Rapace was born in Hudiksvall, Sweden. Her mother, Nina Norén (born Kristina Norén; 1954), is a Swedish actress, and her father, Rogelio Durán (10 November 1953 – 4 November 2006), was a Spanish flamenco singer from Badajoz.[3]
She has said her father may have been of partly Roma descent, and though she is "not sure if it is true," she has "always been interested in the culture."[4][5] Rapace's sister, Særún Norén, is a photographer.[6]
Rapace has said she saw her father only occasionally before his death. "He was not around. The first time I saw him or I met him, I was fifteen and I saw him on stage," Rapace said about her father.[7] At age five, she moved from her native Sweden to Flúðir in Iceland with her mother and stepfather, Hrafnkell Karlsson. Two years later, she made her film debut in a minor role in the Icelandic filmIn the Shadow of the Raven, along with Hrafnkell.[8] She says, "I came from a poor farm, I’m not educated, no one opened doors for me, I don’t come from money."[9]
Rapace speaks fluent Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian, and English, in addition to her native Swedish.[8]
Career
Early work
At the age of seven, Rapace was given her first film role,[10] a non-speaking part in the Icelandic film In the Shadow of the Raven by Hrafn Gunnlaugsson.[10] This experience prompted her to be an actress.[11] She left home at age 15 and enrolled in a Stockholm theatre school.[12]
In 1996, Rapace made her television debut playing the part of Lucinda Gonzales in the long-running soap series Tre kronor. From 1998 to 1999, Rapace studied at the acting school Skara Skolscen.[13] She has been engaged at Theater Plaza in 2000–01,[13]Orionteatern in 2001,[14]Teater Galeasen in 2002,[13]Stockholms stadsteater in 2003,[13] as well as at the Royal Dramatic Theatre, all in Stockholm.[15]
In 2007, she won acclaim for her award-winning portrayal of a troubled teen mother in the Danish film Daisy Diamond, directed by Simon Staho. She won the two top film awards in Denmark (the Bodil and Robert prize) for Best Actress for her role in the film, which was also selected for the main competition at the San Sebastián International Film Festival.
In 2009, she played the role of Lisbeth Salander in the Swedish-produced film adaptation of Stieg Larsson's best-selling novel The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, for which she won the Guldbagge Award (Sweden's top film award),[16] and was nominated for a BAFTA Award[17] and European Film Award.[18] She later appeared in the same role in the sequels The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest. All three films were subsequently recut as a six-part miniseries aired on Swedish television called Millennium, for which Rapace received a nomination for the International Emmy Award for Best Actress.[19] The three film adaptations have earned over $200 million at the box office worldwide.[20]
International success
Rapace at the 2018 César Awards
Following the success of the Millennium series, Rapace started an international career.[21] Her first English-speaking role was the character of Madame Simza Heron in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, released in 2011.[22]
Her international fame has earned her leading roles in mainstream cinema. She was cast in Ridley Scott's blockbuster hit Prometheus, where she played the leading role, a scientist named Elizabeth Shaw. She had met Scott for the first time following the release of the Millennium trilogy movies, at which point he expressed a willingness to work with her and encouraged her to improve her accent.[23]Prometheus was released in June 2012.[24] She did not appear in the final cut of the film's sequel Alien: Covenant (2017), but did act in a short related prologue.[25]
It was reported Rapace would be in the upcoming sci-fi thriller Brilliance in an unknown role.[31][32][33] The film was later renamed Bright. She also starred in the spy thriller Unlocked, with Michael Douglas, John Malkovich, Orlando Bloom, and Toni Collette;[34] will lead the sci-fi/actioner Seven Sisters (released on Netflix under title "What Happened to Monday")[35] opposite Glenn Close and Willem Dafoe[36] and the sci-fi/thriller Rupture by Steven Shainberg.[37]
In 2019, Rapace starred in the action thriller film Close,[38] released on Netflix on 18 January 2019.[39] That same year, Rapace starred in the psychological thriller Angel of Mine, and in the television series Jack Ryan.
In 2021, the Icelandic folk horror Lamb premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where Rapace has the leading role of Maria. Rapace's performance in the film gained significant attention and she won the award for Best Actress at the 2021 Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival,[40] and was nominated for the Best Actress award at the 2021 North Texas Film Critics Association.[41]
Rapace married Swedish actor Ola Norell (born Pär Ola Norell) in 2001. Upon marrying, the couple decided to use the surname Rapace, meaning "bird of prey" both in French and Italian, because it sounded "cool."[9][43] They have a son, born in 2003. In September 2010, they filed for divorce, which took effect the year after.[44][45][46]
Rapace lives in London, England and describes it as her "favourite city."[47][48]
Filmography
Film
Television
Noomi Rapace at The Drop European premiere in 2014
Music videos
Awards and nominations
References
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^Karen Olsson, Noomi Rapace Arrives in Hollywood, by Way of Outer Space Archived 24 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine, The New York Times Magazine, 27 May 2012, p. 26.
^Wilson, Andrew (20 August 2010). "Millennium fever: Stieg Larsson and the mystery of the lost manuscript". Thisislondon.co.uk. ES London Limited. Archived from the original on 18 August 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
^Bob Thompson, "Sherlock Holmes star Noomi Rapace on moving past the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" Archived 21 December 2011 at Archive-It, National Post, 12 December 2011.
^"Noomi Rapace: 'I Want to Fight Like the Guys'". The Daily Telegraph. London. 11 December 2011. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016.
