Alexander Skarsgård Reveals The Murderbot Kiss Scene That Almost Broke Him

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In the latter stages of Season 1, Murderbot – starring Alexander Skarsgård – is keeping weekly viewers entertained on Apple TV+. This robot character, known for its dry humor and affection for the soap opera “The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon,” manages to be amusing with minimal emoting in this quirky comedy. Since SecUnit, or Murderbot as it calls itself, primarily expresses its sarcasm and soap opera enthusiasm through narration, Skarsgård must maintain a largely stoic demeanor. However, the actor admits that one specific scene required immense effort to keep his facial expressions in check.

Given the challenge of donning his Murderbot costume, it’s telling that this scene was particularly tough for him during the 2025 TV series filming. During a conversation with Skarsgård at Apple TV+’s press event for Murderbot, I was curious: what was his secret to maintaining such a deadpan expression? He shared his method:

In simpler terms, the actor found it difficult to perform during this scene due to the challenges of wearing the Murderbot costume. When asked about his strategy for keeping a serious face, he revealed his technique.

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, let me confess: I found myself in a pickle. The humor in the scenes was so infectious, it left me in stitches, especially the performances of the talented actors. One scene that stands out in my memory is when Anna Konkle, portraying Leebeebee, mistakenly interprets a romantic moment with Murderbot. From Murderbot’s perspective, there was no sexual chemistry, but poor Leebeebee misread the room entirely and thought it was the perfect opportunity to lean in for a passionate kiss. In that scene, I had to maintain an expression of stone-cold stillness as she attempted to share a moment that, from my character’s point of view, never seemed to be happening.

The cast of Murderbot features Noma Dumezweni from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, who plays Mensah; David Dastmalchian known for his role in The Life of Chuck as Gurathin; Sabrina Wu as Pin-Lee, Akshay Khanna as Ratthi; Tamara Podemski as Bharadwaj, and Tattiawna Jones as additional series regulars alongside Alexander Skarsgård. However, he particularly acknowledged Anna Konkle, who didn’t appear on the show until Episode 5, but she certainly left a lasting impression!

The main actor commended Konkle’s hilarious acting act, but also confessed that he repeatedly laughed at Leebeebee’s repeated attempts to kiss Murderbot. In his words:

“I couldn’t help but praise Konkle’s comical performance, and I must admit, Leebeebee’s persistent kissing of Murderbot had me in stitches each time!

On that particular day, I found myself battling hard to maintain composure since Anna’s humor was simply infectious. She would subtly adjust her delivery with each take, and it left me in stitches every time. I couldn’t help but laugh uncontrollably, which made it tough for me to stay focused. I felt terrible because she was nailing those comedic moments so well, and I was just rolling on the floor laughing. Eventually, we managed to get it right, but that day was one of several when it proved challenging to act like a detached automaton.

It’s safe to say that fans of Murderbot, after watching it, would likely concur: the cast and production team truly nailed their shots, making Alexander Skarsgård’s hard work absolutely worthwhile! Among the many comedic highlights of Murderbot, my personal favorite thus far has been the running gag about Murderbot’s infatuation with Sanctuary Moon, complete with glimpses into the space soap opera starring Clark Gregg, John Cho, Jack McBrayer, and DeWanda Wise. However, I believe that Leebeebee’s attempt to kiss Murderbot will be one of the most indelible moments from the first season.

Discover the latest episodes of ‘Murderbot’, leading up to its finale, plus a vast collection of original TV series and movies on Apple TV+ for just $9.99 per month! Enjoy a 7-day free trial before you commit. Click here to start your adventure now!

It’s unclear whether “Murderbot” will have multiple seasons or if it will end after only one, given that Apple TV+’s adaptation is based on Martha Wells’ book series, “The Murderbot Diaries,” which offers ample source material to continue SecUnit’s story. Notably, Apple TV+ hosts a variety of high-quality ongoing shows such as the intricate drama “Severance” and the humorous comedy “Shrinking.” On the other hand, Apple TV+ has also produced some exceptional limited series like Brie Larson’s “Lessons in Chemistry.

At present, remember to log into Apple TV+ every Friday to catch the new episodes of Murderbot. It remains to be seen if any other characters might mimic Leebeebee’s risky actions towards Murderbot, but I can’t help but be captivated by its humor.

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2025-06-21 13:39