Renate Reinsve
Reinsve at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival
Born (1987-11-24) 24 November 1987 (age 38)
Solbergelva, Buskerud, Norway
Alma mater Oslo National Academy of the Arts
Occupation Actress
Years active 2011–present
Children 1
Awards Full list
Signature

Renate Reinsve ( Norwegian: [rɛˈnɑ̀ːtə ˈrɑɪnˌsveː]; born 24 November 1987) is a Norwegian actress. Educated at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts, she began her career on stage at Trøndelag Teater in Trondheim before joining Det Norske Teatret in Oslo in 2016.

Reinsve made her feature film debut in Joachim Trier's Oslo, August 31st (2011). She gained international recognition for her starring role in Trier's romantic comedy-drama The Worst Person in the World (2021), for which she won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress and received a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She played an actress reuniting with her father in Trier's family drama Sentimental Value (2025) which earned her nominations for the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award for Best Actress.

Her other film credits include the psychological dark comedy A Different Man (2024), the thriller Armand (2024), the science-fiction romance Another End (2024), the drama Fjord (2026), which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, and the science-fiction horror film Backrooms (2026). On television, she appeared in the Apple TV+ legal thriller series Presumed Innocent (2024).

Early life and education

Born in Solbergelva, a suburb of Drammen, and educated at Kunsthøgskolen i Oslo in Oslo, Reinsve then joined the Trøndelag Teater in Trondheim, Norway.[1]

After being expelled from school at 16, Reinsve left Norway for Scotland and stayed in a hostel in Edinburgh. Running out of money, she was given a job in the hostel bar by the manager who "felt sorry for [her]".[2]

Career

2011–2020: Film debut and early work

In 2014, she received the Hedda Award for her role in Besøk av gammel dame, an adaptation of Friedrich Dürrenmatt's play Der Besuch der alten Dame. Since 2016, she has been contracted to Det Norske Teatret in Oslo.[1] Her films include Oslo, 31 August, The Orheim Company (2012), and Welcome to Norway (2016).[1] On television, she has been a main character in Nesten voksen[3] and a side character in Hvite gutter.[4]

2021–present: Breakthrough and expansion

Reinsve at the 2024 Berlinale in Berlin, Germany

In 2021, Reinsve played the principal character Julie in Joachim Trier's romantic comedy-drama The Worst Person in the World, which premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival to widespread critical acclaim.[5][6][7][8] On Late Night with Seth Meyers, Reinsve said that she was considering quitting acting the day before she was offered the role of Julie, and had considered working in carpentry as a backup plan to acting.[9] Trier had written the part of Julie specifically for her.[10] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian lauded the film giving it a five star review declaring, "Renate Reinsve is the actor who takes on this role and she takes off like a rocket, deserving star status to rival Lily James or Alicia Vikander for her tremendously mature, sensitive and sympathetic performance."[11] For her performance Reinsve received numerous accolades including the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress as well as a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.[12] In May 2023, she was cast in the horror film Weapons.[13] Production was delayed by the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes, which created schedule conflicts and she had to drop out, being replaced by Julia Garner.

Reinsve acted in two movies which competed at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, the first being Aaron Schimberg's psychological drama A Different Man co-starring opposite Sebastian Stan. The second was Piero Messina's science-fiction romance Another End with Gael Garcia Bernal.[14][15] Reinsve acted in the film Armand directed by Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel which premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.[16] In Nordisk, Armand was said to be "A story about boundaries - not mainly between the kids, but between the adults involved. Who decides where to set them? What is an assault, what is play, what is consent, and what is privacy?".[17] She was nominated for the European Film Award for Best Actress for her performance. Also in 2024, she played a lover and victim in the Apple TV+ legal thriller series Presumed Innocent acting opposite Jake Gyllenhaal. The series was based on the 1987 novel.[18]

Elle Fanning, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Stellan Skarsgård and Reinsve promoting Sentimental Value in 2025

