Trine Dyrholm on The Danish Woman: Embracing Complexity and the Power of Art
Danish actress Trine Dyrholm (Beginners, The Girl With the Needle, The Celebration, Poison) has built a reputation for delivering deeply layered performances. With her latest role in The Danish Woman, premiering at Series Mania in Lille, she continues to push boundaries, affirming that “the world needs art more than ever.”
Debuting in the festival’s International Panorama section, The Danish Woman sees Dyrholm stepping into the role of Ditte Jensen, a former Danish Secret Service agent who retires to Reykjavik, Iceland, seeking a quiet life. However, her instincts as an elite soldier refuse to fade, and she soon finds herself assisting her neighbors—whether they want her help or not. The six-episode series, directed by Benedikt Erlingsson (Woman at War, Of Horses and Men), is being represented by The Party Film Sales for international distribution.
“I’m so grateful for the incredible challenges I get to take on,” Dyrholm tells The Hollywood Reporter, emphasizing the significance of this role. “It’s a big lead in a TV show from Benedikt Erlingsson, whose work I love. He’s a great filmmaker, and I’m just very excited about it.”
A Journey to Iceland and Into Character
Filming took Dyrholm to Iceland for three and a half months, an experience she describes as transformative. “I love Iceland. The Icelanders live so closely with nature, and that mentality resonated deeply with me.”
Beyond its setting, what drew her to The Danish Woman was the depth of her character. “She’s not one-dimensional,” Dyrholm explains. “She’s a former secret service agent, and she starts helping her neighbors in her own way—sometimes whether they like it or not. It’s a very complex piece.”
The uniqueness of the script reminded her of Poison, her recent film opposite Tim Roth, directed by Désirée Nosbusch (Bad Banks). “When you read certain scripts, you immediately know you have to do them,” she says. “I had never read anything like The Danish Woman before, and I thought, ‘I have to do this. This is crazy!’ I also enjoy taking on projects that challenge me in ways I’m not sure I can handle.”
A Philosophy of Acting—and Life
Dyrholm’s approach to acting is deeply immersive. “I borrow the eyes of the character and look at the world through their perspective,” she explains. “I put my ego aside and try to explore the moment as they would. Of course, there’s research, discussions with the director and writer, and rehearsals, but ultimately, you discover things in real time while performing.”
She applies the same principle of openness to both her characters and real life. “I never judge a character. I always wonder, ‘What would she feel here?’ Because in life, we don’t know how we’ll react until something happens. Acting is about exploring the moment.”
For Dyrholm, this method keeps performances dynamic and unpredictable. “If you enter a scene knowing your character is angry, you ask yourself: How is she angry? Then, suddenly, you realize she might also be embarrassed by her anger. Human emotions are layered and constantly shifting. That’s life.”
This philosophy extends beyond acting. “I try to meet people without preconceived notions. We cannot judge others, just as we shouldn’t judge characters,” she says.
The Need for Art in Today’s World
Dyrholm is deeply affected by the state of the world. “I’m so depressed about what’s happening right now. I feel that we need art more than ever. We need spaces for reflection, for sharing the burdens of life—fear, desperation, existential struggles that words alone can’t express. That’s our job as actors and filmmakers: to create that space and invite audiences into the inner chaos of a character.”
She concludes with a message of connection: “No matter our religion, gender, or culture, there’s always something that binds us together. That’s what I look for in my characters, and that’s what I hope audiences will see, too.”
