• Lena Olin is a Swedish actress, born in Stockholm in 1955.
• She is currently living in Bedford, New York State with her husband and working on her next movie.
• Lena rose to prominence after appearing in Ingmar Bergman's movie "After the Rehearsal" in 1984.
• She is married to Swedish movie director Lasse Hallstrom, with whom she has a daughter.
• She has a net worth of over $2 million.
Known for movies




Short Info
Date Of Birth | March 22, 1955 |
Spouse | Lasse Hallström |
Fact | Moved permanently to the US in 1995 together with husband Lasse Hallström (as both their international careers developed separately) and the couple have since then been resident in Bedford, New York. However, they still have their summer house in Sweden (located in the Swedish province of Skåne) where the family spend their summer holidays as well as an apartment in Stockholm. |

Where is Lena Olin now? Wiki Bio
Lena Maria Jonna Olin was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on 22 March 1955, so under the zodiac sign of Aries and holding Swedish nationality – she is popular for her career of an actress, especially for her roles in “Enemies: A Love Story” and “Chocolat” movies. She is currently living in Bedford, New York State with her husband, and is working on her next movie.
Childhood and education
Lena spent her entire childhood in Stockholm with her parents Stig Olin and Britta Homberg – her father was a movie director while her mother was a popular actress. Growing up alongside them, Lena fell in love with movies and wanted to become a popular actress once she finished school – she had two siblings, but her older brother died from cancer in 1960 when he was only 10 years old; the other became a popular singer.
Lena was somewhat popular in high school thanks to her parents, as everybody knew about them. She had numerous friends as she was very sociable, and although she was very good academically, she didn’t forget her dream of becoming an actress.
After she matriculated from high school, Lena enrolled at Sweden’s National Academy of Dramatic Art, where she studied mime and acting.
The beginning of her career
Lena did a bit of modelling before becoming an actress, actually crowned Miss Scandinavia in 1974, in Helsinki in Finland.
As she needed the money to support herself, Lena did several jobs before turning to acting, including as a substitute teacher and working at a hospital as a nurse’s aid. She was a member of the Royal Dramatic Theatre ensemble from 1980 to 1994, and acted in masterpieces written by Shakespeare, and also appeared in small roles in several movies.
Her career was officially launched with her role in “Face to Face” in 1976 – Ingmar Bergman who wrote the drama was very pleased with Lena’s performance, and cast her in several of his upcoming productions. When his “King Lear” version of Shakespeare’s tragedy was released, Lena got to tour around the world with the cast, and visited some of the most popular cities including but not limited to Paris, Moscow and New York. Some of her most notable roles during this period were in “The Master and Margarita”, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, and “The Alchemist”. In 1980, Lena became one of the first winners of the Ingmar Bergman Award which was created by Ingmar himself, and who also served as one of two judges.
Rise to prominence
Lena rose to prominence after appearing in another Ingmar movie entitled “After the Rehearsal” in 1984 – her next role in “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” in 1988 made her even more popular, as is still somewhat popular today. In 1989, she received a nomination for the best supporting actress in a movie for her performance in “Enemies: A Love Story”, playing a woman who survived a Nazi death camp during the World War II.
Her next important roles were in the movies “Chocolat” in 2000, for which she was nominated for awards five times, and in “Casanova” in 2005. She won her first TV series role in 2002 in “Alias”, and was in the cast for four years until 2006 – for her role, Lena received her first Emmy Award for an outstanding supporting actress in 2003.
Some of her other notable roles include the supporting role in “Bang Bang Orangutang”, “The Reader” in 2008, “Maya Dardel in 2017”, and will appear in “Daughter of the Queen of Sheba” movie scheduled for release in 2019.
Love life and relationships
Lena was also a bit secretive when it comes to her love life, as she did not want to mix her business life with her love life, however, being a popular actress as she is, she wasn’t able to keep everything away from the media.
