Iben Hjejle
Quick Facts
Biography
Iben Hjejle (pronounced 'EE-behn YAY-leh') is a Danish actress, born 22 March 1971, and is notable for starring in the Stephen Frears film High Fidelity (2000). In Denmark, she is perhaps best known for appearing in the Danish television sitcom Langt fra Las Vegas (Far from Las Vegas) and playing the girlfriend of Danish comedian Casper Christensen, her former real life partner. She also plays Christensen's girlfriend in the sitcom Klovn (Clown).
Early life and career
Hjejle was born in Copenhagen. She has starred in a series of Danish movies, including a Dogme 95 movie, and also in Danish-produced action films such as Old Men in New Cars. She also played the Swedish Queen Sofia Magdalena in SVT's successful period drama production of The Marriage of Gustav III in 2001.
Later career
Hjejle also appeared in the 1996 film Portland, Mifune's Last Song in 1999, The Emperor's New Clothes in 2002, and in Dreaming of Julia and Flickering Lights in 2003. For her performance in Mifune's Last Song, she won an Honourable Mention at the 49th Berlin International Film Festival. It was also at the same festival that she was discovered by Stephen Frears, who offered her a part in High Fidelity. In 2008 he offered her a part in Chéri, in a cameo as Marie Laure. Her involvement was a part of a minor international comeback. Additionally, the same year she worked on Defiance with Daniel Craig and in 2009 she filmed The Eclipse, which received a limited theatrical release in 2010.
Iben Hjejle was a part of the Danish popular television series Anna Pihl until its ending in April 2008, after three seasons. In 2012, she was cast as the lead in the crime-show Dicte The show debuted in early 2013, while reviews were mixed, Hjejle received good reviews for her performance.
She had a part in Lars von Trier's Direktøren for det hele (2006, also known as The Boss of It All).
Personal life
From 1996–1999, she was married to Emil de Waal. She turned down the role of Éowyn in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy because she did not like the idea of being so far from home. In an episode of Langt fra Las Vegas, her character Liva ironically makes a joke about The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | Portland | Eva | |
1999 | Mifune's Last Song | Liva Psilander | Berlin International Film Festival – Honorable Mention Nominatated – Bodil Awards Best Actress Nominated – European Film Awards Best Actress The movie received limited theatrical release in the US |
2000 | High Fidelity | Laura | Nominated – Chicago Film Critics Association Awards Most promising actress |
2000 | Flickering Lights | Therese | |
2001 | The Emperor's New Clothes | Nicole 'Pumpkin' Truchaut | |
2001 | Gustav III:s äktenskap (aka The Marriage of Gustav III) | Queen Sofia Magdalena | TV Series |
2002 | Langt fra Las Vegas | Liva | TV-series. Appeared in four season (2002–2003). |
2002 | Old Men in New Cars | Mille | |
2003 | Skagerrak | Marie | Reunited with Søren Kragh-Jacobsen, who directed her in Mifune |
2003 | Dreaming of Julia (aka Cuban Blood/Cuba Libre) (2003) | Julia | |
2004 | Monsterthursday | Sara | |
2005 | Klovn | Iben | (TV-series) (2005–2009) |
2006 | Direktøren for det Hele (aka The Boss of It All) | Lise | The first of her movies to be released theatrically in the US since The Emperor's New Clothes |
2006 | Anna Pihl | Mikala Hansen | (TV-series) (2006–2008) |
2007 | Boy Meets Girl | Kathrine Poulsen | |
2008 | Defiance | Bella | To date the only movie she has starred in, that has been nominated for an Academy Award. |
2009 | Chéri | Marie Laurie | Second collaboration with Stephen Frears |
2009 | The Eclipse | Lena Morrell | |
2010 | Klown | Iben | Released theatrically in the US in 2012 |
2011 | Rosa Morena | Christine | |
2011 | Stockholm East | Anna | |
2011 | [[Dag (Norwegian TV series)|Dag] | Juanita | (TV series) (2011-2013) |
2012 | Fuck up | Malin | |
2013 | Dicte | Dicte | (TV series) (2013-2016) |
2013 | Eskil & trinidad | Mette | |
2013 | Alle barn er laget av ild |