Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

Actor

• Born: July 27, 1970
• Birthplace: Rudkøbing, Denmark

Contribution: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is a Danish actor best known for his role as Jaime Lannister in the HBO television series Game of Thrones (2011–19).

Background

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau was born on July 27, 1970, in Rudkøbing, Denmark. After his parents’ divorce, Coster-Waldau lived with his mother, a librarian, while his father worked in Greenland. He initially wanted to become a professional soccer player but soon developed an interest in acting. Coster-Waldau studied at the Danish National School of Theatre and Contemporary Dance and went on to perform in theatrical productions around Denmark and in England.

Career

Coster-Waldau made his film debut in 1994, starring in the popular Danish thriller Nattevagten (Nightwatch). He went on to appear in numerous European films and in 2001 made his Hollywood debut with a small role in director Ridley Scott’s Academy Award–winning war film Black Hawk Down. That year, Coster-Waldau also appeared in a supporting role in the Michael Apted film Enigma alongside Kate Winslet, Saffron Burrows, and Dougray Scott.

In 2004, Coster-Waldau played a supporting role in the romantic tennis comedy Wimbledon, starring Paul Bettany and Kirsten Dunst. He worked with Ridley Scott for a second time the following year, appearing in the fantasy drama Kingdom of Heaven. Also in 2005, Coster-Waldau appeared in director Richard Loncraine’s Firewall, a thriller starring Harrison Ford.

Coster-Waldau’s debut in American television came in 2008, when he played immortal detective John Amsterdam in the Fox television series New Amsterdam. Though the series as a whole received mixed reviews and was canceled after eight episodes, Coster-Waldau was praised for his performance. The following year, he appeared in the two-hour pilot for the Fox science-fiction series Virtuality, directed by Peter Berg; however, the network ultimately decided not to move forward with the series, and the pilot aired only as a television movie. Later in 2009, Coster-Waldau returned to Danish television in a starring role in Blekingegade (The Left Wing Gang), a miniseries based on the true story of a Danish criminal syndicate.

Despite his many television and film appearances, Coster-Waldau remained largely unknown to American audiences when he was cast as Jaime Lannister in the HBO television series Game of Thrones. Show creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss told the press that Coster-Waldau had all the characteristics they were looking for in an actor to play Jaime, including humor and charisma. The series premiered to critical acclaim in April of 2011 and went on to be nominated for numerous awards, including the Emmy Award for outstanding drama series and the Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama.

Based on the Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels by George R. R. Martin, Game of Thrones features a large ensemble cast of characters. Coster-Waldau’s character is primarily a villain in the first season of the series and plays a small role in the second season, though the show’s creators wrote in additional Jaime scenes that are not in the books to keep the character involved in the evolving plot arc. Coster-Waldau told the press that he enjoyed playing a villain and trying to bring complexity to the role. In the third season of the series, Jaime suffers an injury that forces him to reevaluate his life and purpose. Coster-Waldau had eagerly anticipated this third-season plot arc since the beginning of the series, as he knew it would provide his character with the opportunity to develop in unexpected ways and somewhat redeem himself for the villainous acts committed during the first and second seasons. Coster-Waldau continued to play Jaime Lannister through the show's eighth and final season in 2019 and earned two Emmy Award nominations for outstanding supporting actor for his work on the series in 2018 and 2019.

In 2013, Coster-Waldau had a supporting role in the blockbuster science-fiction film Oblivion, starring Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman, and also starred in the horror film Mama, playing two characters, twin brothers Jeffrey and Lucas. Later that year, Coster-Waldau began filming the dark comedy The Other Woman, about a spurned wife and mistress who team up to take revenge on their shared lover. He enjoyed having the opportunity to play a more comedic character, noting in interviews that while he appeared in more comedic roles in Europe, his American films tended to be quite serious.

Between 2014 and 2019, Coster-Waldau starred in several films, including 1,000 Times Good Night, with Juliette Binoche; A Second Chance; Gods of Egypt; Small Crimes; 3 Things; Shot Caller; Domino; and Suicide Tourist.

Impact

Although already a well-known actor in his native Denmark, Coster-Waldau became even more widely known for his role in Game of Thrones, which not only garnered him critical praise as part of the show’s ensemble cast but also allowed him to take on further starring roles in major films.

Personal Life

Coster-Waldau is married to Greenlandic actress and singer Nukaaka Coster-Waldau. They have two daughters, Safina and Filippa, and live in Lyngby, Denmark, a town near Copenhagen.

Principal Works

Film

Nattevagten (Nightwatch), 1985

Hemmeligheder, 1997

Bent, 1997

The Cable Club, 1999

Enigma, 2001

Black Hawk Down, 2001

24 Hours in the Life of a Woman, 2002

Wimbledon, 2004

Kingdom of Heaven, 2005

Firewall, 2006

Triple Dare, 2006

Headhunters, 2011

Mama, 2013

Oblivion, 2013

1,000 Times Good Night, 2013

A Second Chance, 2014

Gods of Egypt, 2016

Small Crimes, 2017

3 Things, 2017

Shot Caller, 2017

Domino, 2019

Suicide Tourist, 2019

Television

New Amsterdam, 2008

Virtuality, 2009

Blekingegade (The Left Wing Gang), 2009–10

Game of Thrones, 2011–19

Bibliography

Berger, Lori. “Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Interviewed by His Kids, Safina, 8, and Filippa, 11.” Redbook May 2012: 146. Print.

Brown, Emma. “Nikolaj Coster-Waldau’s Fright Night.” Interview. Brant, 2012. Web. 8 Aug. 2013.

Collins, Sean T. “‘Game of Thrones’ Q&A: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau on the Hand of the Kingslayer.” Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2013. Web. 8 Aug. 2013.

McIntyre, Gina. “‘Game of Thrones’ Finale: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau on Jaime’s Homecoming.” Hero Complex. Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2013. Web. 8 Aug. 2013.

Miller, Jenni. “The GQ&A: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.” GQ. Condé Nast, 26 April 2013. Web. 8 Aug. 2013.