Stellan Skarsgård gets honest about being a parent

Stellan Skarsgård, a father of eight, says no parent is without flaws, as he plays a distant father in Sentimental Value.

"You can never be a good parent to a kid, because truthfully, they have things to complain about because we're only human," he tells The Independent. "And they're not perfect either. So you've got to live with it."

The Andor star further reflects, "I realized more that maybe I wasn't totally present when my kids were growing up. But I have eight kids – it's f**** impossible."

But the veteran actor adds he gives his children a free hand to pursue whatever interests they like. "I have been very tolerant to my kids, and they have to be tolerant of me, too. I've let them go and do whatever they want, and they can let me go and do whatever I want."

His reflection comes as he shares in the same interview that he thought he was different from what he portrays on-screen: Gustav Borg, a self-centered director whose relationship with his daughters is limited after separating from their mother.

"I never thought of Gustav as being like me in any way," he shares. "Our situations are similar, but it's totally different."

However, one of his sons, whom he did not name, gave him a reality check. "My son saw the film and said to me, 'You recognize yourself?'"

"I said, no! But of course, they see things that I don't see — but you can never satisfy a kid."

Sentimental Value is playing in cinemas.