Connie Nielsen

Danish beauty 'Connie Nielsen' (qv) consistently lights up the screen with an eclectic bevy of film roles. She was born in Frederikshavn, Denmark, to a mother who worked as an insurance clerk, and a father, Bent Nielsen, who was a bus driver. Nielsen began her acting career working alongside her mother on the local revue and variety scene. At 18, she headed to Paris to continue her pursuit of acting, which led her to further work and study in Rome and Milan. In addition to being an accomplished actress, Nielsen is also a trained singer, dancer and is fluent in English, German, Danish, Swedish, French and Italian. She resides in New York.However, it was Nielsen's portrayal of "Princess Lucilla", opposite 'Russell Crowe' (qv)'s Maximus in 'Ridley Scott' (qv)'s Academy Award-winning _Gladiator (2000)_ (qv), which first garnered a mass appeal. She won Best Actress 'Awards' (qv) from the Danish Academy 'Awards' (qv) and from the San Sebastian Film Festival for her role in the Danish drama _Brothers (2004)_ (qv) (aka Brothers), which was released by Focus Features and IFC Films. She then appeared in the World War II epic _The Great Raid (2005)_ (qv) opposite 'Benjamin Bratt' (qv), 'Joseph Fiennes' (qv) and 'James Franco' (qv) for director 'John Dahl' (qv) and produced by Miramax; the dramatic thriller _Return to Sender (2004)_ (qv) directed by 'Bille August' (qv), which premiered at The Toronto Film Festival in 2004; and the black comedy _The Ice Harvest (2005)_ (qv) with 'John Cusack' (qv), 'Billy Bob Thornton' (qv) and 'Randy Quaid' (qv), directed by 'Harold Ramis' (qv) for Focus Features. In 2003, Nielsen starred as an industrial spy in a corporate war in the critically acclaimed suspense thriller _Demonlover (2002)_ (qv), directed by 'Olivier Assayas' (qv) and co-starring 'Chloë Sevigny' (qv) and 'Gina Gershon' (qv). Her other lead roles range from _The Hunted (2003)_ (qv) by director 'William Friedkin' (qv) (with 'Tommy Lee Jones' (qv) and 'Benicio Del Toro' (qv); to _Basic (2003)_ (qv) by director 'John McTiernan' (qv) (opposite 'John Travolta' (qv) and 'Samuel L. Jackson' (qv)); to _One Hour Photo (2002)_ (qv) where she starred opposite 'Robin Williams' (qv); to _Mission to Mars (2000)_ (qv) opposite 'Gary Sinise' (qv), 'Tim Robbins' (qv) and 'Don Cheadle' (qv); to _The Devil's Advocate (1997)_ (qv) starring 'Al Pacino' (qv) and 'Keanu Reeves' (qv).Additionally, Nielsen has received a Best Actress Award from the Empire 'Awards' (qv) for her role in _Gladiator (2000)_ (qv), and has given unforgettable performances as a German heroin junkie in _Permanent Midnight (1998)_ (qv) opposite 'Ben Stiller' (qv) and as an unmatronly Texas mother in _Rushmore (1998)_ (qv) opposite 'Bill Murray' (qv). Other film credits include _Innocents (2000)_ (qv) (aka The Innocents) opposite 'Jean-Hugues Anglade' (qv), _Voyage (1993)_ (qv) with 'Rutger Hauer' (qv) and 'Eric Roberts' (qv).::Publicist