Dear ATN readers,
We are delighted to share our conversation with Norwegian actor Thor Knai, one of Hollywood’s rising international talents. We spoke to Thor following the 14 August theatrical release of his latest feature film, The Wrong Girls, written and directed by Dylan Meyer, in which he stars alongside Kristen Stewart and Alia Shawkat.
Northern roots and the road to acting
You grew up in Tromsø, far above the Arctic Circle. What influence did that environment—and the particular character of northern Norway—have on the person and actor you became?
I was born in Tromsø because my father served in the Air Force during the Cold War. But we moved south to Bærum, Akershus, when I was three. Unfortunately, I cannot say I was molded by northern Norway in particular, but Norway as a whole certainly did. Norway has a collaborative spirit, a sense of belonging, so I grew up feeling a certain duty to my community and the world around me. Norway also has a rich storytelling culture, folktales, sagas, etc. That has certainly colored my interests and identity.
You discovered acting at fifteen through the Norwegian television series Ansur. Do you remember the moment when acting stopped being an interesting experience and became something you could imagine pursuing professionally?
Yes! It was a combination of things, including Ansur. But I’d credit most of it to the culture of yearly high school “cabarets” (skolerevy). My first year at Asker VGS, our revy won the Aftenpostens Revypris. I had the honor of representing our school at Chateau Neuf in Oslo for the Revykavalkade that year, and accepted the prize on our behalf. That was a big moment for me. I also remember a cute girl I didn’t really know came up to me after a performance and said “You should DO this”. That stopped me in my tracks and perhaps helped get the wheels turning for me.
You later served as a squad leader and combat medic in Afghanistan. In what ways has your military experience shaped your approach to acting, pressure and uncertainty?
The military shaped me in many ways. Responsibility, discipline. A sense of confidence in my ability to do “anything” and suffer through hardship. After a tour in Afghanistan, the “mean streets of Hollywood” aren’t as threatening anymore. The technical skills are also useful to this day, like being comfortable and proficient with a variety of firearms/weapon systems.
After Norway, you built a career across Europe, Asia and the United States. Did leaving Norway make you more conscious of your Norwegian identity?
It certainly did. The sense of belonging I was raised with grew stronger as I viewed Norway from the outside. The rich history, perhaps Vikings and WWII in particular. Politically, even the monarchy starts to represent a certain stability that the US, for example, lacks. And of course, the quality of our public education is something I’m eternally grateful for.
Scandinavian actors are sometimes expected to embody a particular screen image: restrained, physically imposing, mysterious or even intimidating. Have you encountered that kind of typecasting, and have you tried to resist it?
That is at least partially true. In my most recent movie, The Wrong Girls, I play almost exactly that in the form of a Danish agent chasing Kristen Stewart around LA. I happily embrace whatever image they think I represent, but I also work hard to be more than just that. Many of my parts are Scandinavian characters, but not all of them. My accent is flawless, so I can and do pass for American. Most parts I read for are American English.
Film, television and imagined worlds
You have worked in very different fictional worlds, from DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and The Outpost to Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon universe. What attracts you to stories that require an actor to enter a fully imagined world?
I’ve always been a huge nerd. Fantasy, history, sci-fi. I love the empathy required to understand different worlds and different times, and the people in them. They allow for ornate parables to our own world and beliefs without the baggage that sometimes comes with it in our timeline. Making people think in new ways or about new things is good, I think. And being an actor in such worlds forces me to as well, which I enjoy!
What did working with Zack Snyder on Rebel Moon teach you about large-scale filmmaking and visual storytelling?
That was an absolutely amazing experience! Morale was high, egos were low. It was fantastic to see how engaged Zack was with everything. How much trust he had in his people, the actors and the different departments. What they did was magical. The tone of a set comes from the top, and his enthusiasm and energy every day really helped create a great atmosphere. That said, it’s just like any other kind of set, just with more toys and more moving parts. They used a lot of cameras at once, which let them do more and get more coverage in a short time. They also mixed practical and VFX in the scenes well, which helps sell it. When the dropships landed outside our village, they used a real helicopter’s rotor-wash, and the main dropship was “real” when it was on the ground.
You are also appearing in Vince Gilligan’s Pluribus. Without revealing anything you are not allowed to disclose, what made that production different from your previous television work?
I’ve been a fan of Vince for a long time, so it was great to get to work with him. His set was similar to any other, but one thing that stood out to me was him coming down to say hi and chat for a bit, even though he wasn’t directing my episode. He’s a great guy. So was Zack. An honor and a pleasure to work with both of them.
