The host gave the “Big Little Lies” star two pairs of “Late Show”–branded briefs after a previous appearance resulted in his undies getting wet with pickle juice.

Alexander Skarsgård tries on ‘personalized’ underwear from Stephen Colbert in front of Late Show audience

The host gave the "Big Little Lies" star two pairs of "Late Show"–branded briefs after a previous appearance resulted in his undies getting wet with pickle juice.

By Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at **. He began writing for EW in 2022.

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January 31, 2026 6:02 p.m. ET

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Alexander Skarsgård on 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert'. Credit:

ColbertLateShow

- Alexander Skarsgård told Stephen Colbert that the pickles he received in a previous *Late Show* episode exploded in his suitcase.

- "The pickle juice was all over my clothes," the actor said, noting that his underwear were "still damp."

- To make it up to him, Colbert gave Skarsgård two pairs of *Late Show* underwear, which the actor proudly tried on in front of the audience.

Alexander Skarsgård sported an unusual look during his interview with Stephen Colbert on *The Late Show* this week.

The *Big Little Lies* actor received an unexpected gift from the host after recounting an unfortunate incident that damaged some of his clothing.

Colbert explained that the actor's father, Stellan Skarsgård, appeared on *The Late Show* and implored the host to ask his son to pick up some specialty pickles while he was in New York. The last time Alexander had been on the show, Colbert obliged, handing him a tub of pickles to bring to his father.

"I took the container. I was gonna fly back to Stockholm to deliver it to my father because he was too lazy," Skarsgård recalled. "He was obviously in New York himself [when he was on *The Late Show*] — he could've picked them up, but he said they couldn't fit into his bag."

Alexander Skarsgård and Stephen Colbert on 'The Late Show'.

ColbertLateShow

The *Murderbot* star explained that he wrapped the container in five plastic bags and put it in his suitcase — but he didn't account for the air pressure on the plane.

"It was a plastic container, so the whole thing exploded in my suitcase," Skarsgård said, adding that the pickle juice did substantial damage to his belongings. "I got there, and I gave him the pickles, but the pickle juice was all over my clothes, basically. My suitcase was drenched. So I still kind of smell of pickle juice. My underwear is drenched. Still damp. Damp with pickle juice."

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To make up for his troubles, Colbert presented his guest with a few gifts. "We got you more pickles to bring to your father, some Ziploc bags, which I'll hold onto, and we heard about the underwear, so we also got you replacement underwear," he said. "They're personalized, if you wanna open those up."

Skarsgård asked for clarification: "Did you say, 'If you want to put them on?'"

He then stood up from his chair and acted as if he was about to ditch his trousers to don his new briefs, but quickly reversed course. "We are not going to have that much fun," the actor teased.

Skarsgård then put one pair of undies on over his pants and showed off the personalization: a* Late Show* logo emblazoned on the rear end of them.

He also showed off the second pair of undies, which featured a cartoony illustration of the show's host. Skarsgård then tucked that second pair into the front of the first pair so that he had Colbert's cartoon face covering his crotch and the show's logo on his butt.

As expected, the *Late Show *crowd cheered Skarsgård on with uproarious applause throughout the entire dressing segment.

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Stephen Colbert signs Alexander Skarsgård's new underwear on 'The Late Show'.

ColbertLateShoW/Youtube

At the end of his interview, Skarsgård told Colbert a heartbreaking story about his childhood friend pranking him by leading him to believe that his crush was reciprocating his feelings. "I lost a girlfriend and a best friend," the actor said. "It was a rough day."

"I'm so sorry," Colbert responded. "Maybe someone will love you someday."

Colbert then leaned over his desk to write "I love you" in Sharpie on Skarsgård's underwear. He also drew a heart near his cartoon face.

Watch the full *Late Show* clip above.

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