Sometime in the ‘70s, Lena began dating Swedish actor Orjan Ramberg. who was also in the Royal Dramatic Theatre at the same time as Lena. The two didn’t marry, but had a son named Auguste Rahmberg born in 1986 – Lena and Orjan split in 1988 for unknown reasons.
After her breakup with Orjan, Lena dated Richard Gere for a short time after the two met during the shooting of the “Mr. Jones”. In 1992, she met Lasse Hallstrom who is a popular Swedish movie director, and they soon began dating – in 1994 they exchanged their wedding vows in Hedvig Eleonora Church in the heart of Sweden, and are now parents to their daughter Tora, who was born in 1995. They have been together ever since, and are currently living in Bedford, New York US. Lena describes her husband as her best friend.
Hobbies and other interests
Lena might be very fond of acting as it is her job and her biggest passion, but she has other interests as well.
Lena is a singer, and has recorded a song in Swedish entitled “Manniskors gladje” which was both written and composed by her father Stig Olin with the help of the “Sommarbrevet (Jag skrev ett brev)” Swedish country tune – the song was released sometime in the ‘70s, and was quite popular. While younger, Lena was a huge fan of travelling and enjoyed the privilege of travelling which all actors had – she would often go on road trips instead of flying to get to the set of a film she was working on. She is also a bit of a philanthropist, as both she and her husband have donated to charity throughout the years.
Lena is a lover of animals, and volunteered in an animal shelter when she was younger, but being as busy as she is, she has never had a dog of her own.
Appearance and net worth
Lena is currently 64 years old. She has long brown hair and brown eyes, and is 5ft 10in (1.78m) tall, while her weight is not known.
According to authoritative sources, her current net worth is estimated to be more than $2 million, and is still steadily rising thanks to her career as an actress.
Fan fact
Lena’s first two attempts to join the National Theatre Academy in 1976 failed, although she got to the final test both times. She then enrolled at university to study to become a doctor, however, Ingmar convinced her to try the test for the third time – she passed, and so gave up on medicine.
Had a wonderful Christmas, hope all my friends on here did too! Thanks for all the messages of goodwill! Appreciated… Love you xxx
— Lena Olin (@LenaOlin) December 27, 2009
Social media presence
Lena seems not to be that active on the internet, as most of her social media accounts seem to be fan made. She has a Twitter account which was launched in February 2009, and which so far counts nearly 500 followers, while she’s tweeted only 10 times – her last on 26 December 2009 and reads ‘Had a wonderful Christmas, hope all my friends on here did too! Thanks for all the messages of goodwill! Appreciated… Love you xxx’. Her Instagram account is currently followed by more than 7,500, people while she’s uploaded more than 100 pictures onto it – she seems to be more or less active on it, as she uploads a single picture every week. Lena’s fan page on Facebook is currently followed by more than 3,000 people.
General Info
Full Name | Lena Olin |
Date Of Birth | March 22, 1955 |
Height | 1.8 m |
Profession | Actor |
Education | Swedish National Academy of Mime and Acting |
Nationality | Swedish |
Family
Spouse | Lasse Hallström |
Children | Tora Hallstrom, Auguste Rahmberg |
Parents | Stig Olin, Britta Holmberg |
Siblings | Mats Olin |
Accomplishments
Nominations | Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, BAFTA Award for Best... |
Movies | The Ninth Gate, Chocolat, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Romeo is Bleeding, Awake, Remember Me, Queen of the Damned, Hollywood Homicide, The Hypnotist, Enemies, A Love Story, The Reader, Casanova, Night Falls on Manhattan, Mystery Men, The United States of Leland, Night Train to Lisbon, After th... |
TV Shows | Welcome to Sweden, Alias |
Social profile links
Quotes
# | Quote |
---|---|
1 | [In response to a question about kissing her co-stars] Kissing someone you don't feel for is unpleasant. Many, however, were very pleasant. Like Johnny Depp. I don't think a lot of women would have a problem kissing him. [Laughs heartily] He's a good friend of ours, by the way. [Lena is married to Lasse Hallstrom, who directed What's Eating Gilbert Grape and Chocolat.] He's not exactly in the Connecticut neighborhood a lot, since he lives in France, but we often see each other at the Oscars and film events. |
