Alicia Vikander Opens Up About Fertility Issue and How New Movie Explores it

Alicia Vikander drew upon her own fertility challenges for her role in The Assessment. This new sci-fi thriller premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024. The film follows a couple, Mia (Elizabeth Olsen) and Aaryan (Himesh Patel), in a dystopian future. During a weeklong assessment by an evaluator named Virginia (Vikander), they undergo tests to prove their readiness for parenthood. This is prepared by SSP.

Virginia carries her own background. In an interview with PEOPLE, Vikander revealed that her initial discussions with director Fleur Fortuné, who also experienced difficulties in pregnancy, centered on Vikander's journey. She shared, "It was about my struggle to get pregnant."

The actress, who has two sons with her husband, Michael Fassbender, recalls that the journey to motherhood was a lengthy process before welcoming her first child in 2021 and another in 2024. Vikander describes the pressure she felt and the hard moments she endured. There was also a certain dedication to her dream of becoming a mother.

"By the end, it was almost an obsession. I think many people who’ve shared this experience feel the same way," she reflected. "While this film takes imaginative liberties, the emotional core resonates with many."

In a 2022 discussion with The Sunday Times, Vikander opened up about her parenthood journey alongside Fassbender, 47. She had endured an "extreme and painful" miscarriage before becoming a mother. "We have a child now, but it took us time," she noted.

Olsen, 36, stated that filming The Assessment fostered important conversations. "We could openly discuss very personal topics, including trying to conceive and parenting," she told PEOPLE. She also mentioned how special it was for director Fleur Fortuné to include her daughter, May, during filming. Olsen said, "For Fleur, this story was deeply personal. It took her as long to make the movie as it did to have a child — about five years for both."

"This shared experience evoked many feelings for all of us," Olsen concluded.

The Assessment hits theaters on Friday, March 21.

Earlier, SSP wrote that Rob Lowe shared his deep interest in his sons' relationships.