Connie Nielsen Biography
Connie Nielsen is a Danish actress who had a career breakthrough after starring in The Devil’s Advocate as Christabella Andreoli in 1997. She also portrayed Lucilla in Gladiator in 2000 and as Queen Hippolyta in the DC Extended Universe, starting with Wonder Woman in 2017.
Nielsen has appeared in films like Soldier, Mission to Mars, One Hour Photo, Basic, The Hunted, The Ice Harvest, Nymphomaniac, 3 Days to Kill, Inheritance, and Nobody. She has also appeared in the series NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 2006, Starz’s Boss from 2011 to 2012, Fox’s The Following in 2014, TNT’s I Am the Night, and Channel 4’s Close to Me in 2021.
Connie Nielsen Age
Nielsen was born Connie Inge-Lise Nielsen on July 3, 1965, in Frederikshavn, Denmark. She is 59 years old as of 2024. Nielsen celebrates her birthday on July 3rd.
Connie Nielsen Height
Nielsen stands at an approximate height of 5 feet and 10 inches.
Connie Nielsen Family
Nielsen was born to Laila Inge-lise Matzigkeit and Bent Nielsen in Frederikshavn. They raised her in the village of Elling, Denmark. Her father worked as a bus driver while her mother worked as an insurance clerk.
Nielsen’s mother also worked as an actor and wrote musical reviews. While growing up, she attended the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was a Mormon. She has three siblings including Bent, Ulrich, and Søs.
Connie Nielsen Husband
Nielsen is very private about her personal life therefore it is not known if she is in any relationship. From 2004 to 2012, she was in a relationship with Metallica drummer and fellow Dane, Lars Ulrich.
Before the end of their relationship, Nielsen and Lars had a son named Bryce Thadeus Ulrich-Nielsen. Thadeus was born on May 21, 2007, and is 17 years old as of 2024. From a previous relationship, he had two sons, Myles, and Layne, while she had a son named Sebastian.
Nielsen wished Myles a happy birthday on August 5, 2023, via her Instagram account, captioning “A very Happy birthday to my beautiful Myles…we all love you beyond any words.” She wished Layne a happy birthday on May 6, 2022, via her Instagram account.
Before Lars, Nielsen was in a relationship with Italian actor, Fabio Sartor from 1988 to 1994 while she lived in Italy. They had a son named Sebastian while they were together. Sebastain was born on November 28, 1989, and is 35 years old as of 2024.
Nielsen wished Sebastian a happy birthday via her Instagram account on November 28, 2023. On November 8, 2024, she talked about his death and the impact he has had on her life and on the entertainment industry, paying tribute to him.
Connie Nielsen Net Worth
Nielsen has an estimated net worth of between $5 Million-$10 Million which she has earned through her successful career as an actress.
Connie Nielsen The Devil’s Advocate
Nielsen starred as Christabella Andreoli in 1997 opposite Al Pacino and Keanu Reeves in The Devil’s Advocate. Christabella works as a co-worker of Kevin Lomax(Keanu Rivers) and is his love interest.
Connie Nielsen Gladiator/Gladiator II
Nielsen starred as Lucilla in Gladiator in 2000. Lucilla is the ex-lover of Maximus Decimus Meridius, the older child of Marcus Aurelius, and sister of Commodus. Recently widowed, she refuses her brother’s incestuous propositions while keeping her son, Lucius, safe from her brother’s corruption and anger. In preparation for the role, she extensively researched Ancient Rome and regularly worked as an unofficial consultant to help get historical details right.
Nielsen’s performance in Gladiator won her the Empire Best Actress Award and nominations for Blockbuster Entertainment Favorite Supporting Actress – Action Award, Las Vegas Film Critics Society Best Supporting Actress Award, and Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Award.
Nielsen will reprise her role as Lucilla in Gladiator II in 2024. In the film’s second installment, Lucilla sends her son, Lucius(played by Paul Mescal), to Numida after the death of her husband, Maximus, to keep him safe from the corruption in Rome. She partners with Acacius and looks after her son as he fights in the Colosseum, but doesn’t recognize him as her son at first.
Connie Nielsen Brødre
Nielsen starred as Sarah in Brødre (also known as Brothers)in 2004. Sarah is the wife of anish army officer, Michael, who is presumed dead after his helicopter is shot down and he is taken as a prisoner of war while on a three-month mission in Afghanistan. Her performance in the film won her the Bodil Best Actress in a Leading Role Award, the Silver Shell Best Actress Award, and a nomination for the European Film Best Actress Award.
Connie Nielsen Queen Hippolyta/ Wonder Woman
Nielsen starred as Queen Hippolyta in the DC Extended Universe franchise, starring in 4 films starting with Wonder Woman in 2017.
Connie Nielsen Career
Nielsen launched her acting career with her mother on the local revue and variety scene. When she was 18, she went to Paris, France, to work as an actress and model. This ushered in more work and study in Italy at drama school in Rome and master classes alongside Lydia Styx who taught at Piccolo Teatro di Milano in Milan.
Nielsen had her feature film debut in Jerry Lewis’ Par où t’es rentré ? On t’a pas vu sortir in 1984. Next, she starred in Colletti Bianchi in 1988, Vacanze di Natale ’91 in 1991, and Le Paradis Absolument in 1993. She lived in Italy for numerous years before she relocated to the U.S. She is fluent in Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, English, French, German, and Italian and knows some Spanish.
After moving to the United States in the mid-90s, she appeared in her first big English language film in The Devil’s Advocate as Christabella Andreoli in 1997 opposite Al Pacino and Keanu Reeves. Her performance in the film secured her roles in Permanent Midnight, Rushmore, and Soldier.
2000 to present;
In 2000, Nielsen secured the role of Lucialla in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator opposite Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix. Ever since, she has appeared in the films Mission to Mars, One Hour Photo, The Hunted, and Basic. Moreover, she appeared in Demonlover in 2002 and A Shine of Rainbows in 2009.
Nielsen had her debut in Danish films in 2004 with acting in the drama Brødre (also known as Brothers). Her role in the film won her the Danish Best Actress Award, the Bodil, and a Best Actress Award at the San Sebastian International Film Festival. She also received a nomination for a Best Actress Award at the European Film Awards.
Nielsen made appearances as Detective Dani Beck in multiple episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 2006. She was a fill-in for Mariska Hargitay who couldn’t play the role due to her being on maternity leave at the time of filming. She starred in Nymphomaniac alongside Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jamie Bell, and Uma Thurman. Before the film’s release, she appeared in a chain of promotional posters.
Nielsen starred in TV-2’s Det gode liv, singing alongside Steffen Brandt on the track “Brev til Mona.” In September 2018, she starred in the pilot episode of CBS’ FBI alongside Jeremy Sisto and Missy Peregrym. In 2017, she starred as Queen Hippolyta in DC Extended Universe franchise, starring in 4 films starting with Wonder Woman in 2017. She is set to reprise her role as Becca Mansell in Nobody 2 in 2025.
Connie Nielsen Movies and TV Shows
Nielsen has starred in several movies and TV shows during her career such as
- Innocents
- Mission to Mars
- The Hunted
- Basic
- Return to Sender
- Return to Zero
- The Runner
- The Confessions
- The Catcher Was a Spy
- Inheritance
- The Great Raid
- The Ice Harvest
- Battle in Seattle
- The Good Wife
- Unveiled
- Nobody
- Liberty
- The Dreamer – Becoming Karen Blixen
- Role Play
Connie Nielsen Social Media Platforms
She is active on her social media accounts and often posts on her Instagram and Twitter. She has over 100K followers on Instagram and over 18K followers on Twitter.