2 | [on Johnny Depp] -- Johnny is a very sweet person and fun to be around. |
3 | "What's most interesting and most real to me in my work is to never make the role a complete character, because then you lose a part of the truth. I can't say that this person is just like this or like that. Because you can never do that with real people in real life, so if you try that on stage you lose the truth. Since I myself strive to be able to be a great many things, I also want my character to have that very same liberty. Eventually in that way it will add to a sort of completeness. But it is the story that is told that is the interesting thing and the situations the character is in. And as we humans always are shaped by a special situation or given circumstances, I can never ever say: Thus is my character." (on her acting work, Swedish interview, 1990) |
4 | "I was supposed to play the world's most dangerous woman and do a lot of action scenes. Then you can't come in there like a couch-potato... so I started training at gyms, weight-lifting and all things possible, and then I've just continued with that a couple of times a week." (on how she manages to keep so fit when playing her "Alias" success-character Irina Derevko) |
5 | "I am in love with my best friend" (On husband Lasse Hallström). |
6 | "There are no patterns that lasts a lifetime. Some people can't stand the floating boarders. They decide on one life philosophy and live thereafter. But I've decided not to decide. I don't know everything. I don't understand everything. Both my own and others reactions are often a mystery to me. I let it be that way, hoping that maybe, instead, I can learn to understand the pattern of no patterns." (on life, people and relationships) |
7 | "I want to show that from the negative, when you dare to see it, the positive is born, because there is the root to the good. I have inside myself, for example, a sharp aggression. But if you remove it, I lose my creativity. I have a great insecurity, but if you remove it, I also lose my sensitivity. Good theater is the theater that can make it a little attractive, a bit cool, to have these dark inner depths. You must be a bit afraid of them. I have a big need of spending time being alone, just to fear these dark sides. We must have secrets. That's why I almost never agree, or rarely, to really personal interviews: you must have large pools, untouched inside yourself." (on acting, theater and her interest in playing dark women roles on stage and in films) |
Facts
# | Fact |
---|---|
1 | Is one of four Swedish actresses to be nominated for an Academy Award. The others are Greta Garbo, Ingrid Bergman, Lena Olin and Ann-Margret. The only Swedish actor to be nominated is Max von Sydow. |
2 | Is one of five Swedish actresses to be nominated for a Golden Globe award. The others are Ingrid Bergman, Anita Ekberg, Ann-Margret and Rebecca Ferguson. |
3 | Reprising her role as the duplicitous "Irina Derevko" for the season finale of Alias (2001). [April 2005] |
4 | Stepmother of Lasse Hallström's son Johan Hallström. |
5 | Member of the jury at the Venice Film Festival in 1988. |
6 | Lena studied the course of Classic Humanities with Latin as her major language in the Swedish equivalent to senior high school/upper secondary education (1971-1974). Later she also extended her course for half a year with the subjects of Maths, Physics and Chemistry as it was necessary for her medicine studies at university. |
7 | Was a top student. Graduated with 4,9 average in her graduation scores (the highest in Sweden at that point was 5.0). After failing twice in the test for drama school, she began to study medicine at university to become a doctor. However, she was convinced by Ingmar Bergman (who had directed her father in several films and watched Lena play amateur theater) to try a third time. She did and was admitted (and gave up medicine). |
