Alicia Vikander Is About To Be Everywhere

Alicia Vikander is in a whopping nine movies this year. But, for a woman who's about to be everywhere, you could easily miss her in a room. The Swedish actress is soft-spoken — to the point where I place my recorder nearly in her lap during our recent conversation in New York. She's poised and thoughtful, choosing her words carefully. Missing from her demeanor are the boisterous, look-at-me mannerisms of some up-and-coming actors begging for attention. It's refreshing. At a time when three-dimensional roles for women are scarce in Hollywood, Vikander has managed to nab a whole bunch. In April, she starred as a comely A.I. in Ex Machina. In August, she teams up with Armie Hammer and Henry Cavill in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. And today, you can catch her romancing Game of Thrones' Kit Harrington in the WWI-era drama Testament of Youth. Three movies in four months — and six more to come, including Adam Jones with Bradley Cooper (October) and The Danish Girl with Eddie Redmayne. Not bad. Vikander acknowledges that hers is a unique case. "I know how fortunate I’ve been to be invited to be part of those films where I like the role," she says. "You can read so many scripts and it’s really difficult to find those strong female leads." Busy as she is, she knows when to slow down. "I’ve been working a lot and I love to indulge," she says. "A lot of my Swedish friends live in New York, L.A., and London which makes it a lot easier."

And, what about life in the public eye? "When someone comes up to you and says something nice about the film you’re in, it’s the sweetest thing," she says. "But, I think you can choose to have your private life too." Yes, even if the paparazzi snaps you while out with your reported boyfriend, Michael Fassbender. When you're in their crosshairs, do you have to check your hair and outfit before you leave the house? What do you do when the world is watching and you just need to get to the store to buy some milk? Vikander shrugs. "I just go down to get the milk."