A comedian by profession, and happy to be able to make a living from it. Currently everywhere with everything. At the same time, he is an introverted inspirer who here reveals his solution to rumination.
I've always been drawn to that kind of comedy, but I've never really done anything like it before. I simply haven't had a suitable platform for it, but with this show, it felt right to create a kind of tribute to the classic old comedians I admire.
Björn Gustafsson is unique. Versatile as few are. In his new show, Björn Gustafsson Live, which is playing to sold-out audiences at the China Theatre in Stockholm this spring, he displays a breadth we haven't seen before. Björn unleashes himself completely, presenting a world-class show with sketches, madness, and self-penned songs interspersed with anecdotes and characters. Huge congratulations, you are so fantastically productive. A live show, a self-help book, and a feature film. All at once!
– That's how it looks, anyway, says Björn and laughs when we speak on the phone. Today he's off from the show and battling a cold. Despite the cold, his mood sounds like it's at its peak.
I myself felt like I almost wanted to apologise because it seems unserious when someone comes up with everything at once. It's a bit like if a DJ releases a book and is also a chef at the same time, then you might wonder, ‘oh, how good is this going to be?’ But naturally, it feels mega-luxurious that everything happens to coincide with the show, the film.
and the book. A lot of hard work has gone into the live show. Björn is on stage with his brother Oscar Gustafsson, who has also co-written the music. Björn's second cousin Jonas Bleckman plays the cello.
– I have a lot of good people around me, says Björn. It's very enjoyable to work with skilled people you get along with. We've worked for a long time to let the show evolve. Last year, we started by testing the show for an audience on a tiny stage to make everything fit together and be as good as possible. Those who have seen the show comment that it's quite ‘unique’, that they don't quite grasp what it is they've seen.
Are there any particular comedians who have inspired you?
– I’ve been influenced by people like John Cleese and Rowan Atkinson – the sort of comedy Rowan did in his early career, before he became Mr Bean. Back then, he did a lot of live shows that were very physical. I’ve always been drawn to that sort of comedy, but I’ve never really done anything like that before. I simply haven’t had a suitable platform for it, but with this show it felt right to create a sort of tribute to these classic comedians of the past whom I admire. Many people who come to see the show have probably watched a lot of stand-up, but my show is a different kettle of fish. It’s a bit more like Andy Kaufman and Rowan Atkinson. I’ve also been inspired a bit by Bo Burnham, who’s a more modern reference. Björn’s talent for comedy was spotted as early as his school days. In secondary school, it became
Plenty of spectacle at the Fun Hour, and in secondary school and high school, he gave appreciated speeches at the school leaving ceremonies.
– I remember writing a column at secondary school and being praised by my teacher. I felt very embarrassed by the praise.
– I’ve always found it hard to accept praise – and I just said something like ‘thanks, thanks’. Then the teacher said, ‘You can thank me later when you’re making a living as a comedian’. I was taken aback by his comment. It was the first time I’d ever considered that comedy might be something for me. Before that, I don’t think I’d even considered that being a comedian could be a profession. But it sparked something inside me. Do people expect you to be funny all the time?
– When they’re drunk, perhaps, but it was probably a bit more like that when I was younger. I don’t feel I have to live up to other people’s expectations in my private life. I’m increasingly okay with disappointing people, so to speak, with being rather boring in private. I can be outgoing when I’m talking to people and when I’m performing. But as a person, I’m more of an introvert. Björn is incredibly skilled at portraying different types of people and personalities through his humour and acting.
I’m becoming more and more okay with letting people down, so to speak, and being rather boring in my private life. I can be outgoing when I’m talking to people and when I’m performing. But as a person, I’m more of an introvert.
– I’m very interested in people. For example, I might be fascinated by someone, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be because they have positive or charming traits; it could be that I’m fascinated by their flaws or something I find amusing. Then, when I retell stories about the people who’ve inspired me, I notice that I sort of ‘become’ that person. Unconsciously, I’ve picked up on various traits of that person or
how that person thinks. Then a universe begins to take shape, based in part on how I recreate that person. Björn goes on to say that he often wonders what other people are feeling and why.
