Quick Facts
| Intro | Danish actress |
| Is | Actor |
| From | Denmark |
| Type | Film, TV, Stage & Radio |
| Gender | female |
| Birth | 22 November 1968, Copenhagen, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark |
| Age | 52 years |
| Star sign | Sagittarius |
| Peoplepill ID | sidse-babett-knudsen |
Biography
Sidse Babett Knudsen (Danish pronunciation: [ˈsisə babɛd ˈknusn̩]; born 22 November 1968) is a Danish actress who works in theatre, television, and film. Knudsen made her screen debut in the 1997 improvisational comedy Let's Get Lost, for which she received both the Robert and Bodil awards for Best Actress.
Following the critical success of her debut, Knudsen has been considered one of the top Danish actresses of her generation. In 2000, she again won both best actress awards for the comedy romance Den Eneste Ene (English title: The One and Only). In 2016, she won the César Award for Best Supporting Actress for the film Courted (L'Hermine). Knudsen has also received award nominations for her roles in Monas Verden (Mona's World) and Efter brylluppet (After the Wedding).
Knudsen achieved international recognition for her leading role as fictional Danish Prime Minister Birgitte Nyborg in the Danish TV series Borgen, and for her role as Theresa Cullen in the HBO science fiction-Western television series Westworld.
Personal life
Knudsen was born 22 November 1968 in Copenhagen, the daughter of Ebbe Knudsen, a photographer, and Susanne Andersen, a school teacher. From 1987 to 1990 she trained in acting at the Theatre de l'Ombre in Paris despite knowing little French. Upon returning to Denmark, Knudsen played roles for the experimental theatre OVINE 302 as well as at the Betty Nansen and Royal Danish Theatres in Copenhagen. She is unmarried and has a son, born in 2005.
Film career
In 1997 Knudsen debuted in the lead role of Julie in Jonas Elmer's slice-of-life comedy Let's Get Lost. The film's script was only an outline, requiring the actors to improvise their roles and dialogue. Knudsen said she wasn't very good at improvisation and accepted the part only because she thought it would be a lightweight summer comedy. The film became a breakout hit in Denmark and Knudsen received both the Robert Award and the Bodil Award for Best Actress. Critics called Knudsen's performance dominating. Film critic Kim Skotte of Politiken wrote that Knudsen had hit a new tone with a "special ability to capture the modern woman's uncertainty and strength."
Following her appearance in the 1999 television mystery Motello, Knudsen played the lead character in Susanne Bier's 1999 romantic comedy Den Eneste Ene. The film became one of the decade's biggest box-office hits in Denmark. It marked a new direction in modern Danish romantic comedies with credit given to Knudsen's acting style. Knudsen's portrayal of Sus, a woman who becomes pregnant by her unfaithful husband while she loves another man, again earned her both the Robert Award and the Bodil Award for Best Actress.
