Nikolaj Coster-Waldau takes an 'Optimist' approach to climate change

[00:00:00] Speaker 1: Our guest tonight has starred in one of the most watched TV series of all times, actor Nikolai Koster-Waldau, whose role in the widely popular Game of Thrones garnered him two primetime Emmy nominations. He's now drawing attention to some of the most critical issues of our time. Nikolai, welcome to Nightline. [00:00:18] Nikolai Koster-Waldau: Thank you. [00:00:18] Speaker 1: We're honored to have you. Before we talk about this dynamic series you're a part of now, I want to talk about that project you did that finished up about five years ago. For fans of Game of Thrones, what do you miss most about playing Jamie Lannister? [00:00:34] Nikolai Koster-Waldau: Well, what I miss the most is the people I worked with for 10 years. I mean, we had an amazing group of people, colleagues in front and behind the camera, and I do miss that. The character was a fantastic character. [00:00:48] Speaker 1: In your business, can you ever recapture that kind of thing? I mean, that was an incredibly popular show. [00:00:55] Nikolai Koster-Waldau: No, I mean, you know, and you should, I don't think you should try to, I mean, I think we always try. Every time you do a show, you think this is going to be the greatest thing ever. It's, that's magic sauce, whatever it is. But, you know, I, every time I do something, I feel that that is what I love the most. [00:01:13] Speaker 1: I want to talk to you about your new TV series, An Optimist Guide to the Planet. But first, let's take a look at a clip. [00:01:19] Speaker 3: Wow. One single kick is enough to bring down a lion. [00:01:22] Nikolai Koster-Waldau: Oh, really? Yeah. There's just something about this that it's so powerful, and it feels so right. Then you have the wildebeest. [00:01:34] Speaker 3: Most of them are pregnant, almost giving birth. [00:01:38] Speaker 1: One of the things I loved about the show that I, it's beautiful. I mean, it's breathtakingly beautiful, the places that you take. [00:01:47] Nikolai Koster-Waldau: Yeah. Well, that's, that's our planet. We, we have a really, a beautiful home, and we're very lucky. And I think that we wanted this to be a global show because, because these challenges we face are, are global. We share them. And I also want it to be a show that, that focused on, on people, people all over the world from all ethnicities, all backgrounds, and that, that, that have something unique. They have a solution. They have an idea that we can all, we all want to spend time listening to and be inspired by. And for some reason in, in this country, it is still sometimes a divisive issue. Yes. Climate change. Is it real or is it not? I think that's a very local American discussion because everywhere we traveled around the world, there was, it wasn't a discussion. It's like, yes, climate change is happening. We can see it. [00:02:38] Speaker 1: One of the things I appreciate about this series that you work on is that there is an optimistic spirit because so often when we talk about climate change or the environment, it's like. [00:02:46] Nikolai Koster-Waldau: So we're very good at telling the story of what will happen if we don't act when it comes to climate change. But we forget to, to, to tell the story of actually a lot of things are happening and it's happening all over the world and it's incredibly inspiring. [00:03:01] Speaker 1: You spent time at a New York school today. Why? And tell me about it. [00:03:06] Nikolai Koster-Waldau: Well, because in a few years, they'll be the ones that hopefully will come up with the solutions, the better solutions. I wanted to know how they felt about it. Are they as pessimistic as the numbers would, would indicate? There was one who, who raised his hand and he said, I got to be honest. Uh, I didn't really want to be here. I just had to pick up some points, you know, and I don't really, I didn't care about this climate, but you know, I thought easy. But I got to say, being part of this has really inspired me and opened my eyes. And there's something about that. Sometimes whatever task we have can feel overwhelming. But once you start, you take one step forward and then, then another step, then things just becomes easier. [00:03:44] Speaker 1: Something that's clear about your life work is that certainly you're someone who knows the power of inspiring people and things you believe in. You're also a fighter, not just from the, from the soldiers you play in movies, but, but in your life work that you're a goodwill ambassador to the United Nations, uh, you've taken on fights like gender equality and climate change. Why? [00:04:02] Nikolai Koster-Waldau: Well, because to me, it's also my mother who passed away last year, but she, she always said just use common sense. And sometimes it's, it's, it's that simple where I'm like going gender equality. It's, it's a no brainer, like half the population on this planet are women. Why would you want to exclude them? First of all, it's, it's human rights. It's not fair, but also we need everybody. [00:04:29] Speaker 1: And I've known, you know, all of like 15 minutes, but you strike me as a optimistic and kind spirit. Have you always been that way? And where's that come from? [00:04:38] Nikolai Koster-Waldau: Well, I, you mentioned my mother. I think it, it, it's, it's from there. I'm just excited about the possibility. Listen, I'll give you an example, but maybe really happy. Mike, well, I have two daughters, but my youngest was four, three, was having breakfast one day. And since she was like, ah, dad, I can't wait to find out what, I can't wait to see what they, what they come up with in the future. And I thought that was such a nice thing. And I, I, I believe in the human spirit. And I just, I refuse to believe that we're that stupid. Yeah. That we would mess it up. [00:05:11] Speaker 1: Amen. Well, thank you so much, man. Grateful to have you on the show. Thank you. Wish you continued grace to you and your family and your career. You can watch an optimist guide to the planet starting on February 8th on all Bloomberg platforms. [00:05:23] Speaker 3: Hi, everyone. George Stephanopoulos here. Thanks for checking out the ABC News YouTube channel. If you'd like to get more videos, show highlights, and watch live event coverage, click on the right over here to subscribe to our channel. And don't forget to download the ABC News app for breaking news alerts. Thanks for watching.