Biography
The Danish actress received her start in French and Italian projects, but broke through internationally with a small role as Al Pacino's evil temptress sidekick in "The Devil's Advocate" (1997). She notched memorable supporting roles in "Rushmore" (1998), "Soldier" (1998) and "Mission to Mars" (2000) before landing the female lead of the Oscar-winning "Gladiator" (2000) opposite Russell Crowe. Her searing turn as the proud-but-powerless …
Connie Nielsen SlideShow
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Career Milestones
2007 | Cast as a journalist in the Iraq war drama, "The Situation" | |
2006 | Appeared in several episodes of "Law & Order: SVU," (NBC) as a temporarily replacement for a pregnant Mariska Hargitay | |
2005 | Cast opposite John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton in the "Ice Harvest," a dark comedy directed by Harold Ramis | |
2005 | Starred as a woman who comes between two brothers in "Brødre/Brothers" | |
2005 | Appeared in "The Great Raid," based on a true story of the liberation of 500 POWs during WWII | |
2003 | Cast opposite John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson in "Basic" | |
2003 | Female lead in the action feature "The Hunted" | |
2002 | Cast as a wife and mother who becomes the object of a stalker in "One Hour Photo"; screened at Sundance | |
2000 | Cast as Lucilla, the daughter of Marcus Aurelius, in the epic "Gladiator" | |
2000 | Portrayed the lone female member of a "Mission to Mars" | |
1998 | Had small role as Mason Gamble's attractive mother in the quirky comedy "Rushmore" | |
1998 | Co-starred with Kurt Russell in "Soldier" | |
1997 | Breakthrough screen role as Satan's daughter in "The Devil's Advocate" | |
| Settled in NYC | ||
1994 | While living in Paris, auditioned for Lawrence Kasdan for a role in "French Kiss"; was not cast by Kasdan who suggested she move to the USA | |
1993 | American TV debut, the made-for-cable movie "Voyage" (USA Network) | |
| Studied acting and opera in France and Italy | ||
| Began performing as a teenager, appearing in sketch comedy and cabaret scenes, some written by her actress mother | ||
| Raised in a small coastal village in Denmark | ||
Awards
2004 | San Sebastian International Film Festival for Silver Shell for Best Actress in Brothers |
2001 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in Gladiator |