How Malin Åkerman From ‘Billions’ Spends Her Perfect Night In at Home

Perfect Night In is a series where we ask actors, artists, entrepreneurs, and beyond how they’d spend the ultimate luxury—a blissful evening at home.

Throughout her star-studded career, Sweden-born actress Malin Åkerman hasn’t kept to just one genre of film—from sparking laughter in “Couples Retreat” and “Trophy Wife” to flashing her powers in “Watchmen.” And if you are an avid watcher of SHOWTIME’s “Billions”—which just wrapped up its fourth season—you’ll recognize Åkerman as the fierce ex of the hedge-fund king.

But beyond her fictional characters, Åkerman plays three other important roles: wife, mother, and activist. She married British actor Jack Donnelly last December and is also mom to six-year-old Sebastian. And as far as advocacy goes, Åkerman proudly shows her love for green as an environmental activist, most recently partnering with Windex® on their new bottles made of plastic waste found in the ocean.

It’s hard to imagine that Åkerman has any downtime at all, but everyone needs a minute to breathe and watch “Game of Thrones,” right? See below for how the actress likes to spend her time to unwind (and yes, she does watch GoT).

Describe your perfect homebody scene in five words: Family, chocolate, bath, movie, bed.

Are you alone or with someone else? With somebody else, my husband or my son. Whoever is around.

What’s your night-in uniform? Any cozies, really. Having a son means sometimes not having time to switch out, so that usually ends up being just jeans and a t-shirt. But if I get the opportunity, pajamas go on right away.

What two people, dead or alive, would you let crash your night? Tilda Swinton is someone who I would love to invite in. I also might say Jim Morrison. I grew up listening to his music and reading his poetry, so I think I’d love to have him for a night…meet him, stare at him.

Favorite cozy product: I have a popcorn machine at home because I make my own popcorn, so that’s a big necessity if we’re going to sit down and watch a show.

TV or a movie? I would do either. I like to alternate, it just depends on what’s peaked my interest. 

What are you watching? “The Sinner.” Jessica Biel is really good in it, and Bill Pullman is amazing. That one was a binger, but I was also excited for “Game of Thrones” coming back. It only took me six months to go through all the past seasons. 

Silence or music? Music. I’m really enjoying swing and blues music right now.  

E-books or the real deal? eBooks are great for traveling because you can bring many more with you, but at home I prefer the real deal. 

What are you reading? I’m reading Greta Garbo’s biography. I am a terrible reader as far as I’ll start book, get excited about something, and start another, so I have about five books on-the-go right now.

Board games: yay or nay? It’s rarely yay. Celebrity, Murder in the Dark, Mafia—not necessarily board games. 

Order in or cook for yourself? It so depends on the day! I’m tired, order in, otherwise I really do love to cook.  

What are you eating? I’m good at marinating meat, so I’m definitely the grill girl in the family. If it’s my turn to cook, I’ll usually marinate a steak or a chicken. And veggies. Salads are big, like a lentil salad with goat cheese, or an avocado, tomato, onion. Just trying to make it fun, we have great produce in California. 

What drink are you pouring? If it’s not a school night, meaning I’m not working the next day, then definitely a glass of wine. Otherwise, it’s usually some sparkling water, something simple. Nothing too exciting. 

What’s for dessert? Anything chocolate, especially those wonderful chocolate fondue cakes that come out sticky on the inside and warm, like a lava cake. I’d like to lick the plate, but I don’t—well, not at the restaurant. 

Late-night snack? When no one’s looking it a spoonful of Nutella, when people are looking its yogurt and some blueberries.

Do you have a self-care ritual? Listen, anyone who has a kid knows that when that kid goes to bed, you’re lucky if you wash your face or brush your teeth. My new thing is taking baths at night, and that’s really been a nice, calming effect that helps me go to sleep a lot quicker. They tell you to do that ritual with your kids because it prepares them for the night, and it’s the same thing for us. So that’s been my new ritual. 

What do you try to avoid at all costs? There’s not really anything that I try to avoid. If I’m home and having a night in, so I want to take it all in.

Candles: yay or nay? (if yay, what’s your favorite?) Yay! Love candles. I feel like they really create such a beautiful ambiance. I got to go to Paris and walked into a hotel called Hôtel Costes, and they have this smell when you walk in…it’s incredible. They sell their candles there and I don’t know how to describe the smell, but it’s one of the best-smelling candles in the whole world. It’s kind of musky, and it just feels a little bit sexy.  

Face masks: yay or nay? I don’t do face masks much, it’s just never been my thing really. My sister loves them! 

Bubble bath: yay or nay? Yay! More Epsom salt baths than anything. 

Chores: yay or nay? Chores? No! I don’t want to do them. I mean I do them, but I don’t want to be doing them. I’d rather be sitting in a bath with candles. 

Ideal bedtime? 10 p.m. is great because my son gets up around 6 a.m. so it gives me just enough time.

Thanks for chatting with us, Malin!