Reinsve reunited with Trier for the family drama Sentimental Value starring alongside Stellan Skarsgård and Elle Fanning.[19] Filming commenced in August 2024.[20] The film premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival to positive reviews.[21][22] David Ehlrich of IndieWire praised her collaboration with the director: "Reinsve is immaculately attuned to Trier's energy, and Sentimental Value is carried by the manic frustration she brings to her part".[23] David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter concurred: "It's especially gladdening to see Reinsve working again with a director who draws out every ounce of raw feeling in her" while also praising her for her dramatic and comedic abilities.[24] For her performance she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award, BAFTA Award, and Academy Award, becoming the second Norwegian Oscar nominee in the category.

In June 2025, it was announced that Reinsve would star opposite Chiwetel Ejiofor in the A24 science-fiction film Backrooms directed by Kane Parsons.[25] In 2026 she reunited with Sebastian Stan in the Cristian Mungiu-directed drama Fjord, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.[26] Pete Hammond of Deadline Hollywood praised the leading performances, describing them both as being "excellent" and that they are "never going for melodrama but keeping it real as their world comes crashing down around them".[27] The film went on to win the Palme d'Or.[28]

Personal life

During a November 2025 interview with Vogue,[29] Reinsve revealed that she has a six-year-old son with her former boyfriend, animator Julian Nazario Vargas. A week later at the ELLE "Women In Hollywood" event, she mentioned him in a speech: "My son [who] is such a wonderful person, so sensitive and strong and cool, and I'm so happy to have him here."[30] On November 26, 2025, during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, she spoke of having been kicked out of the Girl Scouts; the leader of the troop suggested that she get involved in theater. She also worked at her family's hardware store. According to Reinsve, she was uninterested in working there and was dismissed from employment at the business.[31]

Filmography

Film

Key
† Denotes productions which have not yet been released
Year Title Role Notes
2011 Oslo, 31 August Renate
2012 The Orheim Company Lene
2015 Women in Oversized Men's Shirts Ane
Villmark Asylum Synne
2016 Welcome to Norway [no] Line
2017 Ekspedisjon Knerten [no] Mor
2018 Phoenix [no] Kristin
2021 The Worst Person in the World Julie
2024 Handling the Undead Anna
A Different Man Ingrid Vold Hollywood debut
Another End Zoe / Ava
Armand Elizabeth Also executive producer
2025 Sentimental Value Nora Borg
2026 Butterfly[32] Lily
Fjord Lisbet Gheorghiu [33]
Backrooms Dr. Mary Kline [34]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2015 Mysteriet på Sommerbåten Aktuar Television series
2015 Unge lovende N/a Episode #1.1
2018 Nesten voksen Siri 3 episodes
2018 Roeng Lena 10 episodes
2018 Best: Før Anemone Episode: "Pop-up festival"
2018–2021 Hvite gutter Frida 13 episodes
2022 Ida tar ansvar Sarah Episode: "Et dukkehjem"
2024 Presumed Innocent Carolyn Polhemus 8 episodes

Accolades

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Renate Reinsve

See also

  • List of Nordic Academy Award winners and nominees
  • List of actors nominated for Academy Awards for non-English performances
  • List of actors with Academy Award nominations

