Vampire star Alexander Skarsgård honoured with Leeds degree

The star of the vampire drama True Blood returned to the campus to be awarded an honorary degree as part of the summer graduation celebrations.

Mr Skarsgård, 34, says he is still a Leeds United fan after spending six months in the city studying English in 1997.

Speaking at his graduation, he said: “I am delighted to receive this award today and am honoured to be back here in Leeds.

“I received great support here 14 years ago when I was studying a language course and great support from the University when I decided to re-ignite my passion for acting.”

While studying at the Met, Skarsgård rekindled the acting career he had started as a child, using a camera borrowed from the university library to film an audition tape for theatre school in New York.

As well as True Blood the ex-marine went on to star in Generation Kill and comedy blockbuster Zoolander.

Later this year he takes to the big screen again in apocalyptic movie Melancholia, alongside Kirsten Dunst and Keifer Sutherland, and a remake of the 1971 classic Straw Dogs, featuring Kate Bosworth.

More than 5,000 students will graduate from the Met this week, alongside nine honorary degree recipients.