Kim Bodnia

Kim Bodnia
Bodnia at the Nordiske Mediedager ("Nordic Media Festival") in May 2012
Born (1965-04-12) 12 April 1965
Copenhagen, Denmark
Nationality Danish
Alma mater National Theatre School, Copenhagen
Occupation Actor
Years active 1989–present
Notable work The Bridge, Pusher
Spouse(s) Lotte Andersen
Rikke Louise Andersson
Children 4

Kim Bodnia (born 12 April 1965) is a Danish actor and occasional writer and director. He is known internationally for his role as "Martin Rohde" in the Scandinavian crime drama television series The Bridge. He also played "Frank" in Pusher and "Jakov" in episode 4 of Those Who Kill. He is mostly known in his original country for playing the lead role in Nicolas Winding Refn's Pusher.

Early life

Bodnia was born in Copenhagen, but grew up in Espergærde, Denmark. His family is Jewish (originally from Poland and Russia);[1] when asked about his religious beliefs in 2011 he said that he has "None, other than that I believe in nature".[2]

Bodnia admitted that as a child he was not a particularly good student, describing himself as a "clown", and reluctant to study. His main interest was in athletics, particularly the 100 metres and the long jump, in which he was the Zealand youth champion for several years.[2] Bodnia aspired to become a goalkeeper, but a foot injury prevented him from pursuing a career in professional football.[3]

As a student at Espergærde Ungdomsskole Bodnia joined the theatre group, performing mainly in comic roles. When he was 16 his mother suggested he apply for a place at National Theatre School in Copenhagen. His first application failed, but he gained entry on his second attempt a year later in 1987.[2]

One of his first leading roles after graduation in 1991 was as Patrick Bateman in a stage version of American Psycho, and he was subsequently often typecast as violent, brutal characters.[2] In his film debut En Afgrund af frihed (An Abyss of Freedom) (1989) he played a small supporting role as a bouncer.[4]

Film career

Bodnia's first leading role in a film was in Bulldozer (1993), directed by Maria Sødahl, but his breakout role came a year later in Ole Bornedal's horror film Nightwatch (1994). Despite this success it was two years before he appeared in another film, Nicolas Winding Refn's Pusher (1996), and three years later he appeared in Winding Refn's Bleeder.[4] He has since appeared in Terribly Happy (2008),[5] and in three Lasse Spang Olsen films: In China They Eat Dogs (1999) and its sequel Old Men in New Cars (2002), and in Den Gode Strømer ("The Good Cop") (2004), which he co-wrote with the director. Bodnia has also appeared in several Norwegian films, including Himmelfall (2002), Monstertorsdag (2004), and Tomme Tønner (2010). He also appeared in the 2011 English-language Indian comedy Delhi Belly playing a Russian smuggler.[6]

In 2014 he appeared as the eponymous interrogator Rosewater, directed by Jon Stewart.[1]

On television

Though primarily a film actor, Bodnia has also appeared regularly on television, making his first appearance in the historical mini-series Snapphanar in 2006. He subsequently appeared in three episodes of the first season of crime series Forbrydelsen ("The Killing") (2007), and in two episodes of the comedy drama Hvor fanden er Herning? ("Where the hell is Herning?") (2009), before returning to crime series, appearing in episodes of the Swedish Kommissarie Winter (2010), Den som dræber ("Those Who Kill") (2011), and the German/Swedish Der Kommissar und das Meer ("The Inspector and the Sea") (2012).[6]

In 2011 Bodnia played Danish detective "Martin Rohde" in the first series of the Danish/Swedish series Broen|Bron ("The Bridge"), returning for a second series in 2013. Bodnia signed for a third series,[1] but later dropped out, reportedly unhappy with the development of his character.[7] He also voiced concerns about working in Malmö due to the city's problems with antisemitism in an interview, which had made his decision to leave the series easier.[8] [9]

As director

In 2001 he co-wrote and directed the short film Escape - Flugten fra ensomheden ("Escape - Flight from loneliness").[10] In early 2014 he directed readings of The Tailor's Tale, a play based on his family's experience of life in Copenhagen under Nazi occupation, written by his cousin Alexander Bodin Saphir, and performed at the Scandinavia House–The Nordic Center in America in New York.[11]

Personal life

Bodnia has been married twice, first to actress Lotte Andersen, with whom he has a son Louis, and currently to actress Rikke Louise Andersson, with whom he has three children, two boys, Charlie and Miles and a daughter, Nomi.[3]

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
1989 En Afgrund Af Frihed Bouncer
1993 Bulldozer Samson
1994 Nattevagten Jens
1996 Pusher Frank
1997 Den Sidste Viking Sigbard
1999 Bleeder Leo
In China They Eat Dogs Harald
2001 Øyenstikker Eddie
2002 Old Men In New Cars: In China They Eat Dogs II Harald
Himmelfall Johannes
2004 Den Gode Strømer Jens Also co-writer
Monstertorsdag Skip
Inkasso Claus
2005 Opbrud Philip
2006 The Journals of Knud Rasmussen Peter Freuchen
2007 Ekko Simon
2008 Nefarious Elkiar
Frygtelig Lykkelig Jørgen Buhl
Kandidaten Claes Kiehlert
2009 Vølvens Forbandelse Harald Blåtand
Julefrokosten Buller
2010 Caroline: Den Sidste Resje Johan
Tomme Tønner Dansken
Min Bedste Fjende Dansklærer
Hævnen Lars
Sandheden Om Mænd Johnny
2011 Broen Martin
Tomme Tønner 2 - Det Brune Gullet Dansken
Delhi Belly Vladimir Dragunsky
2012 Caroline: Den sidste rejse Johan
Love Is All You Need Leif
Mamma er en superhelt Axel Short film
Rendezvous in Kiruna John - le biker
2013 All for Two William Lynge
Skytten Rasmus Holm Jensen
The Stranger Within Masked Kidnapper
A Very Unsettled Summer Alex
Settai Vladimir Dragunsky
Krigarnas ö Martin
2014 Serena Unknown
The Veil of Twilight Bergtor
Rosewater Rosewater
2015 August August
2015 Far [12] The Father

References

  1. 1 2 3 Jeffries, Stuart (31 January 2014). "The Bridge's Kim Bodnia: 'Darkness, misery, evil – we do them best'". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Bjørnkjær, Kristen (3 November 2011). "Vejen til skuespillet" [The path to the play]. information.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  3. 1 2 Krugly Hill, Emilie (11 April 2014). "Kim Bodnia – Always on a mission". Scan Magazine. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Kim Bodnia". Filmweb.no (in Norwegian). 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  5. "One Sheet Debut for 'Terribly Happy'". bloody-disgusting.com. 9 December 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Kim Bodnia". IMDb.com. 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  7. Seale, Jack (10 June 2014). "The Bridge series 3: Kim Bodnia aka Martin quits". Radio Times. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  8. "Svensk jødehad gjorde det nemt for Bodnia at droppe »Broen«". Berlingske. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  9. "Danish TV star says anti-Semitism made him uncomfortable in February Sweden", Jerusalem Post, 17 February 2016
  10. "Escape - Flugten fra ensomheden". Danish Film Institute (in Danish). 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  11. "Performing Arts @ Scandinavia House - The Nordic Center in America". scandinaviahouse.org. 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  12. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1226777670/far-a-short-film-with-kim-bodnia
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