Rie Rasmussen facts for kids

Rie Rasmussen (born February 14, 1978) is a talented Danish actress, director, writer, photographer, and former model. She is well-known for her acting roles in the films Femme Fatale (2002) and Angel-A (2005).

Early Life and Dreams

Rie Rasmussen grew up in a large Danish family with eight brothers and sisters. When she was 15, a modeling scout discovered her during a family vacation in New York. Soon after, she moved from Denmark to New York to start her modeling career. Her first dream was to become an animator for Disney films.

Later, she moved to California, United States, to attend the Hollywood Film Institute. There, she studied to become a writer and director. During her time there, she met American filmmakers Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson.

Film Career Highlights

Rie Rasmussen's big break in the film industry came in 2001. Her friend, actress Rebecca Romijn, suggested her for a role in the film Femme Fatale. Director Brian De Palma was very impressed by short stories Rie had written about her life. He gave her the role of Veronica.

Directing Short Films

After Femme Fatale, Rasmussen shared a film idea with French director Luc Besson. Though he first said no, Besson eventually produced her first short film, Thinning the Herd. This film was shown at the 2004 Festival de Cannes. It was also chosen for over 20 other film festivals, including the Quentin Tarantino Film Festival. In the same year, she wrote and directed her second short film, Il Vestito.

Starring in Angel-A

A year later, Rie Rasmussen was cast in Besson's film Angel-A. This was her first main role in a feature film. She played an angel who helps a person in Paris. Even though she played French characters in her main roles, Rie did not speak French at first. She worked hard for three and a half months to learn French for the film. Many French viewers were surprised to learn she hadn't spoken the language for years.

Directing Human Zoo

In 2009, Rie Rasmussen wrote, directed, produced, and starred in her first full-length film, Human Zoo. The movie is based on the story of her adopted Vietnamese sister, who faced challenges getting citizenship. The film is set during the conflict in Kosovo. Rasmussen plays a refugee living in Marseille. The movie explores issues with immigration. Human Zoo was chosen for the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival. It was also picked by Quentin Tarantino for its US premiere.

Fashion World

Rie Rasmussen's role in Femme Fatale brought her a lot of attention in the fashion world. She became the face of Gucci under director Tom Ford. Her fashion career began in 2001 when she modeled for Victoria's Secret. She has also worked with famous fashion brands like Donna Karan, Yves Saint Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana, and Fendi.

Rasmussen believes her modeling experience helped her become a fashion photographer. She sees modeling as playing a character, much like acting. While modeling, she continued to write stories and direct small videos.

Art and Photography

Rie Rasmussen is also a visual artist and photographer. Her oil paintings celebrate the human form. In 2006, she published a book of her art and photography called Grafiske Historier (Graphic Tales). She used the name Lilly Dillon for this book, which is a character from a book she enjoyed. Much of the work in Grafiske Historier comes from her time as a model.

As a photographer, her pictures have appeared in magazines such as Vogue Italia, Vogue Paris, and Vs. She has been inspired by many famous photographers.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Rie Rasmussen para niños