being a parent is the hardest thing I've ever done.

Sofia Helin

In the 70s Sweden was innocent, but we've lost that. Society has become less idealistic and everything is about how much money you have in your wallet.

Sofia Helin

I talked to a brain specialist who told me when you think like someone else for such a long time, your brain actually changes.

Sofia Helin

It's a myth that all Scandinavians are happy, healthy, outdoors people. It's often more a matter of class whether you can afford to take time to take care of yourself.

Sofia Helin

Because if I am someone else for so many months, it affects me, physically, in my brain, in my being. So then I have to take care of that, and make myself more like me again.

Sofia Helin

So I sat down in my student room and thought, when did I have a lot of fun? I realised it was acting. I was 22. Then I slowly started to make small steps.

Sofia Helin

My parents taught me broad Christian values. To be kind to one another, to be honest, not to just think about yourself.

Sofia Helin

Then I had lunch with my cousin who works for WaterAid and she said yes, it's a catastrophe. And another catastrophe is that every day 1,400 children die from poisoned water, so now I'm an ambassador for WaterAid.

Sofia Helin

I like going for walks in the western harbour, a newly-built area of Malmo where the old harbour used to be. It is surrounded by canals and waterways and the architecture is modern and innovative - the landmark Turning Torso skyscraper, designed by Santiago Calatrava, is the star of the show.

Sofia Helin

In Sweden, you're not supposed to think you are someone.

Sofia Helin

I'm almost completely ruled by my emotions.

Sofia Helin

When you are young you can be a bit nonchalant - it's cool to be depressed, and maybe a bit dark.

Sofia Helin

I am not a calm, happy person. I am complicated.

Sofia Helin

When you make a change, it hurts a bit.

Sofia Helin

But watching characters that are awkward, overcoming their own obstacles and finding some of the hardest criminals in the world is interesting. We like watching losers win because we're all basically losers.

Sofia Helin

It's almost as if the Swedes have two different personalities: one for winter and one for summer. I am both a happy and a melancholic person. It's complex as I get so much from life.

Sofia Helin

Some of the roles I play are very demanding. My body and brain can't separate what is real fear from what is played fear.

Sofia Helin