Connie Nielsen
Biography
Connie Inge-Lise Nielsen is a Danish actress born on July 3, 1965, in Elling, Frederikshavn, Denmark. She is recognized for her work in both film and television, having achieved success primarily within the American movie system. Nielsen is a polyglot who is fluent in Danish, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, and Swedish. Throughout her career, she has established a profile that balances action roles with performances in projects led by major filmmakers. She is known for her portrayal of Lucilla in the Gladiator film series and for her role as Queen Hippolyta within the DC Extended Universe. Her professional credits span over 80 appearances in various media productions.
Career overview
Connie Nielsen began her acting career working alongside her mother on the local revue and variety scene in Denmark. At the age of 18, she moved to Paris, where she pursued work as an actress and model. Her career breakthrough occurred in 1997 with her role as Christabella Andreoli in the film The Devil's Advocate. She subsequently gained international recognition for her performance as Lucilla in the 2000 film Gladiator, a role she reprised for the 2024 sequel, Gladiator II, appearing alongside Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington.
In addition to her work in the Gladiator franchise, Nielsen has appeared as Queen Hippolyta in the DC Extended Universe between 2017 and 2021. Her filmography also includes a role in Ava DuVernay’s feature Origin, which is based on the book by Isabel Wilkerson. Throughout her time in the industry, Nielsen has maintained a diverse career, appearing in projects that highlight her range as a performer in both action-oriented and character-driven cinema.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Nobody 2 (2025) as Becca Mansell
- Robin Hood (2025) as Eleanor of Aquitaine
- Verdens Vildeste Race (2025) as Sig selv
- Follow Me (2025) as Alice Thomas
- Gladiator II (2024) as Lucilla
- The Making of Gladiator II (2024) as Self
- Role Play (2023) as Gwen Carver
- Origin (2023) as Sabine
- Ocean Deep (2023) as Mara
- The Dreamer: Becoming Karen Blixen (2022) as Karen
- A Week in Paradise (2022) as Fiona
- Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) as Queen Hippolyta
- Nobody (2021) as Becca Mansell
- Close to Me (2021) as Jo Harding
- Close to Me (2021) Creator
- Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) as Hippolyta
- Inheritance (2020) as Catherine Monroe
- Sea Fever (2020) as Freya
- Building Happiness (2020) as Self
- Dead Talk Live (2020) as Self - Guest
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- Today with Jenna & Sheinelle (2019) as Self
- I Am the Night (2019) as Corinna Hodel
- I'll Find You (2019) as Lena Moser
- FBI (2018) as Ellen Solberg
- The Catcher Was a Spy (2018) as Koranda
- Liberty (2018) as Katrina
- Justice League (2017) as Queen Hippolyta
- Wonder Woman (2017) as Hippolyta
- Stratton (2017) as Sumner
- Ali and Nino (2016) as Duchess Kipiani
- The Confessions (2016) as Claire Seth
- The Lion Woman (2016) as Mrs. Grjothornet
- The Runner (2015) as Deborah Price
- 3 Days to Kill (2014) as Christine Renner
- Return to Zero (2014) as Dr. Claire Holden
- All Relative (2014) as Maren
- The Galapagos Affair: Satan Came to Eden (2014) as Baroness Von Wagner (voice)
- The Following (2013) as Lily Gray
- Nymphomaniac: Vol. I (2013) as Joe's Mother
- Hemingway & Gellhorn (2012) as Tall Blonde Woman (uncredited)
- Boss (2011) as Meredith Kane
- Perfect Sense (2011) as Jenny
- Lost in Africa (2010) as Susanne
- The Good Wife (2009) as Ramona Lytton
- A Shine of Rainbows (2009) as Maire
- Battle in Seattle (2007) as Jean
- The Situation (2007) as Anna Molyneux
- The Great Raid (2005) as Margaret Utinsky
- The Ice Harvest (2005) as Renata Crest
- Strength and Honor: Creating the World of 'Gladiator' (2005) as Self
- Strength and Honor: Production Pods (2005) as Self
- Return to Sender (2004) as Charlotte Cory
- Brothers (2004) as Sarah
- The Hunted (2003) as Abby Durrell
- Basic (2003) as CPT Julie Osborne
- Making of 'Demonlover' (2003) as Self
- One Hour Photo (2002) as Nina Yorkin
- Ultimate Fights from the Movies (2002) as Lucilla (Gladiator) (archive footage)
- Demonlover (2002) as Diane de Monx
- L'esattore (parodia de "Il gladiatore") (2002)
- Impostor (2001) as Newscaster (uncredited)
- Gladiator (2000) as Lucilla
- Mission to Mars (2000) as Terri Fisher
- Innocents (2000) as Megan Denright
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Dani Beck
- The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (1999) as Self - Guest
- Soldier (1998) as Sandra
- Rushmore (1998) as Mrs. Calloway
- Permanent Midnight (1998) as Dagmar
- The Devil's Advocate (1997) as Christabella
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self
- Le Paradis absolument (1994) as Sarah
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
- Okavango (1993)
- Voyage (1993) as Ronnie Freeland
- Christmas Vacation '91 (1991) as Brunilde / Vanessa
- Colletti Bianchi (1988) as Marilu'
- How Did You Get In? We Didn't See You Leave (1984) as Eva
- The Oscars (1953) as Self - Presenter
- Tonight at Noon as Laura
- Birds of Prey