Connie Nielsen’s long and significant career has included some of the best movies of the past several decades, including the iconic Ridley Scott filmGladiator. Though it can be difficult for an actor to be known for such a specific role in a period film, this hasn’t stopped Nielsen from broadening her horizons and taking on projects within many different genres. From strong and fearsome heroines to tender love interests,Nielsen has never been afraid to be a part of unexpected works that polarize audiences.However, this is likely how she developed her skills as a formidable actress.
Nielsen knows Lucilla’s influence inGladiatorIIand has been open about discussing the roles that women play in male-dominated works like theGladiatorfranchise. However, it’s not only in action blockbusters that Nielsen has brought this reflective perspective to the forefront of her work.Gladiatorisn’t the only cinematic universe she’s been a part of,but no matter the scale of the project she’s in, Nielsen brings her trademark grace and understanding to many roles. Working in many international markets, Nielsen can be seen in projects from many different countries.
The Devil’s Advocate
Cast
The Devil’s Advocate, released in 1997, follows aspiring Florida defense lawyer Kevin Lomax as he joins a New York law firm. As his career progresses, Lomax discovers sinister intentions behind his employer’s legal empire, with higher stakes in every case he handles.
Devil’s Advocateis a bizarre dark fantasy film and one of themovies that defined Keanu Reeves' career. Also featuring Al Pacino, Charlize Theron, and Nielsen in an incredible ensemble cast,Devil’s Advocateleaves the audience questioning what’s real and what’s imagined many times over throughout the story.Nielsen’s character, Christabella, is a kind of temptress and representation of sinfor Reeves' character, Kevin, and though her role isn’t large, it’s memorable.
Though the film isn’t remembered for its high quality, it’s a fun addition to Nielsen’s career.
Whilethis isn’t the most multidimensional character that Nielsen’s ever portrayed,she’s part of an interesting plot to corrupt Kevin that goes all the way to the devil himself. The truth of the devil’s existence and Kevin’s responsibilities for his actions are questioned by the storyDevil’s Advocate, which isn’t afraid to lean into the outlandish drama and horrible actions of its characters. Though the film isn’t remembered for its high quality, it’s a fun addition to Nielsen’s career.
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I’ll Find You
I’ll Find You is a 2022 romantic historical drama inspired by Polish musicians from the 1930s and 40s. It follows Catholic opera singer Robert and Jewish violin virtuoso Rachel, whose dreams of performing together are shattered by the German invasion of Poland, leading Robert on a perilous quest to reunite with her.
Nielsen is joined by Stellan Skarsgård, among others, in the romantic dramaI’ll Find You,set during World War II. As much about the power of romance and music as it is about overcoming insurmountable obstacles,I’ll Find Youfollows the young Rachel and Robert. The pair of star-crossed lovers are brought together through their incredible musical talent but are forced apart as the war brews in Europe. Nielsen’s character, Lena, is the music teacher to both Rachel and Robert and helps flesh out the larger world of the story.
I’ll Find Youis agreat World War II movie that doesn’t focus on the U.S.A., as it’s primarily set in Poland and touches upon the early days of the Nazis' rise to power and invasion. ThoughI’ll Find Youisn’t the most historically accurate WWII film and leans into its romantic melodrama, this is part of the fun of watching the movie. Nielsen delivers plenty of grace and intrigue in her performance as Lena. Even thoughI’ll Find Youhits its predictable beats on time,it’s a heartwarming and universal tale of love.
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Nobody
Bob Odenkirk stars as Hutch Mansell, an underestimated and overlooked dad, and husband, taking life’s indignities on the chin and never pushing back. However, when two thieves break into his suburban home, Hutch declines to defend himself or his family, hoping to prevent serious violence. His teenage son is disappointed in him, and his wife seems to pull only further away - but the incident triggers the underlying rage in Hutch, leading him down a path to become a dangerous man with brutal skills and the attitude to match.
Starring Bob Odenkirk, best known for his role as Saul Goodman inBetter Call SaulandBreaking Bad,Nobodyfollows the life of Odenkirk’s character Hutch, a former assassin. Disillusioned with his normal mundane life, Hutch pushes the boundaries of his world and attempts to fight off criminals when he can, only holding back when he realizes that the people he’s fighting are in desperate situations.Nielsen plays his wife, Becca, who helps him grieve his former lifeand adapt to being a family man.
