With the polar vortex recently hitting the US, much talk has surrounded the insanely cold temperatures and its effects. Unfortunately for the male gender, the extra cold weather has one devastating effect, leading many men to stay clothed during these winter months in order to preserve their manhood. That is, unless you’re Scandinavian.

Recently, Alexander Skarsgard, a star actor in HBO’s True Blood, posed nude in the subzero temperatures of the Antarctic. And not only was Skarsgard naked, but he was also sitting on a toilet, reading literature of some sort. (Why Skarsgard would be taking a dump at -30 degrees Celsius / -22 degrees Fahrenheit is anybody’s guess.)

The Swedish actor found himself in Antarctica after agreeing to be part of the “Walking with the Wounded” campaign, originally promoted as a 335 km (208 miles) race amongst three teams, comprised of wounded veterans, across the rugged terrain of the South Pole. The three teams represented veterans from the UK, US, and the Commonwealth (Canada and Australia), who competed alongside special celebrity guests. Skarsgard was competing along with Team US. Unfortunately, the “race” aspect of the competition was canceled due to inclement weather.

(image)

Fortunately for fan girls and guys everywhere, this is not the first time Skarsgard has displayed his naked body for the rest of the world to see. In last season’s True Blood finale, Skarsgard was filmed lounging nude in the Swedish winter-wonderland. Apparently, the decision was his and not the director’s: “It was never written to have him full frontal. Alex doesn’t like wearing his ‘sock’ or the ‘sack of destiny’ as we call it. It’s the sack of destiny that covers everything. He doesn’t like wearing those, so he had one in his room that day, (but) he was the one who chose not to wear it,” stated co-star Stephen Moyer.

(image)

Speaking on the subject of whether or whether not to sock his junk, Skarsgard told Rolling Stone, “I don’t want a sock around it, that feels ridiculous. If we’re naked in the scene, then I’m naked. I’ve always been that way.”

In an interview with Conan O’Brien last year, Skarsgard revealed that he is definitely no stranger to nudity, stating, “I think, in general, people are slightly more comfortable with nudity in Sweden. I also come from a family — my dad and especially his side of the family are old hippies and bohemians. I think I was 14 the first time I saw my dad wearing pants. He was always naked.” Skarsgard would add that, “When he wasn’t at the theater, he’d be at home cooking or just chilling with no clothes on. That’s the way I was raised. It wasn’t until me and my brother started bringing girls over — then we felt a little uncomfortable about it.”

It’s a good thing Skarsgard is comfortable with being nude considering some of the criticism he has received concerning the size of his package:

2. Got a glimpse of the Northman piece and I'm hoping that scene really WAS shot on an arctic tundra. #ShrinkageOrShrimpage #TrueBlood

— Retta (@unfoRETTAble) August 19, 2013

Considering both scenes were shot in the snow, we’ll give Skarsgard the benefit of doubt and say #Shrinkage.

Images via Instagram and YouTube