Alexander Skarsgard got in shape for 'The Northman' thanks to Magnus Lygdback's 1-Hour Workouts

"He is the most hardworking, humble guy," the Swedish trainer, who has worked with Harry Styles, Britney Spears, and Alicia Vikander, tells THR of his friend and client.

Magnus Lygbäck isn't one to mess around. The Swedish trainer and nutritionist are credited with perfecting superhero-like physiques for star clients like Gal Gadot in Wonder Woman, Alicia Vikander in Tomb Raider, and James McAvoy in Glass. Few know that better than fellow Swede Alexander Skarsgard, who reteamed with Lygbäck for Robert Eggers' Viking epic The Northman after first collaborating on the live-action Tarzan.

On Monday night, the Hollywood Reporter spoke with Lygbäck outside TCL Chinese Theatre about why he limits workout sessions to one hour, his preference for "treat meals" over cheat meals, and offering Northman-inspired workouts on his app.

That's something I'm always doing. It's not typical, but it's typical for me. I started doing that when I started working on Tarzan with Alex in 2016. That was my first major Hollywood film, and I worked on it back then, as I do on every project now. I believe that's why I've had so much success because it's all in the details.

That's what movement coaching entails. His traps aren't any more significant than the rest of his body; he just positioned himself that way. It's all about posture. When I worked on Glass with James McAvoy, I noticed. He had the same hunched-over, Hulky appearance. It's all about physical movement and manipulation.

I always say that what doesn't happen in the first hour doesn't happen in the second hour. Nobody can tolerate more than an hour in the gym. If you do, it means you're not doing things correctly. When you hear about an actor preparing for a role.