In 1989, as a nine-year-old, Gustaf Skarsgård acted in the Swedish Film "Codename Coq Rouge". After attending Teaterhögskolan in Stockholm from 1999 to 2003, Gustaf Skarsgård joined the Royal Dramatic Theatre. He played in several of Shakespeare’s, Chekhov's and Söderberg’s works both on the Royal Dramatic Theatre and on Stockholm City Theatre. In 2003 he performed in "Evil" and 2008 in "Patrik 1,5". For both roles he was nominated for the Guldbagge Awards as Best Supporting Actor and as Best Leading Actor. Finally, he received the prize as Best Leading Actor for his role in "Förortsungar". In 2012, Skarsgård joined the History Channel's series "Vikings" in the role of Floki, the shipbuilder.