Next Gen 2012: Hollywood's Fastest-Rising Stars

He started his career as a kid on a primetime soap in Sweden and didn't win over U.S. audiences until his compelling turn as a morally nebulous detective on AMC drama The Killing. The role netted him just enough cred to nab the coveted lead in Jose Padilha's remake of RoboCop, slated for 2014, alongside the likes of Samuel L. Jackson and Gary Oldman.

INDUSTRY MENTOR: Stellan Skarsgard.

BEST ADVICE: Stay true to your taste and don't get misled by all the bullshit around the business.

BIGGEST 2012 ACCOMPLISHMENT: I shot a scene with Gary Oldman [for RoboCop] that might be the best thing I've ever done.

MOVIE FIX: When I was a kid home sick -- or faking a stomachache -- the Star Wars movies and Indiana Jones series were my recipes for a two-day hiatus from school.

ONLINE OBSESSION: CNN.com. I'm pretty obsessed with the election right now. I hope it goes Obama's way, as the rest of the world does.

WHEN I'M NOT WORKING: I love to climb and play chess -- the kind of activities where you're forced to not think about anything else except keeping your concentration in the moment.