Nikolaj Coster-Waldau was upbeat when t2 logged in to chat with him virtually at the Cannes Film Festival recently. The Danish actor — whose vast body of work includes playing a certain Jaime Lannister on Game of Thrones — is a global spokesperson for beauty brand L’Oréal Paris. The actor, 52, was his usual disarmingly charming self in this interaction with t2, sharing with us how a cold water dip in the Mediterranean that morning with his wife — Nukaka, the actor-singer from Greenland — had been one of the best bits of his Cannes sojourn this year. Excerpts from our chat...

What’s it been like at Cannes 2023 for you?

It’s been wonderful so far. My wife met me here, and we have been enjoying each other’s company. I also attended the Lights on Women initiative (by L’Oréal Paris, which recognises upcoming female directors), which was lovely. Kate Winslet gave a beautiful speech at the event. I was happy to see that last year’s winner from Vietnam (Mai Vu) is now doing some credible film-making work back in her country. That Lights on Women is yielding tangible results is a huge thing for us.

‘Walk your Worth’ has been the theme for L’Oréal Paris at Cannes this year. What does this mean to you?

At different moments in life, everyone grapples with self-doubt and low self-esteem. It’s a good thing to remind yourself that inner strength and inner worth is very important. We know that there is tremendous inequality in the world, but at the core, we are all human beings and we need to demand the same level of respect, to begin with.

How have you navigated through moments of self-doubt?

Doubting oneself is part of being human. I can’t imagine not having that. One of the joys of getting older is that you know that whatever the hardship, whatever the drama that you are in, it’s not going to be the end of the world. You can’t take yourself too seriously. You have to accept that both good and bad things happen and that is just part of life and you will get through it. Of course, when you are young and you have your heart broken for the first time, you feel like: ‘This is it! Life will never give me another chance. I will never become whole again.’ The first time you lose a loved one, you just can’t imagine your life without them. But as you get older, you realise that you can, and you must, because that is the nature of life... it carries on... till one day it doesn’t. To answer your question, I breathe and remind myself that there is a way through, even in the worst of situations. It also applies to the reverse situation when you feel: ‘Oh my God! I feel on top of the world!’ Trust me, you have lost it there... calm down! (Laughs)

Among all the parts that you have played, are there any particular ones which have given you huge confidence as an actor?

More than any part, I think the biggest confidence boost for me was the realisation that one is not in control of everything. One tends to believe that if one does this and this, then it will lead to a certain result. As an actor, you may go into projects that may seem to be the most amazing, but you never know how it will eventually turn out. Accepting that was the thing that gave me enormous freedom and joy. It allowed me to really enjoy the moment. That’s all we have, really. Everything is subjective and the only thing that we do know is the here and now.

You come across as very individualistic both on screen and off. How have you retained that?

I can only be myself. I try to be quite silly and goofy (laughs). I am very serious about my job, but I don’t take myself too seriously. At least, I try not to. If you start worrying about how other people perceive you and how they want you to be, then you will just lose your mind (smiles). I did my first English film (Nightwatch) when I was 23 and it did really well. I had to attend a lot of talk shows after its success and I didn’t understand that all these shows were essentially entertainment shows. I wanted to come across as a serious, thoughtful actor (smiles) and it became incredibly boring, and I felt very uncomfortable because I felt that I was pretending instead of just letting go. After that, I never felt the need to fit in... I don’t even know what that means now.

Do the people you play on screen, most of which have been pretty intense like Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones, weigh heavy on your persona off the screen too?

The man I played in Game of Thrones was extreme. He had no moral rules. I haven’t met anyone so far who thought I was like him! (Laughs) I look a lot like the guy, but I am not him (laughs). Game of Thrones was, and is, such a big show that I do have a large number of people coming up and talking to me about Jaime Lannister. But I have got a lot of very positive feedback about many other roles too. Like this film called Shot Caller (2017), so many people have seen that (in which Nikolaj played a well-to-do family man, who transforms into a hardened gangster). It’s always been: ‘Good job!’ No one has really asked me: ‘So, are you looking to kill someone today?’ (Laughs) I am doing a documentary now for which I am meeting people from all over the world. Being in Game of Thrones as well as the other notable work that people have mostly seen me in is a fantastic ice-breaker... then you are already halfway through the door. I am not complaining at all.

Circling back to Cannes, do you enjoy the fashion and the red carpet glam aspect of the festival? It’s like a circus, right?

(smiles) For me, it’s like getting dressed up and going for a live performance which lasts a few minutes. And then, that’s it. It’s a fun experience.

How would you define your style off-screen and how has it evolved over the years?

Whatever characters I have played have been separate from me in terms of what they wear, and the style, of course, has to fit with what the character is. Offscreen, I have worked with a great stylist called Ilaria Urbinati and through her, I have been exposed to wearing clothes that I probably otherwise wouldn’t have. I do enjoy fashion, and over the years, quality over quantity is what I prefer. Comfort is my number one priority, but what I wear has to be well-made.