Knudsen returned to work with Elmer in 2000 as the title character in the comedy Mona's Verden. As in Elmer's first film, Knudsen was required to improvise her dialogue and character. Knudsen's portrayal of Mona, an uptight accountant who tries to stave off the romantic infatuation of a bank robber while being held hostage, earned her a Bodil Award nomination for Best Actress.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Let's Get Lost | Julie | Jonas Elmer | |
| Thérapie russe | Sidse | Eric Veniard | ||
| En stille død | Sally | Jannik Johansen | Short | |
| Fanny Farveløs | Natasha Arthy | Short | ||
| 1998 | Motello | Julie | Steen Rasmussen & Michael Wikke | |
| 1999 | The One and Only | Sus | Susanne Bier | |
| Mifune's Last Song | Bibbi | Søren Kragh-Jacobsen | ||
| 2000 | Mirakel | Mona Petersen | Natasha Arthy (3) | |
| Max | Sarah 'Max' Engell | Trine Piil Christensen | ||
| 2001 | Chop Chop | Rita | Niels Arden Oplev | |
| Monas verden | Mona | Jonas Elmer (2) | ||
| 2002 | Drengen der ville gøre det umulige | Woman | Jannik Hastrup | |
| 2003 | Se til venstre, der er en svensker | Katrine | Natasha Arthy (4) | |
| Dogville : The Pilot | Grace | Lars von Trier | Short | |
| 2004 | Villa Paranoia | Olga Holmgård | Erik Clausen | |
| Fakiren fra Bilbao | Louise | Peter Flinth | ||
| Bjørno & Bingo | Bingo | Sabine Ravn | Short | |
| 2006 | After the Wedding | Helene Hansson | Susanne Bier (2) | |
| 2007 | Til døden os skiller | Bente | Paprika Steen | |
| 2008 | Blå mænd | Lotte | Rasmus Heide | |
| 2009 | Over gaden under vandet | Anne | Charlotte Sieling | |
| Æblet & ormen | Sylvia | Anders Morgenthaler & Mads Juul | ||
| 2010 | Parterapi | Puk Agerbo | Kenneth Kainz | |
| 2012 | Sover Dolly på ryggen ? | Sandra | Hella Joof | |
| 2014 | The Duke of Burgundy | Cynthia | Peter Strickland | |
| Speed Walking | Lizzi | Niels Arden Oplev (2) | ||
| 2015 | Courted | Ditte Lorensen-Coteret | Christian Vincent | |
| 2016 | 150 Milligrams | Irène Frachon | Emmanuelle Bercot | |
| Inferno | Elizabeth Sinskey | Ron Howard | ||
| A Hologram for the King | Hanne | Tom Tykwer | ||
| 2017 | Ikitie | Sara | Antti-Jussi Annila |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Juletestamentet | Mercedes | Nikolaj Cederholm | 23 Episodes |
| 1996 | Charlot og Charlotte | Helle | Ole Bornedal | Mini-Series |
| 1997 | Drengen de kaldte Kylling | Mercedes | Natasha Arthy | Mini-Series |
| Taxa | Milla | Anders Refn | 1 Episodes | |
| Gufol mysteriet | Weeping Woman | Morten Lorentzen | ||
| 1998 | Strisser på Samsø | Hanne Jensen | Eddie Thomas Petersen | 2 Episodes |
| 2004 | Proof | Nina Kutpreka | Ciaran Donnelly | 4 Episodes |
| 2010-2013 | Borgen | Birgitte Nyborg | Jesper W. Nielsen | 30 Episodes |
| 2014 | 1864 | Johanne Luise Heiberg | Ole Bornedal | Mini-Series |
| 2016 | Westworld | Theresa Cullen | Jonathan Nolan | 8 Episodes |
| 2017 | Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams | Marc Munden | Episode: "Crazy Diamond" |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Bodil Award | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Let's Get Lost | Won |
| Robert Festival | Best Actress | Won | ||
| 2000 | Bodil Award | Best Actress in a Leading Role | The One and Only | Won |
| Robert Festival | Best Actress | Won | ||
| 2002 | Bodil Award | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Monas verden | Nominated |
| 2003 | Robert Festival | Best Actress | Se til venstre, der er en svensker | Nominated |
| 2006 | Bodil Award | Best Actress in a Leading Role | After the Wedding | Nominated |
| Robert Festival | Best Actress | Nominated | ||
| Rouen Nordic Film Festival | Best Actress | Won | ||
| Zulu Award | Best Actress | Won | ||
| 2008 | Zulu Award | Best Supporting Actress | Blå mænd | Won |
| 2010 | Best Actress | Parterapi | Won | |
| 2012 | Monte-Carlo Television Festival | Outstanding Actress - Drama Series | Borgen | Won |
| International Emmy Award | Best Actress | Nominated | ||
| 2014 | Torino Film Festival | Best Actress | The Duke of Burgundy | Nominated |
| 2015 | Bodil Award | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Speed Walking | Nominated |
| Robert Festival | Best Actress | Won | ||
| 2016 | César Award | Best Supporting Actress | Courted | Won |
| 2017 | César Award | Best Actress | 150 Milligrams | Nominated |
| Lumières Award | Best Actress | Nominated |