Nikolaj Coster-Waldau facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
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Coster-Waldau at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival, 2022
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Nikolaj William Coster-Waldau
27 July 1970 Rudkøbing, Denmark
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| Education | Danish National School of Performing Arts |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Josef Motzfeldt (father-in-law) |
Nikolaj William Coster-Waldau (born July 27, 1970) is a famous actor from Denmark. He is best known for playing the character Jaime Lannister in the popular HBO fantasy show Game of Thrones. His performance in the series earned him two nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award.
After graduating from the Danish National School of Performing Arts in 1993, he became a star in Denmark with the movie Nightwatch. He has since acted in many Danish and American movies. Some of his well-known films include Black Hawk Down (2001), Headhunters (2011), and Oblivion (2013).
Besides acting, Coster-Waldau is a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In this role, he helps bring attention to important world issues like fairness between men and women and climate change.
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Early Life and Education
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau was born in Rudkøbing, Denmark. His mother, Hanne Søborg Coster, was a librarian, and his father was Jørgen Oscar Fritzer Waldau. He has two older sisters. After his parents divorced, he was mostly raised by his mother in a small village called Tybjerg.
From 1989 to 1993, he studied at the Danish National School of Theatre and Contemporary Dance in Copenhagen to become a professional actor.
Acting Career
Getting Started in Denmark
Coster-Waldau's first major role on stage was as Laertes in a production of Hamlet. His big break in movies came in 1994 with the Danish thriller film Nightwatch, which made him famous in his home country. He also acted in his first British movie, Bent, in 1997.
Moving to Hollywood
In 2001, Coster-Waldau started his career in the United States. His first American movie was Black Hawk Down, directed by Ridley Scott. He played Gary Gordon, a soldier who received the Medal of Honor. Coster-Waldau said he got the part by sending a video of himself that he made in his apartment in Copenhagen.
He later appeared in other American films like Wimbledon (2004) and Firewall (2006). In 2008, he starred in the Fox TV series New Amsterdam as an immortal detective in New York City.
Worldwide Fame with Game of Thrones
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From 2011 to 2019, Coster-Waldau played Jaime Lannister in the HBO hit series Game of Thrones. This role made him a star all over the world. He said about his character, "What's not to like about Jaime? As an actor I couldn't ask for a better role." For his work on the show, he was nominated for many awards, including two Primetime Emmy Awards.
During and after Game of Thrones, he starred in several major movies. These include the horror film Mama with Jessica Chastain, the science fiction movie Oblivion with Tom Cruise, and the fantasy adventure Gods of Egypt (2016), where he played the god Horus.
He also starred in the prison film Shot Caller (2017) and the thriller The Silencing (2020). In 2022, he starred in, co-wrote, and produced the movie Against the Ice, a story about a real-life Danish expedition to Greenland.
Personal Life
In 1997, Coster-Waldau married Nukâka, who is an actress and singer from Greenland. They live near Copenhagen and have two daughters, Filippa and Safina. Both of his daughters have also started acting.
Coster-Waldau is a big fan of the English football club Leeds United. He became a supporter after going to a game in the early 1990s.
Helping Others
Coster-Waldau uses his fame to help with important causes. Since 2016, he has been a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). His work focuses on supporting the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to end poverty, fight for fairness, and stop climate change.
He has traveled to places like Greenland, Kenya, and the Maldives to raise awareness about the effects of global warming. He has also spoken out in support of women's rights and gender equality. In 2018, he helped launch The Lion's Share fund, which raises money for wildlife conservation.
In 2024, he hosted a documentary series called An Optimist's Guide to the Planet, which explored new and creative solutions to environmental problems.
Selected Film and TV Roles
Coster-Waldau has appeared in many movies and television shows. Here are some of his most notable roles:
- Nightwatch (1994) as Martin Bork
- Black Hawk Down (2001) as Gary Gordon
- Wimbledon (2004) as Dieter Prohl
- New Amsterdam (2008) as John Amsterdam
- Headhunters (2011) as Clas Greve
- Game of Thrones (2011–2019) as Jaime Lannister
- Mama (2013) as Lucas / Jeffrey Desange
- Oblivion (2013) as Sykes
- The Other Woman (2014) as Mark King
- Gods of Egypt (2016) as Horus
- Shot Caller (2017) as Jacob 'Money' Harlon
- Against the Ice (2022) as Ejnar Mikkelsen
- The Last Thing He Told Me (2023) as Owen
Images for kids
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Coster-Waldau at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con.
See also
In Spanish: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau para niños