8 | Lena has said in a Swedish interview that contact with others got her to act, even very early as a child, describing it as "an uncontrolled need of contact" and to "invent things": She remembers when she was seven and in love with a boy and staged an argument with him and then acted out a faked concussion. She got carried home as he apparently believed her: It ended with him coming home to her with apples and Andy Pandy books. |
9 | Before becoming an actress Lena worked both as a sub teacher (in languages) and as a hospital nurse (she first studied medicine at university) back in Sweden. |
10 | Failed twice - both times in the very last test - two years in a row before she was accepted the third time at Sweden's prestigious National Theatre Academy (Teaterhögskolan) in 1976. |
11 | Moved permanently to the US in 1995 together with husband Lasse Hallström (as both their international careers developed separately) and the couple have since then been resident in Bedford, New York. However, they still have their summer house in Sweden (located in the Swedish province of Skåne) where the family spend their summer holidays as well as an apartment in Stockholm. |
12 | Has a fine singing voice. Recorded, a.o., Swedish song "Människors glädje" (written and composed by her father Stig Olin) and Swedish country/folk tune "Sommarbrevet (Jag skrev ett brev)" in the 1970s (Polar Music, Sweden). |
13 | Considered for the role of Maria Ruskin in The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990). |
14 | Considered for the role of Catwoman in Batman Returns (1992). |
15 | Member of Sweden's Royal Dramatic Theatre (1980-1994). |
16 | National Theatre Academy; Stockholm, Sweden (1976-1979). |
17 | Stated in a May 2005 interview with "TV Guide" that, along with her appearances in the final two episodes of Season 4 of Alias (2001), she is open to appearing in Season 5 as well. |
18 | For the role of Masha in Enemies: A Love Story (1989), she received the New York Film Critics Award for Best Actress as well as an Academy Award nomination. |
19 | Younger sister of singer Mats Olin. |
20 | Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival. [1998] |
21 | Has a son F. Auguste Rahmberg (b. 1986) with former boyfriend Örjan Ramberg. Has a daughter Tora Hallström (b. 1995) with husband Lasse Hallström. |
22 | Daughter of actor Stig Olin and actress Britta Holmberg. |
Pictures
Movies
Actress
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Night Falls on Manhattan | 1996 | Peggy Lindstrom | |
The Night and the Moment | 1994 | The Marquise | |
Mr. Jones | 1993 | Libbie | |
Romeo Is Bleeding | 1993 | Mona Demarkov | |
Havana | 1990/I | Bobby Duran | |
Hebriana | 1990 | TV Movie | Lena |
Enemies: A Love Story | 1989 | Masha | |
s/y Glädjen | 1989 | Annika Larsson | |
Friends | 1988 | Sue | |
The Unbearable Lightness of Being | 1988 | Sabina | |
Komedianter | 1987 | TV Movie | Ann |
A Matter of Life and Death | 1986 | Nadja Melander | |
Flight North | 1986 | Karin | |
Glasmästarna | 1986 | TV Movie | Lady with dog |
Wallenberg: A Hero's Story | 1985 | TV Movie | Marta |
After the Rehearsal | 1984 | TV Movie | Anna Egerman (older) |
Fanny och Alexander | 1983 | TV Mini-Series | Rosa |
Fanny and Alexander | 1982 | Rosa - Ekdahlska huset | |
Gräsänklingar | 1982 | Nina | |
Pappa är död | 1982 | TV Movie | Berit |
Som ni behagar | 1982 | TV Movie | Febe |
Från Boston till pop | 1980 | TV Mini-Series | Maggan Fällman |
Kärleken | 1980 | Lena | |
The Adventures of Picasso | 1978 | Dolores | |
Tabu | 1977 | Girl (uncredited) | |
Friaren som inte ville gifta sig | 1977 | TV Movie | Gypsy woman |
Face to Face | 1976 | Shop Assistant | |
Intensive Care | 2018 | pre-production | Margaret |
Empire of the Heart | 2017 | pre-production | |
Riviera | 2017 | TV Mini-Series | Irina |
A Critically Endangered Species | 2017 | Maya | |
Vinyl | 2016 | TV Series | Mrs. Fineman |
Spark | 2016/I | TV Series | Hazel Stockton |
Welcome to Sweden | 2014-2015 | TV Series | Viveka Börjesson |
The Devil You Know | 2013 | Kathryn Vale | |
Night Train to Lisbon | 2013 | Older Estefânia | |
Grounded | 2013 | Yevgeina | |
Hypnotisören | 2012 | Simone Bark | |
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | 2010 | TV Series | Ingrid Block |
Remember Me | 2010 | Diane Hirsch | |
The Reader | 2008 | Rose Mather Ilana Mather | |
Awake | 2007 | Lilith Beresford | |
Alias | 2002-2006 | TV Series | Irina Derevko |
Bang Bang Orangutang | 2005 | Nina | |
Casanova | 2005 | Andrea | |
Hollywood Homicide | 2003 | Ruby | |
