---
name: "Paprika Steen"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/paprika-steen"
fi1m_id: "paprika-steen"
imdb_id: "nm0824785"
tmdb_id: 4458
wikidata_id: "Q256395"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "3 November 1964"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 70
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-10-01T21:12:04.117065+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Paprika Steen

## Identity

Paprika Steen

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/paprika-steen
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** paprika-steen
- **IMDb ID:** nm0824785
- **TMDB ID:** 4458
- **Wikidata ID:** Q256395
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paprika_Steen, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q256395, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0824785/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4458

Actor. Born 3 November 1964 in Frederiksberg, Denmark.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 3 November 1964, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- **Active:** 1998–2010
- **Average Fi1m score:** 70, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 70 (2), 2000s 71 (1), 2010s 70 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 70 to 59 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 3, Comedy 2, Crime 1, Fantasy 1, Mystery 1, Thriller 1
- **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $40m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paprika_Steen, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q256395, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0824785/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4458

## Streaming the US now

- **The Criterion Channel:** [*The Celebration*](https://film.one/film/the-celebration.md) (85)
- **Apple TV:** [*The Idiots*](https://film.one/film/the-idiots.md) (54)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Paprika Steen

> Paprika Steen brings emotional conviction to women who are anxious, intense or determined to be in charge. We value her most in ensembles, where that force of personality has other people to contend with.

In *The Celebration* (1998), a family birthday becomes funny and frightening, and Paprika Steen’s Helene is part of the gathering. Thomas Vinterberg’s ensemble is a good setting for an actor whose intensity works in company. We were unsettled by the film because the humour never made the family chaos feel safe. Ulrich Thomsen holds our attention even when the restless camerawork competes with him, but Steen contributes to the conviction of the group.

*The Idiots* (1998), directed by Lars von Trier, is a useful caution against treating those early Dogme films as equally successful. Steen appears as the High Class Lady; the tenderness we found in this one comes chiefly from Bodil Jørgensen. The public provocations repeat themselves until the film has used up more patience than its ideas deserve. *The Celebration* and *The Idiots* formed her breakthrough, with *Mifune* (1999) following, but the first is much the better place to begin.

*Okay* (2002) gave her a leading role as Nete, while *Open Hearts* (2002) placed her in support as Marie. She later played Thea Barfoed in *Applause* (2009). Across comedy and drama, she has often been cast as intense, neurotic or controlling women in family and relationship stories. What we value is the emotional conviction, particularly when she has to establish a complicated person in a supporting part.

She began directing features with *Aftermath* (2004), and her feel for ensembles also informs *That Time of Year* (2018). Her advice on directing is brisk: “Never direct the actor with more words than you can put on a stamp.” We can see the sense in keeping the explanation short and letting the actors get on with it. To watch her act, start with *The Celebration*, provided a frightening family birthday is your idea of an evening well spent.

## Biography

Paprika Steen is a Danish actress and film director. She graduated from the Drama Academy at Odense Theatre in 1992 and has performed on stage at venues including the Royal Danish Theatre.

She is known for her roles as Helene in *The Celebration* (1998) and as a high-class lady in *The Idiots* (1998). Steen was the only performer to appear in the first three Dogme 95 films. Other notable film roles include those in *Open Hearts* (2002), *Adam's Apples* (2005) and *Applause* (2009). She has also directed several features, beginning with *Aftermath* (2004).

Steen won both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress at the Robert Festival in the same year for *Okay* (2002) and *Open Hearts*, the first Danish actress to do so since 1949. She is married to producer Mikael Rieks.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, dfi.dk, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *Skeletons* (2010), Fi1m 70, as Jane — [page](https://film.one/film/skeletons.md)
- *Dancer in the Dark* (2000), Fi1m 71, as Woman on Night Shift — [page](https://film.one/film/dancer-in-the-dark.md)
- *The Celebration* (1998), Fi1m 85, as Helene — [page](https://film.one/film/the-celebration.md)
- *The Idiots* (1998), Fi1m 54, as High Class Lady — [page](https://film.one/film/the-idiots.md)