Notes

References

  1. ^ a b c Bikset, Lillian. "Renate Reinsve". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  2. ^ The Late Late Show with James Corden (23 March 2022). "Olivia Rodrigo Used Her Driver's License to Visit a British Pub". YouTube. Archived from the original on 23 March 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Bare nesten morsomt", Dagbladet 5 January 2018
  4. ^ "Frognerfjotter", Dagbladet 9 January 2018
  5. ^ Brunstad, Vera (8 July 2021). "Cannes-debut etter første hovedrolle". Dagbladet (in Norwegian).
  6. ^ Lawson, Richard (10 July 2021). "'The Worst Person in the World' Is the Best Film at Cannes So Far". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  7. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (8 July 2021). "The Worst Person in the World review – Nordic romcom is an instant classic". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  8. ^ "The Worst Person in the World (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Renate Reinsve Decided to Quit Acting the Day Before Landing Her Biggest Role". YouTube. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  10. ^ O’Malley, Sheila (28 June 2022). "The Worst Person in the World: Lost and Found". Criterion Collection. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  11. ^ "The Worst Person in the World review – Nordic romcom is an instant classic". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 July 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Cannes' Best Actress winner Renate Reinsve is also 'The Worst Person in the World'". NPR. 30 January 2022. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  13. ^ Kit, Borys (22 May 2023). "Renate Reinsve, Star of The Worst Person in the World, Joins Pedro Pascal in Weapons". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  14. ^ Kroll, Justin (21 June 2022). "Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve & Adam Pearson To Star In 'A Different Man' For A24". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Renate Reinsve on Going From 'The Worst Person in The World' to Sharing the Screen With Sebastian Stan and Gael García Bernal". The Hollywood Reporter. 22 February 2024. Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  16. ^ "'The Worst Person in the World' Producers, Cannes Breakout Star Renate Reinsve Reteam on 'Armand' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. 26 June 2023. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Renate Reinsve boards Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel's debut feature Armand". Nordisk Film & TV Fund. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Jake Gyllenhaal Is Endlessly Watchable in Apple TV+'s Brilliant 'Presumed Innocent' Adaptation: TV Review". Variety. 10 June 2024. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  19. ^ "Joachim Trier Sets Next Film 'Sentimental Value,' a Father-Daughter Drama With 'Worst Person in the World' Star Renate Reinsve". Variety. 18 September 2023. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  20. ^ "Renate Reinsve on Going From 'The Worst Person in The World' to Sharing the Screen With Sebastian Stan and Gael García Bernal". The Hollywood Reporter. 22 February 2024. Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  21. ^ "Sentimental Value". Festival de Cannes. 21 May 2025. Archived from the original on 18 May 2025. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  22. ^ "Sentimental Value". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  23. ^ "'Sentimental Value' Review: Joachim Trier's Wise and Ecstatically Moving Family Portrait Searches for Intimacy Through Filmmaking". IndieWire. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  24. ^ "'Sentimental Value' Review: Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgard and Elle Fanning Illuminate Joachim Trier's Piercing Reflection on Family and Memory". The Hollywood Reporter. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  25. ^ "Renate Reinsve Joins Chiwetel Ejiofor In A24 Sci-Fi Horror Pic 'The Backrooms'". Deadline Hollywood. 11 June 2025. Archived from the original on 30 July 2025. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
  26. ^ "The Screenings Guide of the 79th Festival de Cannes". Festival de Cannes. 7 May 2026. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  27. ^ "'Fjord' Review: Sebastian Stan And Renate Reinsve In Cristian Mungiu's Masterful Drama Of Our Polarized Times – Cannes Film Festival". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  28. ^ "Cristian Mungiu's 'Fjord' wins Palme d'Or at 2026 Cannes Film Festival". Screen Daily. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  29. ^ Vogue (11 November 2025). "Renate Reinsve Went Deep (and Got Giggly) on the Set of 'Sentimental Value'". Vogue. Archived from the original on 17 November 2025. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  30. ^ "Renate Reinsve Gives Her 'Wonderful' Son a Shout-Out in Her ELLE Women in Hollywood Speech". Yahoo Entertainment. 18 November 2025. Archived from the original on 18 November 2025. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  31. ^ "Renate Reinsve dukket opp på «Late Night with Seth Meyers»". 27 November 2025. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  32. ^ "Butterfly' Stars Renate Reinsve, Gran Canaria, the "Tourism Machine," Addiction to the Male Gaze, Family Trauma, and Healing: Rotterdam". Archived from the original on 31 January 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  33. ^ Lang, Brent (12 May 2025). "Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve Family Drama 'Fjord' Sells to Neon". Variety. Archived from the original on 14 May 2025. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  34. ^ "Effigy". ACFC West, Local 2020 Unifor. 23 June 2025. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
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