^Peter Howell (26 March 2010). "Rising star became the girl with the dragon tattoo". thestar.com. Toronto. Archived from the original on 30 March 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
^"Noomi Rapace "An Actor Despairs" Interview". YouTube - An Actor Depairs. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
^ a b"Noomi Rapace knows how to handle herself in Sherlock Holmes". The Patriot Ledger. Quincy, Massachusetts. 10 December 2011. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
^ a bLewis, Tim (3 March 2024). "Actor Noomi Rapace: 'I came from a poor farm, I'm not educated, no one opened doors for me'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
^ a bChang, Kee (6 June 2014). "The Archives: Noomi Rapace". Anthem Magazine.
^Sverrisson, Ágúst Borgþór (22 July 2009). "Vildi ekki flytja frá Íslandi – Pressan spjallar við aðalleikkonuna úr Menn sem hata konur" (in Icelandic). www.pressan.is. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
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^ a b c d"Noomi klar för ny storfilm i Hollywood". Expressen (in Swedish). 16 January 2011.
^"Kameliadamen - Orionteatern". orionteatern.se (in Swedish).
^Noomi Rapace; as told to Larry Fitzmaurice (4 May 2017). "Noomi Rapace Learned English by Watching TV in a Hotel Room". Vice.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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^ a b"Baftas nominations 2011: full list". The Guardian. 18 January 2011.
^ a b"European Film Academy: 2009". European Film Academy.
^ a b"39TH International Emmy® Awards Nominees Announced". International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. 3 October 2011.
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^Karen Valby. "'Dragon Tattoo' star Noomi Rapace cast in 'Sherlock Holmes 2'". EW. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
^Sheryl Garratt (1 June 2012). "Noomi Rapace interview for Ridley Scott's Prometheus". London: The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 28 February 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
^"Ridley Scott's Prometheus – new trailer released". Radio Times. 17 February 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
^"Alien: Covenant Prologue: The Crossing". YouTube. 26 April 2017. Archived from the original on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
^"The Rolling Stones Première Video For New Song 'Doom And Gloom'".
^McClintock, Pamela (21 June 2012), "Colin Farrell-Noomi Rapace Crime Thriller Dead Man Down Sets 2013 Release", The Hollywood Reporter, archived from the original on 25 June 2012, retrieved 14 August 2012
^"Flying Lotus Scores A Short Film Starring Swedish Actress Noomi Rapace". 30 September 2014. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
^"Kasabian - eez-eh". YouTube. 29 April 2014. Archived from the original on 21 August 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
^"Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace Thriller 'Child 44' Gets April 2015 Date". Deadline Hollywood. 18 February 2014. Archived from the original on 19 July 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
^Fleming, Mike Jr. (12 May 2014). "Noomi Rapace To Join Will Smith In Legendary's Brilliance Adaptation". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
^Kit, Borys (12 May 2014). "Noomi Rapace to Star Opposite Will Smith in Brilliance". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
^Kroll, Justin (12 May 2014). "Noomi Rapace to Co-Star With Will Smith in Legendary's Brilliance". Variety. Archived from the original on 7 March 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
^"Noomi Rapace To Star, Mikael Hafstrom Helm Spy Thriller 'Unlocked'". Deadline Hollywood. 7 April 2014. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
^"'Seven Sisters' Trailer Shows off Noomi Rapace's Strong 'Orphan Black' Vibes". Collider. 2 June 2017. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
^"Noomi Rapace, Glenn Close To Star In 'What Happened To Monday?'". Deadline Hollywood. 6 May 2015. Archived from the original on 15 September 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
^"Noomi Rapace Seals Rupture Deal". Empire Online. 16 April 2015. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
^Hipes, Patrick (25 August 2017). "Noomi Rapace Thriller 'Close' Rounds Out Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
^"Close Trailer: Noomi Rapace Must Protect an Heiress in a War Zone". ComingSoon.net. CraveOnline Media. 3 January 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
^ a bRoxborough, Scott (17 October 2021). "Noomi Rapace Icelandic Horror 'Lamb' Wins Sitges Fantasy Festival". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
^Neglia, Matt (22 December 2021). "The 2021 North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) Winners". Next Best Picture.
^Roxborough, Scott (26 April 2022). "Cannes Names 2022 Competition Jury, Vincent Lindon Jury President". The Hollywood Reporter.
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^"'Millennium'-stjärnan Noomi Rapace har ansökt om skilsmässa från maken Ola Rapace". Aftonbladet.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 20 March 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
^Diu, Nisha Lilia (11 December 2011). "Noomi Rapace: 'I Want to Fight Like the Guys'". The Daily Telegraph. London, UK. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
^"The Drop's Noomi Rapace: on her rough past and the pressure to be sexy". The Daily Telegraph. 9 November 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
^"Film Star Noomi Rapace On Rejecting Red Carpet Gender Stereotypes". YouTube. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
^Hammond, Paula (7 January 2022). "Noomi Rapace: 'I crave connection'". Scan Magazine. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
^Spry, Jeff (28 February 2024). "Noomi Rapace and Jonathan Banks on making Apple TV+'s twisty space thriller, 'Constellation' (exclusive)". Space.com. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
^"The Art Of Crying named Best Danish Film". Screen Daily. 25 February 2008.
^Karger, Dave (12 December 2010). "'Social Network' wins L.A., Boston, New York Online critics awards". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 10 August 2017.