## Complete filmography (75)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Mango* (2025), as Joan
- *To New Beginnings* (2025), Director
- *Families Like Ours* (2024), series, as Fanny
- *NamaStay* (2024), series, as Charlotte
- *Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever* (2023), as Kramer
- *Tove’s Room* (2023), as Tove Ditlevsen
- *All Exclusive* (2022), series, as Sig selv
- *Fathers and Mothers* (2022), Director
- *The Idiots Who Started The Party* (2020), as Sig selv
- *Domino* (2019), as Hanne Hansen
- *That Time of Year* (2018), as Katrine · Idea, Director
- *The City and the City* (2018), series, as Professor Mona Ul-Nadi
- *Below the Surface* (2017), series, as Naja Toft
- *Undercover* (2016), as Hanne
- *Antboy 3* (2016), as Alicia Dufort
- *Modus* (2015), series, as Alva Roos
- *Silent Heart* (2014), as Heidi
- *The Psychiatric Ward* (2014), as Acacia
- *Weekendfar* (2013), as Helle
- *Love Is All You Need* (2012), as Benedikte
- *Keep the Lights On* (2012), as Karen
- *Superclasico* (2011), as Anna
- *Lykke* (2011), series, as Lene Leth
- *Skeletons* (2010), as Jane — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/skeletons.md)
- *Everything Will Be Fine* (2010), as Siri
- *Live from Bremen* (2009), series, as Forskellige roller
- *Applause* (2009), as Thea Barfoed
- *Fear Me Not* (2008), as Sigrid
- *Mikkel og guldkortet* (2008), series, as Birgitte
- *Zulu Awards* (2008), series, as Host
- *Om ett hjärta* (2008), series, Actor
- *The Early Years: Erik Nietzsche Part 1* (2007), as Ursula Østdal
- *Der Kommissar und das Meer* (2007), series, as Line Anders
- *With Your Permission* (2007), Director
- *The Substitute* (2007), as Ulla Harms, Vikaren
- *Biker Mice from Mars* (2006), series, as Charlene 'Charley' Davidson (voice)
- *Snart kommer tiden* (2006), as Rebecca
- *Forty Shades of Blue* (2005), as Lonni
- *Run* (2005), Actor
- *Adam's Apples* (2005), as Sarah
- *Aftermath* (2004), Director
- *The Befallen* (2003), series, as Charlotte
- *Defense* (2003), series, as Pernille Karmark
- *Stealing Rembrandt* (2003), as Charlotte
- *The Boy Who Wanted to Be a Bear* (2002), as Female Bear (voice)
- *Open Hearts* (2002), as Marie
- *Okay* (2002), as Nete
- *Prop and Berta* (2001), as Berta (voice)
- *Help! I'm a Fish* (2000), as Mother (voice)
- *Troll Tales* (2000), series, as Gimpe (stemme)
- *Dancer in the Dark* (2000), as Woman on Night Shift — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/dancer-in-the-dark.md)
- *Max* (2000), as Zeborah
- *Solen er så rød* (2000), as Moren
- *The One and Only* (1999), as Stella
- *Mifune* (1999), as Pernille
- *The Little Knight* (1999), as (voice)
- *The Celebration* (1998), as Helene — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/the-celebration.md)
- *The Idiots* (1998), as High Class Lady — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/the-idiots.md)
- *Hannibal and Jerry* (1997), as Mor
- *Lex & Klatten* (1997), series, Actor
- *The Biggest Heroes* (1996), as Lisbeth
- *Den store kul-tur* (1996), as Elisabeth
- *Just a Girl* (1995), as Seamstress
- *Juletestamentet* (1995), series, as Mie
- *Fæhår og Harzen* (1995), series, as Lajla
- *Jeg ville ønske for dig* (1995), series, as Vibse Mortensen
- *The Shadow of Freedom* (1994), series, as Girl at the Bar
- *Frække Frida og de frygtløse spioner* (1994), as Lonni
- *Black Harvest* (1993), as Pige på Ravnsholt
- *Biker Mice from Mars* (1993), series, as Charlene 'Charley' Davidson	(voice)
- *Last Round* (1993), as Sosters semme
- *Rami og Julie* (1988), as Linda
- *The X-Gene Project*, as Karen Hamilton
- *Rita*, as Ellen
- *Dream Come True*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Paprika Steen](https://film.one/media/person/87838/gallery-d53dc15a7cca.jpg) Paprika Steen — che (Please credit as "Petr Novák, Wikipedia" in case you use this outside Wikimedia projects.), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/Paprika_Steen.jpg/1280px-Paprika_Steen.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Delegation for Danish film Applause in Karlovy Vary: Paprika Steen, Martin Zandvliet, Anders August (2009)](https://film.one/media/person/87838/gallery-67aca3f332b0.jpg) Delegation for Danish film Applause in Karlovy Vary: Paprika Steen, Martin Zandvliet, Anders August (2009) — che (Please credit as "Petr Novák, Wikipedia" in case you use this outside Wikimedia projects.), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Applause_delegation_KVIFF.jpg/1280px-Applause_delegation_KVIFF.