Connie Nielsen

Born: 3rd July, 1964
Where: Elling, Jutland, Denmark

Nielsen's high-profile role as Russell Crowe's wife in Gladiator catapulted her into the cinematic big league.

Raised in a small fishing village, she began performing as a teenager, appearing in cabaret scenes often written by her mother who was also an actress.

As a teenager Nielsen studied acting and opera all over Europe and made her TV movie debut in the States with Voyage.

She settled in New York City and immediately encountered her first big screen role, which served as her breakthrough.

Christabella, Satan's daughter in The Devil's Advocate, opposite Keanu Reeves and Al Pacino, was a role that propelled Connie into the Hollywood ranks.

Roles as varied as Wes Anderson's wonderful Rushmore and the sci-fi thriller Soldiers followed.

The year 2000 saw her in Mission to Mars and as Lucilla, the daughter of Marcus Aurelius, in the multi-Oscar winning epic Gladiator.

She was then cast as a wife and mother who becomes the object of a stalker in One Hour Photo, and appeared with Tommy Lee Jones and Benicio Del Toro in the action flick, The Hunted.

Recent work includes the underpowered thriller Basic and her first appearance in the Danish film, Brothers.

Upcoming projects include a role opposite Joseph Fiennes in the WWII thriller The Great Raid.