Famous Danish Directors

The winner of Critics' Choice Television Award, Giancarlo Esposito is known for playing a variety of roles in films and TV series. From portraying drug dealers to policemen, Esposito has proved his versatility in the American film industry. He has also been featured in popular video games, such as Payday 2 and Far Cry 6.

Danish film director and screenwriter Lars von Trier has been active in the entertainment industry for almost four decades. He is known for exploring topics like existential issues, politics, mental health, etc. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Palme d'Or, the Grand Prix, and the Prix du Jury. He has seven Academy Award nominations as well.

Nicolas Winding Refn is a Danish film director and producer. The son of a prominent film director, he made his directorial debut with the Danish crime film Pusher. He made his Hollywood debut with the English-language thriller film, Fear X. He is the co-founder of the Copenhagen-based production company Space Rocket Nation. He is married to actress Liv Corfixen. 

Anna Karina was a Danish-French film actress, singer, and director. She often collaborated with French New Wave director Jean-Luc Godard and appeared in many of his films, including My Life to Live and Bande à part. She set up her own production company in 1972 and made her directorial debut with Vivre ensemble. She was also a published author. 

Kim Bodnia is a Danish actor, writer, and director. He gained much fame for his role as police detective Martin Rohde in the Scandinavian crime drama series The Bridge. His portrayal of drug dealer Frank in the film Pusher earned him international acclaim. He is of Jewish origin and directed the short film Escape—Flugten fra ensomheden.  

Ejner Johansson was a Danish art historian, writer, magister of art, and documentary film director. He is best remembered for winning the N. L. Høyen Medal in 1998 for his contribution to arts. Ejner Johansson was also a recipient of LO's Culture Prize, which he received in 1984.

Torben Ulrich is a Danish former professional tennis player turned writer, musician, and filmmaker. As a tennis player, he was the top-ranked senior player in the world in the mid-1970s. He became a writer after retirement and primarily wrote on music, film, athletics, and culture. He eventually founded a New Orleans-type jazz band and made films as well. 

Danish actor-model Rie Rasmussen soared to fame with her role in Femme Fatale. Her French-speaking skills got her a lead role in Angel-A. The first short film under her direction, Thinning the Herd, was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2004 Cannes film festival.

Born to a Japanese father and a Danish mother, David Sakurai moved from Denmark to Japan at 18, to train in acting. After working in small-time films such as Tokyo G.P., he moved back to Denmark, and worked in films such as Liza, The Fox-Fairy and in series such as Iron Fist.