AsNobodyprogresses, the audience watches Hutch grow more and more dangerous, pulling off incredible feats and fighting off numerous attackers.
AsNobodyprogresses, the audience watches Hutch grow more and more dangerous, pulling off incredible feats and fighting off numerous attackers. Full of action, adventure, and comedy,Nobodyis one of Nielsen’s most entertaining recent movies,performing well at the box office and garnering a strong critical reception. The dynamic between Hutch and Becca is the emotional core of the movie, and Nielsen has no trouble taking the violence and intensity in stride.
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Wonder Woman
Released in 2017, Wonder Woman stars Gal Gadot as the titular Amazonian princess. Set during World War I, the film follows her journey from her sheltered island home to the world of Man as she seeks to combat malevolent forces and end human conflict alongside Steve Trevor, played by Chris Pine.
The 2017Wonder Womanis one of the best DC projects in recent yearsand could have been the start of an amazing franchise. Though Gal Gadot takes center stage as Diana herself, Nielsen is an important player as her character, Hippolyta, is the queen of the island and Diana’s mother. Her words of wisdom and love are what propel Diana throughout the movie, but it’s also clear through Nielsen’s performance that she understands how harsh the world can be and wants to help her daughter be ready for this.
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Nielsen reprised her role as Hippolyta in several movies within theJustice Leaguecanon, butWonder Womanis the first and best on the list. For a relatively short amount of screen time, it’s impressive to see how well Nielsen got into fighting shape and learned how to wield the Amazonian weapons with such precision.The scenes on Diana’s island set the tone for the movie and help establish Diana’s background as a true warriorand product of her people.
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Nymphomaniac: Vol. I
Nymphomaniac, directed by Lars von Trier, is a provocative drama that explores the intricate life of a self-diagnosed nymphomaniac named Joe, portrayed by Charlotte Gainsbourg. The film delves into her complex sexual history and psychological struggles as she recounts her experiences to a man named Seligman, played by Stellan Skarsgård, who finds her injured in an alley. The narrative is divided into two parts, addressing themes of desire, guilt, and identity.
Lars von Trier’s controversialNymphomaniacfollows the story of Joe,played by Stacy Martin and Charlotte Gainsbourg, as she chronicles her history with sex as a self-described nymphomaniac. Due to its length,Nymphomaniacwas split into two volumes, tracking the intensity of Joe’s experiences and touching upon different social and political topics throughout the story. It’s told through a frame narrative where the older Joe describes her experiences to Seligman (Stellan Skarsgård), a man who finds her beaten on the street.
Nielsen plays Joe’s mother, Katherine, with whom Joe has a terrible relationship,something that’s explored through the way Joe seeks out different partners and views her family as a whole. It’s a difficult and unforgiving part for Nielsen, but she commits herself to it, along with the other actors who play the complicated and damaged characters inNymphomaniac. While the film is quite different from most of Nielsen’s other work, it’s an interesting exploration into the psyche of its lead characters.
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One Hour Photo
One Hour Photo stars Robin Williams as Sy Parrish, a solitary photo technician at a department store who becomes obsessed with a family whose pictures he develops. The film, directed by Mark Romanek, explores themes of loneliness and voyeurism as Sy’s fascination with the seemingly perfect family spirals into unsettling territory.
Robin Williams plays against type in the disturbingOne Hour Photo, a film that explores how images can be fabricated to make people and their lives seem completely different from reality. His character, Sy, is a technician at a photo lab who becomes obsessed with the idyllic family who frequents the lab, the Yorkins.As Nina Yorkin, Nielsen slowly realizes how isolated and alone Sy is, taking pity on him,but only until she starts to witness him trying to insert himself into her family.
ThoughOne Hour Photonever grows overtly violent, the climax of the thriller is deeply unsettlingand emotionally difficult to watch.One Hour Photoisn’t a better-remembered addition to the thriller genre because many of its insights into Sy and his identity don’t go far enough, and the Yorkins themselves are a bit underdeveloped. However, Nielsen is as charming as ever in her performance as Nancy, a woman who clearly feels for Sy and his loneliness.
