Fresh Air Weekend: Actor Alexander Skarsgård; Comedy writer Jessi Klein

Alexander Skarsgård is on a quest to avenge his father’s murder in The Northman.

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Focus Features

Alexander Skarsgård is on a quest to avenge his father’s murder in The Northman.

Focus Features

Fresh Air Weekend highlights some of the best interviews and reviews from past weeks, and new program elements specially paced for weekends. Our weekend show emphasizes interviews with writers, filmmakers, actors and musicians, and often includes excerpts from live in-studio concerts. This week:

Alexander Skarsgård lost his voice — and found catharsis — as a Viking berserker: The Swedish actor describes himself as “quite a mellow guy.” Playing a Viking warrior in the film The Northman gave Skarsgård a chance to tap into his animalistic nature.

Bonnie Raitt extends the boundaries of her signature sound with ‘Just Like That …’: More than 50 years after the release of her first album, Raitt’s voice remains a subtle instrument: earthy with an ache around the edges. Its sly intimacy is, as always, a deep pleasure.

Comedy writer Jessi Klein reflects on the disorienting experience of new motherhood: Having a baby changes everything: “There’s just no way to comprehend how completely your old identity vanishes,” Klein says. Her new book is I’ll Show Myself Out: Essays on Midlife & Motherhood.

You can listen to the original interviews and review here:

Alexander Skarsgård lost his voice — and found catharsis — as a Viking berserker

Bonnie Raitt extends the boundaries of her signature sound with ‘Just Like That’

Comedy writer Jessi Klein reflects on the disorienting experience of new motherhood