In The Wrong Girls, you play Dagmar alongside Kristen Stewart and Alia Shawkat. What can you tell us about Dagmar and the part he plays in the film?
Dagmar is an agent of an “offended” party. Trying to right a “wrong” (if you will) that Kristen Stewart and Alia Shawkat are seemingly guilty of. As such, he’s part of a trio of very Danish, very serious antagonists. It’s a funny, heartfelt, bonkers stoner movie, so shenanigans ensue. It was a lot of fun to shoot! And it’s always such a privilege to do scenes with super-talented colleagues like Kristen and Alia. 12-year-old, Lord of the Rings-obsessed me is also very excited that Cate Blanchett is part of it.
What was the atmosphere like on the set of The Wrong Girls, and what did you find most interesting about working with Kristen Stewart and Alia Shawkat?
Again, as with Rebel Moon and Pluribus, the set itself was professional and very chill. Wrong Girls was almost entirely staffed by women, which is the first time I’ve seen that. Kristen and Alia were both great to work with, and Dylan Meyer, our director and Kristen’s now-wife, trusted us to help make her movie even funnier. It’s all collaborative, and people at this level are very, very good at that. It’s a wonderful feeling when people at that level, people who’ve been at the top of the game for a long time – some of whom I grew up watching – take your suggestions and ideas seriously.
Storytelling beyond the screen
You are well known within the tabletop role-playing community as a Dungeons & Dragons Game Master. Is running a game another form of acting, or does it exercise a completely different creative muscle?
It’s all part of storytelling culture. Many things are similar, many are different. Ultimately, it’s about sharing and creating stories that matter to people, either just in the moment as entertainment and fun, or on a deeper level. I still “act” out all my characters when I run these games, but I’d liken game mastering more to directing. You’re helping them craft a story together on the fly. Nudging your players forward into a story you’ve loosely crafted for them.
A Game Master must improvise, build characters and respond instantly when a story takes an unexpected turn. Has that experience changed the way you perform on screen?
I think so. I think it’s made me more comfortable with reacting in the moment to whatever happens on set, as I do around a gaming table. In either medium, you can’t go in with a predetermined idea you stick to no matter what. It’s organic. You respond to the people around you, that being a director, a scene partner, or a player at your table. I think the best acting comes from being comfortable and free in the moment.
Norway, Nordic stories and what comes next
Hollywood is becoming more international, but actors still carry the cultures and landscapes from which they come. Is there a Norwegian or wider Nordic story, historical figure or filmmaker you would particularly like to work with?
Plenty! Norway has a rich history with an abundance of great stories that have yet to be told. I want to be a part of that when it happens. Or I’ll help make it happen. I have a particular interest in the Viking sagas. There are also a lot of great and emerging talent in Norway that it would be an honor to work with! I’m particularly impressed with some of the work Erik Skjoldbjærg has done and is currently doing. And everyone involved in Number 24 and Sentimental Value.
When you return to Norway after spending time in Los Angeles, what do you immediately realise you have missed?
The movie business is constant and buzzing at all times in LA. In Norway, it’s a much smaller, far quieter community. I’d be lying if I said I don’t miss the weather in LA, as well.
At this stage in your career, what kind of role would allow audiences to discover a side of Thor Knai they have not yet seen?
Even though I’ve had the privilege to work on a lot of stuff, I haven’t really gotten to go deep with much of it. I think a character with a richer life than the guest stars and supporting roles I’ve done so far would be a lot of fun for me. I’m confident I have more to offer in that space.
Finally, if you had to introduce someone to northern Norway through just one place, one dish and one cultural experience, what would you choose?
I think spending the night under the northern lights in Tromsø would be great. Or dinner at Flor & Fjære in Stavanger. Or hiking to spend the night in the forests of eastern Norway, watching the capercaillies play (tiurleik) at first light.
The Wrong Girls, written and directed by Dylan Meyer and starring Thor Knai alongside Kristen Stewart and Alia Shawkat, was released theatrically on 14 August 2026.
Explore Thor Knai’s Norway
Inspired by Thor’s recommendations? Discover more about the places and experiences mentioned in our conversation:
• See the Northern Lights in Tromsø
Visit Tromsø and plan an Arctic night beneath the aurora
• Visit Flor & Fjære near Stavanger
Explore the island’s gardens, fjord setting and dining experience at Flor & Fjære
• Experience a Norwegian tiurleik
Learn more about birdwatching in Norway and the extraordinary spring courtship display (tiurleik) of the capercaillie through Visit Norway
