Sidse Babett Knudsen: Danish Actress and Borgen’s Prime Minister
Sidse Babett Knudsen is a Danish actress who works in theater, television and film. She is best known for playing Prime Minister Birgitte Nyborg in the political drama Borgen (2010–2013). Her other well-known films are After the Wedding (2006) and Courted (2015). Her 2026 work includes the series Kill Jackie and the film What Lies Between Us.
Borgen first aired on Danish television in 2010 and quickly became a hit outside Denmark. Knudsen’s performance as Nyborg was a big part of that success, and the role made her known to audiences around the world. People still search for her because of it.
Sidse Babett Knudsen: key facts
| Born | 22 November 1968, Copenhagen, Denmark |
|---|---|
| Age | 57 (as of November 2026) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Known for | Let’s Get Lost (1997), After the Wedding (2006), Borgen (2010–2013), Courted (2015) |
| Major awards | César Award for Best Supporting Actress (2016) |
| Profiles | Wikipedia |
Sidse Babett Knudsen’s work in improvised Danish comedy
Sidse Babett Knudsen trained as an actor in Paris, at the Theatre de l’Ombre, from 1987 to 1990. When she came back to Denmark in the early 1990s, she performed in experimental plays in and around Copenhagen.
Her first screen role was the lead, Julie, in the improvised comedy Let’s Get Lost (1997). The film was one of the most successful Danish releases of that year. She won both the Robert and the Bodil awards for Best Actress for it.
She made the mystery Motello in 1998. The next year she starred in the romantic comedy The One and Only (Den eneste ene, 1999), which was a big success. In 2000 she worked again with director Jonas Elmer, the director of Let’s Get Lost, playing the title role in Mona’s World. As on their first film, she improvised her dialogue and built the character herself.
Sidse Babett Knudsen in drama: Borgen and international films
Sidse Babett Knudsen moved into serious drama with Susanne Bier’s After the Wedding (2006), in which she starred with Mads Mikkelsen, Rolf Lassgård and Stine Fischer Christensen. The role earned her award nominations. Her Danish films from this period also include Take the Trash (2008) and Parterapi (2010).
Borgen (2010–2013) made her an international star. After the series, she worked more often in English and French. Her films from this period include Peter Strickland’s The Duke of Burgundy (2014) and Courted (2015), for which she won a César. In 2016 she appeared in Inferno, A Hologram for the King and 150 Milligrams.
Sidse Babett Knudsen’s recent work in English and French
Sidse Babett Knudsen has kept working in several languages. She acted in Peter Strickland’s In Fabric (2018), The Translators (2019) and Jessica Hausner’s Club Zero (2023). Club Zero is an English-language drama in which she starred with Mia Wasikowska.
In the Danish prison thriller Sons (2024), she plays Eva, a prison officer. In 2025 she appeared in the series Prime Target and the film 13 Days, 13 Nights. Her most recent projects, as of November 2026, are Kill Jackie and What Lies Between Us.
Sidse Babett Knudsen’s selected screen credits
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Kill Jackie | Karenina | TV series |
| 2026 | What Lies Between Us | Anne Sofie | Film |
| 2025 | 13 Days, 13 Nights | Kate | Film |
| 2025 | The Great Arch | Liv von Spreckelsen | Film |
| 2025 | Prime Target | Professor Andrea Lavin | TV series |
| 2025 | The Family Plan 2 | Svetlana Romanova | Film |
| 2024 | Sons | Eva Hansen | Film |
| 2023 | Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction | The Grand Duchess | Film |
| 2023 | Club Zero | — | Film |
| 2018 | In Fabric | — | Film |
| 2016 | Inferno | — | Film |
| 2014 | The Duke of Burgundy | — | Film |
| 2010–2013 | Borgen | Birgitte Nyborg | TV series |
| 2006 | After the Wedding | — | Film |
| 1997 | Let’s Get Lost | Julie | Film |
Sidse Babett Knudsen’s awards and recognition
- 2016 – César Award for Best Supporting Actress. She won it for Courted (L’Hermine).
- 1997 – Robert and Bodil awards for Best Actress. She won both for her first film, Let’s Get Lost.
FAQ
– How old is Sidse Babett Knudsen?
Sidse Babett Knudsen was born on 22 November 1968. She is 57 (as of November 2026).
– Where was Sidse Babett Knudsen born?
Sidse Babett Knudsen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. She trained as an actor in Paris from 1987 to 1990.
– Who does Sidse Babett Knudsen play in Borgen?
Sidse Babett Knudsen plays Birgitte Nyborg, a fictional Danish prime minister. The series started in 2010 and became popular around the world.
– What is Sidse Babett Knudsen’s latest project?
As of November 2026, Sidse Babett Knudsen’s latest projects are the series Kill Jackie and the film What Lies Between Us, both from 2026.
Header photo: Elena Ternovaja / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0, resized
