Connie Nielsen, a native of Copenhagen who now resides in the U.S., has graced the screen in a diverse range of movies - both big-budget and independent - in recent years. For her performance in Susanne Bier's hit Danish film Brothers [Brødre], Ms. Nielsen was named Best Actress at the 2004 San Sebastian International Film Festival. The film, which won the World Cinema Audience Award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, was jointly distributed in the U.S. by IFC Films and Focus Features.

Best known to movie audiences for her starring role in Ridley Scott's Academy Award-winning Gladiator, Ms. Nielsen's other film credits include Olivier Assayas' Demonlover, John McTiernan's Basic, Mark Romanek's One Hour Photo, William Friedkin's The Hunted, Brian De Palma's Mission to Mars, Taylor Hackford's The Devil's Advocate, Wes Anderson's Rushmore, and David Veloz' Permanent Midnight. She will soon be seen starring in John Dahl's The Great Raid, Bille August's Return to Sender, and Philip and Belinda Haas' just-wrapped The Situation.

Ms. Nielsen began her career working alongside her mother in local variety revues. She then studied acting, as well as singing and dancing, in Europe.