Sidse Babett Knudsen (; 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.Morten Piil, Danske Filmskuespillere, Copenhagen: Gyldendal, 2001, p.238Karin Schmidt, , B.T., 23 November 2002, retrieved 27-05-2009 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. During her childhood, the family lived in Tanzania where her parents undertook volunteer work. Upon returning to Denmark, Knudsen attended a "creative school." Knudsen is unmarried and is the mother of one son born in 2004.

Knudsen speaks native Danish, and has native fluency in English and French.

Acting career

From 1987 to 1990 Knudsen trained in acting at the Theatre de l'Ombre in Paris despite initially knowing little French. Upon returning to Denmark, Knudsen played roles for the experimental theatre OVINE 302 as well as at the Betty Nansen Theatre and the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen.

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.Peter Schepelern, "Internationalisering og dogme", 100 Års Dansk Film, Copenhagen; Rosinante, 2001 p. 343 Knudsen said she was not 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.Morten Piil, "Barbara versus Babett", Information, 10 March 1998 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".Kim Skotte, "Den Eneste Ene er et nyt kapitel i historien om den danske komedie", Politiken, 1 April 1999, written in Danish as "Med Let's Get Lost blev det slået fast, at dansk film i Sidse Babett Knudsen havde fået en skuespillerinde, som ramte en helt ny tone. En skuespillerinde med en særlig evne til at indfange den moderne kvindes usikkerhed og styrke."

Following her appearance in the 1998 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.Christian Monggaard, "At improvisere er at lytte", (Danish), Information, information.dk, 31 August 2001 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."Stor jævnbyrdighed i nomineringerne til årets Bodil-fest", B.T., January 11, 2002, retrieved 27-05-2009

In 2020 she starred in the BBC drama Roadkill as the mistress of a British Tory politician played by Hugh Laurie.

Knudsen reprised her role as prime minister Nyborg in the Netflix revival of Borgen, which was released in 2022.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Director Notes1997 Let's Get Lost Julie Jonas Elmer Thérapie russe Sidse Eric Veniard En stille død Sally Jannik Johansen Short Fanny Farveløs Mother 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 Christensen2001 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 Short2004 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 Dr Elizabeth Sinskey Ron Howard A Hologram for the King Hanne Tom Tykwer 2017 The Eternal Road Sara Antti-Jussi Annila 2018 Vitello Vitello's mother Dorte BengtsonVoice only In Fabric Jill Peter Strickland (2) Holly På Sommerøen Charlotte skovmyre Karla Nor Holmbäck Short2019 Kaptajn Bimse Sophie Thomas Borch Nielsen & Kirsten Skytte Askeladden - I Soria Moria slott Ohlmann Mikkel Brænne Sandemose Undtagelsen (The Exception) Anne-Lise Jesper W. Nielsen Based on Christian Jungersen's 2004 novel The Translators Helene Tuxen Régis Roinsard2020Kød og blod Bodil Jeanette Nordahl Limbo Helga Ben Sharrock2023 Club ZeroMs Dorset Jessica Hausner Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction The Grand Duchess Bille August Woaca Woaca Mackenzie Davis Short 2024 Sons Eva Hansen Gustav Möller 2025 The Great Arch (L'Inconnu du Grande Arche) Liv von Spreckelsen Stéphane Demoustier The Family Plan 2 Svetlana Romanova Simon Cellan Jones 2026 What Lies Between Us Anne Sofie Amalie Næsby Fick

Television Year Title Role Director Notes 1995 Juletestamentet Mercedes Nikolaj Cederholm 23 Episodes 1996 Charlot og Charlotte Helle Ole Bornedal Miniseries1997 Drengen de kaldte Kylling Mercedes Natasha Arthy Miniseries 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 2010–2022 Borgen Birgitte Nyborg Jesper W. Nielsen 38 Episodes 2014 1864 Johanne Luise Heiberg Ole Bornedal Miniseries 2016 Westworld Theresa Cullen Jonathan Nolan 8 Episodes 2017 Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams Jill Marc Munden Episode: "Crazy Diamond"2018 The Simpsons Woman in bar Michael Polcino Episode: "Throw Grampa from the Dane" Vitello Vitello's Mother Dorte Bengtson 13 Episodes2019 The Accident Harriet Paulsen Sandra Goldbacher Miniseries 2020 Roadkill Madeleine Halle Michael Keillor Miniseries 2025 Prime Target Professor Andrea Lavin Brady Hood Miniseries

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 1998 Bodil Award Best Actress in a Leading Role Let's Get Lost Robert Awards Best Actress 2000 Bodil Award Best Actress in a Leading Role The One and Only Robert Awards Best Actress 2002 Bodil Award Best Actress in a Leading Role Monas verden 2003 Robert Awards Best Actress Se til venstre, der er en svensker 2006 Bodil Award Best Actress in a Leading RoleAfter the Wedding Robert Awards Best Actress Rouen Nordic Film Festival Best Actress Zulu Award Best Actress 2008Zulu Award Best Supporting Actress Blå mænd 2010 Best Actress Parterapi 2012 Monte-Carlo Television Festival Outstanding Actress - Drama SeriesBorgen International Emmy Award Best Actress 2014 Torino Film Festival Best Actress The Duke of Burgundy 2015 Bodil Award Best Actress in a Supporting Role Speed Walking Robert Awards Best Actress 2016 César Award Best Supporting Actress Courted 2017 César Award Best Actress 150 Milligrams Lumière Awards Best Actress 2018 Jussi Awards Jussi Award for Best Supporting Actress The Eternal Road 2021 Bodil Award Best Actress in a Supporting RoleUndtagelsen Robert Awards Best Supporting Actress Bodil Award Best Actress in a Supporting RoleKød og blod Robert Awards Best Supporting Actress 2022 Rose d'Or Performance of the Year Borgen 2023 Robert Awards Best Actress in a Leading Television Role Borgen 2025 Bodil Award Best Actress Sons

Notes

References

External links

Sidse Babett Knudsen at Den Danske Film Database (in Danish)