Alexander Skarsgard, Ezra Miller, Emily Browning, Stine Fisher Christensen, Anton Yelchin and Shailene Woodley were the 19th annual Hamptons International Film Festival’s 2011 Breakthrough Performer award recipients. Arts & Living caught up with Mr. Skarsgard and Mr. Miller, among a few of the others, on Saturday morning at c/o The Maidstone in East Hampton.

Mr. Skarsgard, a native of Sweden, was recognized at the 19th annual film festival for his work in “Melancholia” by Lars von Trier. He is best known to American audiences for his portrayal of vampire Eric Northman on “True Blood” on HBO.

On Saturday morning, he was a bit jet-lagged, having just flown in from Sweden late on Friday afternoon before heading straight off to the festival festivities.

“I basically jumped straight in the shower and went right to the screening and then the party after,” Mr. Skarsgard said. “It was pretty intense.”

A frequent weekend Hamptons visitor this past summer, Mr. Skarsgard talked about his love of the East End—especially the beaches, a good friend and her husband who live in Amagansett (he stayed with them this summer and for the duration of the festival), and making treks with them to Montauk.

“She has such a cute, beautiful house. So I like just hanging out there with her family, cooking, chilling … eating food and drinking wine,” he said.

Coming out to the East End was the perfect escape for the actor, who spent a hectic summer shooting films back to back in New York: “What Maisie Knew” and “Disconnect.”

“Obviously shooting was very intense in the city and then it was just a nice break to get out on the weekends, to hang out here,” he said.

The irony that the film festival headquarters was at c/o The Maidstone, owned by Swedish hotelier Jenny Ljungberg, was not lost on the actor. Of particular interest to him was the artwork on display in the garden, which he said was created by a good friend of his from Sweden whom he had seen just recently.

Upon the recommendation of the Arts & Living team, Mr. Skarsgard discussed his desire to eat at the hotel’s restaurant, The Living Room, which offers several Swedish items on its menu. Later, on Sunday, he and the rest of the Breakthrough Performers, along with East End resident Bob Balaban, had brunch together there.

Mr. Skarsgard said that working with Mr. von Trier on “Melancholia” was the experience of a lifetime.

“Phenomenal. One of the most amazing experiences of my career,” he said.

The actor was shy but gracious about being singled out as a Breakthrough Performer at this year’s Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF).

“I’m very honored,” he said. “It’s such a special project and I loved working on it. So the fact that the movie gets the attention that it’s getting means a lot to me.”

He is still getting adjusted, and slightly embarrassed, about being referred to as a full-blown sex symbol with a white-hot career, he admitted at the end of his interview.

“I’ve definitely noticed with the show [“True Blood”] and the movies and all that, the attention is definitely getting there. It’s flattering,” Mr. Skarsgard said. “The fact that people actually care about what you do means a lot. That when you meet people who are affected by your movies and your shows, it means a lot.”

When asked if there was anything that he could share about himself that people don’t know, the actor paused, seemingly nonplussed.

“Oh god, I have no idea,” he said. “People know too much about me. People know more about me than I do.”

Perfectly timed, just at that moment, a HIFF publicist descended and quickly snatched Mr. Skarsgard up and escorted him to his next interview.

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