The United States of Leland | 2003 | Marybeth Fitzgerald | |
Darkness | 2002 | Maria | |
Queen of the Damned | 2002 | Maharet | |
Ignition | 2001 | Judge Faith Mattis | |
Hamilton | 2001 | TV Mini-Series | Tessie |
Chocolat | 2000 | Josephine Muscat | |
The Ninth Gate | 1999 | Liana Telfer | |
Mystery Men | 1999 | Dr. Anabel Leek | |
Hamilton | 1998 | Tessie | |
Polish Wedding | 1998 | Jadzia | |
The Golden Hour | 1996 |
Thanks
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Safe Haven | 2013/I | thanks | |
The Shipping News | 2001 | very special thanks | |
One Taste Is Never Enough... The Pleasures of 'Chocolat' | 2000 | TV Movie documentary special thanks | |
The Cider House Rules | 1999 | very special thanks |
Self
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Skavlan | 2012-2015 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
Cinema 3 | 2013 | TV Series | Herself |
70th Golden Globe Awards | 2013 | TV Special | Herself - Audience Member (uncredited) |
Hellenius Hörna | 2012 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
Efter Tio | 2012 | TV Series | Herself |
Corazón de... | 2005 | TV Series | Herself |
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn | 2002 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
The Rosie O'Donnell Show | 2001 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
One Taste Is Never Enough... The Pleasures of 'Chocolat' | 2000 | TV Movie documentary | Herself / Josephine Muscat |
The Directors | 1999 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
Hamilton bakom kulisserna | 1998 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | 1994-1998 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
Gomorron | 1998 | TV Series | Herself |
Lumière et compagnie | 1995 | Documentary segment "Lasse Hallström" | |
Bergman: On Stage | 1994 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
Today | 1988-1994 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
The 62nd Annual Academy Awards | 1990 | TV Special | Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Supporting Role |
Havana: Featurette | 1990 | Video documentary short | Herself - Actress |
Awards
Won Awards
Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | Gold Derby TV Award | Gold Derby Awards | Drama Guest Actress | Alias (2001) |
1989 | NYFCC Award | New York Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Enemies: A Love Story (1989) |
1980 | Ingmar Bergman Award | Guldbagge Awards |
Nominated Awards
Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | Gold Derby TV Award | Gold Derby Awards | Drama Guest Actress | Alias (2001) |
2005 | Teen Choice Award | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Parental Units | Alias (2001) |
2004 | Golden Satellite Award | Satellite Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Drama | Alias (2001) |
2003 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Alias (2001) |
2003 | OFTA Television Award | Online Film & Television Association | Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Alias (2001) |
2003 | Golden Satellite Award | Satellite Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Drama | Alias (2001) |
2001 | BAFTA Film Award | BAFTA Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role | Chocolat (2000) |
2001 | Actor | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture | Chocolat (2000) |
1995 | CFCA Award | Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Romeo Is Bleeding (1993) |
1994 | MTV Movie Award | MTV Movie Awards | Best Action Sequence | Romeo Is Bleeding (1993) |
1990 | Oscar | Academy Awards, USA | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Enemies: A Love Story (1989) |
1989 | Golden Globe | Golden Globes, USA | Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture | The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988) |
2nd Place Awards
Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
---|---|---|---|---|
1990 | NSFC Award | National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA | Best Supporting Actress | Enemies: A Love Story (1989) |
1989 | NSFC Award | National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA | Best Supporting Actress | The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988) |
Source: IMDb, Wikipedia
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