Famous Danish Film & Theater Personalities

Mads Mikkelsen is a Danish actor best known for his portrayal of Le Chiffre in the 2006 spy film Casino Royale, which earned him international recognition. One of the most celebrated and decorated Danish actors of his generation, Mads Mikkelsen has received several prestigious awards such as the Bodil Award, European Film Academy Achievement award, and Cannes Film Festival Award.

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.

Brigitte Nielsen is a Danish actress, singer, model, and reality television personality. She is best known for appearing in popular movies like Red Sonja, Rocky IV, and Cobra. Brigitte Nielsen is also known for her highly publicized marriage and the subsequent divorce with Sylvester Stallone. 

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.

Alex Høgh Andersen is a Danish actor, photographer, and model. He is best known for his portrayal of Ivar the Boneless in the popular television series Vikings. A multi-talented personality, Alex Høgh Andersen spends his time dancing, singing, fencing, and learning stunts when he is not acting.

Lars Mikkelsen is a Danish actor best known for playing the Russian president Viktor Petrov in the American series House of Cards on Netflix. As a young man, he began to study biology at the University of Copenhagen but quit midway to pursue a career in entertainment. He is the recipient of many awards, including an International Emmy Award. 

Amanda Collin is a Danish actress best known for playing “Mother” in the HBO Max series Raised by Wolves. As part of the Mungo Park Theatre ensemble, she has acted in many popular plays, including Hamlet. She received both the Robert Award and the Bodil Award for Best Actress for her leading role in the film A Horrible Woman. 

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. 

Claes Bang is a Danish musician and actor known for his portrayal of Christian in the 2017 film The Square. His performance earned him the European Film Award under the Best Actor category, making him the first Dane to receive the award. Bang achieved international recognition in 2020 when he started playing the eponymous role in the TV series Dracula.

Pilou Asbaek is a Danish actor best known for playing Euron Greyjoy in the TV series Game of Thrones. He became active in his high school drama productions and graduated from Denmark's Danish National School of Performing Arts. He began his professional career as a TV actor and eventually entered films as well. He is married to playwright Anna Bro. 

Sidse Babett Knudsen is a Danish actress who achieved international prominence for playing important roles in popular TV series like Borgen and Westworld. Widely regarded as one of the top actresses of her generation from Denmark, Knudsen has received several prestigious awards including César Award, Bodil Award, and Jussi Award.

Birgitte Hjort Sørensen is a Danish actress best known for her role as painter Marie Krøyer in the biographical film The Passion of Marie. She received a Robert Award for Best Actress nomination for this portrayal. She is also active on TV and has appeared in Martin Scorsese's HBO television series Vinyl. She made her Broadway debut in 2016. 

Victor Borge was a Danish-American pianist, conductor, and comedian. He is best remembered for blending comedy and music for which he achieved popularity across Europe and the United States. Recipient of several prestigious awards, Borge received badges of chivalric orders from countries like Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. In 1999, he received the Kennedy Center Honors.

Best known as Joanna Wellick from Mr. Robot, Stephanie Corneliussen was scouted by a modeling agency at 13 and soon won the Supermodel of Scandinavia contest. Apart from being a trained ballet dancer, the openly bisexual Danish actor-model is also vegan and a prominent animal rights activist.

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.  

While he experimented with gymnastics and long jump in school, Danish footballer Morten Andersen, also known as the Great Dane, began his stint with football playing for the New Orleans Saints. The seven-time Pro Bowl and the five-time First-team All-Pro retired from NFL after 25 seasons.

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. 

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.

Caroline Fleming is a Danish noble, model, entrepreneur, and TV personality. She was the owner of Valdemar's Castle from 2003 to 2011. She is a direct descendant of the 17th-century naval hero Niels Juel. She has published two cookbooks, launched a perfume series, and appeared in many TV shows. She was once married to banker Rory Fleming.  

Trine Dyrholm is a Danish singer, songwriter, and actress. She achieved national recognition at the age of 14 when she placed third in the popular music competition, Dansk Melodi Grand Prix. Four years later, Trine Dyrholm showcased her acting skills in the movie Springflod, which earned her the prestigious Bodil Award for Best Actress.