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Rushmore
Rushmore is a comedy-drama directed by Wes Anderson, featuring Jason Schwartzman in his debut role as Max Fischer, an eccentric and ambitious teenage student at Rushmore Academy. The film also stars Bill Murray as Herman Blume, a disillusioned industrialist who forms an unlikely friendship with Max, helping to guide him back on the academic road after Max’s extracurricular activities put him on the path of expulsion.
One ofWes Anderson’s best movies,Rushmore, can’t be ranked higher on the list of Nielsen’s notable films because she has such a small role in the project. Starring a young Jason Schwartzman as Max, the unconventional student who loves his alma mater, Rushmore Academy, more than anything,Rushmoreis a moving coming-of-age film.Though it doesn’t have the extreme stylization of Anderson’s later work, largely due to its small budget and limited resources,Rushmorehas the most heart of any Anderson movie.
Nielsen plays Mrs. Calloway, the mother of Max’s friend Dirk, and only appears in the story a few times but helps establish the wider world ofRushmore.
Nielsen plays Mrs. Calloway, the mother of Max’s friend Dirk, and only appears in the story a few times but helps establish the wider world ofRushmore. Since so much of the narrative revolves around Max and takes place from his perspective, both he and the audience need reminding that there are other people out there with lives of their own. In the story,many of the adults in the movie act like children, like Bill Murray’s Herman Blume,but some of them help Max realize his true potential.
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Gladiator II
Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.
Though Paul Mescal has been touted as the most exciting addition to theGladiatorfranchise inGladiator II,Nielsen reprising her role as Lucilla was an amazing get for Scott and the creative team.There are very few familiar faces inGladiator II, and having Nielsen there to anchor the movie and provide a direct connection to the original story helps rootGladiator IIwithin the world of Maximus and Lucius. ThoughGladiator IIis Lucius' story and sees him grapple with his family’s legacy and his duty to Rome, Lucilla is an enormous part of the plot.
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Her relationship with Lucius evolves throughout the story, as he initially resents her for sending him away but eventually understands that she is doing this to protect him.Through Nielsen’s portrayal of Lucilla, it’s easy to see why the people of Rome are so taken with herand how she comes to wield so much power at court, even though she’s persecuted for being a woman. ThoughGladiator IIisn’t as critically acclaimed as the first movie, it’s a great installment of the franchise.
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Born and raised in Denmark,Nielsen’s biggest contribution to Danish cinema has beenBrothers, orBrødre,the 2004 war thriller drama. Her character, Sarah, is in an impossible position when her husband is captured and presumed dead during a military tour of Afghanistan, and she begins to grow closer to his brother. However, matters are made worse when her husband returns home and is suffering from PTSD, complicating the dynamic between the three of them.
Easily Nielsen’s most serious dramatic work to date, the original DanishBrothersis a must-see movie from Nielsen’s filmography.
In 2009, the American remake ofBrothersstarred Natalie Portmanin Nielsen’s role, but Nielsen’s take on Sarah has a sense of desperation, making her performance especially gut-wrenching.Brothersis not an easy watch, as it shows the worst of what war can do to a person and demonstrates how families back home are equally impacted by its cost. Easily Nielsen’s most serious dramatic work to date, the original DanishBrothersis a must-see movie from Nielsen’s filmography.
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Gladiator
Gladiator follows Maximus, a Roman general betrayed by the new emperor Commodus. After escaping execution, he is enslaved and becomes a gladiator. Set in ancient Rome, the story portrays his struggle for survival and quest for vengeance as he battles for his freedom in the arena.
While the gore, guts, and glory ofGladiatormight not be for all audiences,every actor in Scott’s original Roman epic gives their all to their performances.Though Nielsen doesn’t participate in combat as Lucilla, like Maximus or even her brother, Commodus, she’s in a constant battle of wills with that same brother. The scenes between Nielsen and Joaquin Phoenix are tension-filled and shocking, juxtaposed by the tender moments between Lucilla and Maximus as they plot Commodus' doom.
WhileGladiatorisn’t the movie that Nielsen has the most to do, it’s easily her most-watched film and the work that she’s best known for. It’s largely thanks to the movie that Nielsen’s career hit new heights, and she was tapped for more experimental and boundary-pushing projects. When examining her legacy, it’s likely thatGladiatorwill be remembered as one of the most significant additions to her filmography, as the action film has never been forgotten.
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