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![The actress Paprika Steen of danish series Gidseltagningen (Below the Surface) at the Berlinale 2017](https://film.one/media/person/87838/gallery-333b72cc2bd4.jpg) The actress Paprika Steen of danish series Gidseltagningen (Below the Surface) at the Berlinale 2017 — Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/MJK34729_Paprika_Steen_%28Gidseltagningen%2C_Berlinale_2017%29.jpg/1280px-MJK34729_Paprika_Steen_%28Gidseltagningen%2C_Berlinale_2017%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![The director Kasper Barfoed and the actors Johannes Lassen, Sara Hjort Ditlevsen and Paprika Steen at the presentation of danish series Gidseltagningen (Below t (2017)](https://film.one/media/person/87838/gallery-b0ecae81719c.jpg) The director Kasper Barfoed and the actors Johannes Lassen, Sara Hjort Ditlevsen and Paprika Steen at the presentation of danish series Gidseltagningen (Below t (2017) — Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/MJK34753_Kasper_Barfoed%2C_Johannes_Lassen%2C_Sara_Hjort_Ditlevsen_and_Paprika_Steen_%28Gidseltagningen%2C_Berlinale_2017%29.jpg/1280px-MJK34753_Kasper_Barfoed%2C_Johannes_Lassen%2C_Sara_Hjort_Ditlevsen_and_Paprika_Steen_%28Gidseltagningen%2C_Berlinale_2017%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Paprika Steen](https://film.one/media/person/87838/gallery-df416baa8ff5.jpg) Paprika Steen — Image via TMDB
- ![Paprika Steen](https://film.one/media/person/87838/gallery-8681997f41b1.jpg) Paprika Steen — Image via TMDB
- ![Paprika Steen](https://film.one/media/person/87838/gallery-b2b210069962.jpg) Paprika Steen — Image via TMDB
- ![The film team of danish series Gidseltagningen (Below the Surface) at the Berlinale 2017](https://film.one/media/person/87838/gallery-938966cf0b2c.jpg) The film team of danish series Gidseltagningen (Below the Surface) at the Berlinale 2017 — Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/MJK34760_Johannes_Lassen%2C_Sara_Hjort_Ditlevsen_and_Paprika_Steen_%28Gidseltagningen%2C_Berlinale_2017%29.jpg/1280px-MJK34760_Johannes_Lassen%2C_Sara_Hjort_Ditlevsen_and_Paprika_Steen_%28Gidseltagningen%2C_Berlinale_2017%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![The film team of danish series Gidseltagningen (Below the Surface) at the Berlinale 2017](https://film.one/media/person/87838/gallery-d07c283fd94c.jpg) The film team of danish series Gidseltagningen (Below the Surface) at the Berlinale 2017 — Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/MJK34774_Gidseltagningen_%28Berlinale_2017%29.jpg/1280px-MJK34774_Gidseltagningen_%28Berlinale_2017%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Paprika Steen](https://film.one/media/person/87838/gallery-74844c3d5194.jpg) Paprika Steen — Image via TMDB
- ![Paprika Steen](https://film.one/media/person/87838/gallery-647487b7af14.jpg) Paprika Steen — Image via TMDB
- ![Paprika Steen](https://film.one/media/person/87838/gallery-f16f27291968.jpg) Paprika Steen — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 10 won, 1 nominated

- Robert Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role 2024: Robert Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role (won), for *Tove's Room*
- Bodil Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role 2012: Bodil Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (won), for *SuperClásico*
- Lauritzen Award 2010: Lauritzen Award (won)
- Robert Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role 2010: Robert Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role (won), for *Applause*
- Bodil Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role 2003: Bodil Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role (won), for *Okay*
- Bodil Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role 2003: Bodil Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (won), for *Open Hearts*
- Robert Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role 2003: Robert Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role (won), for *Okay*
- Robert Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role 2003: Robert Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (won), for *Open Hearts*
- Tagea Brandt Rejselegat 2003: Tagea Brandt Rejselegat (won)
- Jameson People's Choice Award for Best Actress 2002: Jameson People's Choice Award for Best Actress (nominated), for *Okay*
- Bodil Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role 2000: Bodil Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (won), for *The One and Only*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/paprika-steen