– In meetings and relationships with others, one's own worries and thoughts can become quite unimportant. Sometimes I've thought about how much we all lie awake pondering at night. What if you could swap ponderings with someone? Let's say you and I swapped, and you got to tell me what you usually ponder on, and I'll think about it tonight, and then you can ponder on my stuff tonight. Björn chuckles and continues:
– I think we’d sort out each other’s worries quite quickly. First thing tomorrow morning, we’d say to each other, ‘Listen, that’s nothing to worry about. It’ll sort itself out.’.
I hope that those who read the book might reflect a little and think, ‘God, that's exactly how I do things.'.
I suppose we humans often make problems bigger than they need to be. It sounds as though you’re happy with your life and your career.
– I feel I should be happy to be able to pursue my hobby and make a living from it. I can remind myself of that when I’ve been working on the show, writing my book or acting – that this is what I want to do and that I enjoy what I do. Björn recently published a self-help book called ‘Follow All My Advice’. It’s an easy and entertaining read, a sort of refreshing parody of typical self-help books where more or less serious (and often self-proclaimed) experts give us advice on how to live our lives. Björn says that although there’s a lot of humour and nonsense in the book, the advice itself is actually very practical.
– I hope that those who read the book might reflect a little and think, ‘Goodness, that’s exactly how I do it.’
That wasn’t really my intention when I wrote the book, but it might even have a slight self-help effect on readers, who might find themselves thinking: ‘Is this really how I come across to others?’ Björn is currently appearing in cinemas in the excellent drama-comedy *The Penguin Lessons*, alongside, amongst others, the British actor and comedian Steve Coogan. The film is based on real events and is set at an exclusive private school in Argentina in 1976, in the midst of the military coup. Steve Coogan’s character rescues an injured penguin and brings the bird to the school. Björn plays one of Coogan’s character’s colleagues, who is
subtly funny, and he steals several of the film’s best scenes.
– Steve Coogan is an interesting person. He’s moved between light-hearted comedy, such as his role as Alan Partridge, and Oscar-winning drama, such as *Philomena*. I wasn’t entirely sure what he’d be like as a person and an actor. When we were filming together, I got a feel for the tone from the way Steve acted, and then I adapted my own performance to match his. The film isn’t a pure comedy, so it required striking the right balance. We filmed most of it in Gran Canaria, where the film crew created a setting that feels like Argentina. I think it was good that a real penguin appeared in the film rather than an animated one, because otherwise it would have been a completely different film. This summer, Björn is planning to take a bit of a holiday before setting off on a nationwide tour with his live show this autumn. He says he’s really looking forward to performing at the Scandinavium in Gothenburg in December.
– It feels a bit more nerve-wracking to be coming back to Gothenburg, as that’s where we trialled the tour on a small stage last year. But I’m actually looking forward even more to performing at smaller venues around the country. I grew up in the countryside and I often feel that there are references in my comedy that stem from smaller towns, as I wasn’t born in Stockholm.
3 QUICK
Björn Gustafsson…
… is listening to: “My taste in music is very mainstream. I listen to everything from Metallica and Systrarna Graf to Bach. Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of Roxette.”
… is watching: “I like series such as *White Lotus* and *The Staircase*. *Anora* was the last film I watched; it’s brilliant.”
… prefers to travel to: “I’m hoping to get a couple of weeks off to spend some time on the West Coast, and I’d also like to visit my parents in Torslanda, as well as my cousins and other relatives in Lidköping. I’d also like to catch up with my godchildren, whom I’ve been neglecting. I’ve been so incredibly busy of late that I’ve missed both birthdays and festive occasions. There are quite a few presents to collect and give out.”
BJÖRN GUSTAFSSON
Age: 39.
Bor Stockholm.
Family Girlfriend, mum, dad, brother Oscar, who appears in the show Björn Gustafsson Live.
Make: Comedian, actor, writer, producer. Brief background: Grew up in Romelanda outside Kungälv. Studied at Calle Flygare Theatre School in Stockholm. Broke through in 2008 in "Parlamentet" and as interval entertainer in "Melodifestivalen". Things then moved at high speed and over the years we have seen him in countless TV shows such as the Guldbagge Awards, the Sports Gala, acclaimed TV series like "Alla utom vi", "Clark", and feature films such as "Kronjuvelerna" and "Spy". Björn's own sketch show "Koppla av" premiered on SVT last year.
Currently In the film *The Penguin Lessons*, the book *Follow All My Advice* and the live show *Björn Gustafsson Live*.
