Many might recognise Danish actor Marco Ilsø from his role as Hvitserk in Vikings. His other work includes Wildmen, which is a film we strongly recommend you seek out if you are a fan of the actor. But before doing that, make sure you strap yourself in to watch his portrayal of famous Danish biker gang leader, Henning, in Viaplay’s Bullshit.
The series, which aired in the UK late last year, has finally got a US release today and we strongly believe there is a big audience for this thrilling series (one of our Top 10 picks of 2024).
This is not a Sons of Anarchy – although fans of it might well enjoy this – instead. you will discover a grungy realistic depiction of Henning’s life. Whilst watching the episodes you almost want to clean yourself afterwards because you feel like you are drunk from the beer and high on the drugs the bikers indulge themselves in.
It is brutal, at times comical, and something so far from what you normally see from the Nordic Region.
Alex spoke to the actor about his role as Henning which has seen him get nominated for a Robert Prisen Award, and the series itself receiving over six nominations in various categories.
Nordic Watchlist: What drew you to the role in Bullshit, and how did you prepare for it?
Marco Ilsø: The script was just so raw and different. It’s not every day you get a role where the character is so complex but still feels real, you know? Preparing for it was a mix of diving into the psychology of the character and spending time on the set to get the physicality right. I wanted to make sure that the emotions felt genuine, especially in some of the heavier moments.
Nordic Watchlist: I think Henning is such an interesting character. You brought this real edge and grunginess to him. He felt like such a loose cannon. How did you prepare to bring him to life? What kind of things did you do to embody that character?
Marco Ilsø: So I didn’t have much material to work with initially. I found some documentaries and, most importantly, a long interview with Henning on Danish TV—some of which made it into the series. His way of talking, moving, and expressing himself came across clearly there.
But figuring out who he truly was as a person was more challenging. I went back to the book Bullshit, which the series is based on, and thought about the decisions he made throughout his life. I asked myself: why would he do that? Why would he take those risks? Like you said, sometimes he was a complete loose cannon, just rolling with life to see where it took him.
With that foundation, I had to find a creative balance. Milad gave me a big-picture perspective, which was incredibly helpful. Sometimes I’d take things in one direction, and he’d say, “Maybe let’s try this instead.” That collaboration was fantastic. Henning was such a fun character to play.
Nordic Watchlist: It’s such a dark chapter in Denmark’s history—almost at odds with Denmark’s reputation as “the happiest place in the world,” with all the hygge vibes. Beyond Nordic Noir, this story feels so raw and real. Was there any pressure in portraying this kind of history, especially since Henning was a real person?
Marco Ilsø: Absolutely. One of my biggest fears was portraying Henning for people who actually knew him—particularly his wife, who was in the car when he was killed. She’s still alive and living in Denmark. So, the idea of her watching my performance added a lot of pressure.
If he’d been someone long dead, with no one left to remember him personally, it might have been easier. But many people still remember Henning, especially since this is one of Denmark’s most infamous biker gang stories. I’ve spoken to people who remember seeing it on the news, and others who even knew him back then.
This also happens to be my biggest role to date. So, all of that combined—it was definitely a lot to carry. But I got through it. The rest of the cast made it easier because everyone was so into their characters. The camaraderie on set really helped.
Nordic Watchlist: The cast was ridiculously good. Alba August was incredible—I didn’t even recognize her at first. She transformed into someone else entirely. Clint Rubin was fantastic, too. I wasn’t as familiar with his work, but he was brilliant. And then there’s Vic Carmen Sonne—she’s always amazing in everything she does. And of course, Milad directing!
What was it like working with such a strong cast? Did that draw even more out of you?
Marco Ilsø: Definitely. Milad is great at creating a space where you can experiment. There were scenes where he’d say, “feel free to do anything you want.” Like during the scene where Henning gets shot, Milad encouraged me to just go wild. At one point, I jumped onto a car, started humping it, and screaming. It felt ridiculous, but when I saw it on screen, I thought, “that actually worked so well!”
Nordic Watchlist: Episode 5 was insane—one of the most intense episodes of television I’ve seen in a long time. That one-take bar brawl was a masterpiece. How hard was that to pull off?
Marco Ilsø: The logistics were the hardest part. The choreography of the crew moving behind the camera was like a dance. There were moments where they’d have to apply blood and makeup in seconds, while staying completely out of sight.
We rehearsed a lot, almost like preparing for a theatre performance. Everyone had to be on point—actors and crew alike—because one misstep could ruin the whole take. But seeing it come together was incredible.
For the bar fight, we even had a GoPro mounted on the ceiling, so you could see how the crew moved like a triangle behind the scenes.
Nordic Watchlist: It’s amazing how real the series feels—like you’re actually there, soaked in beer and chaos. What was your approach to making it so visceral?
Marco Ilsø: The authenticity was crucial. In the biker gang world, once you got your vest, you could never wash it. It would be christened in all kinds of disgusting ways—people would pee, puke, and worse on it. So, that sense of griminess was intentional.
Bullshit is available now on both Viaplay USA and Viaplay UK
