Aksel Hennie (born 29 October 1975) is a Norwegian actor, director, and screenwriter. He is best known for his roles in the films Uno (2004), Max Manus (2008), Hercules (2014), and The Martian (2015).
Early life Hennie was born in the Lambertseter suburb of Oslo on 29 October 1975. In his late teens, he was arrested for graffitiing, and became an outcast in the graffiti community after confessing to the police. His "writes" or signatures were "Ceel" and "Mikro" and can still be seen around Oslo. Most of them are crossed out or lined over because of his confession. This personal story contributed much of the background for the film Uno. The conviction against Hennie was one of the first such cases in Norway.
Career Hennie was admitted to the Norwegian National Academy of Theatre after applying four times. He graduated in 2001, and has acted both at Teatret Vårt in Molde (2001–2002) and at Oslo Nye Teater (since 2002), where he has been in plays such as Hamlet and Kvinnen Som Gifftet Seg Med en Kalkun (The Woman Who Married a Turkey).
Hennie's most notable success has been as a film actor. He made his debut starring in the feature film Jonny Vang in 2003. Although the director, Jens Lien, originally thought Hennie was too young for the role, the actor convinced him he was the right man for the film. That same year, he also acted in the films Buddy and Ulvesommer. The next year, Hennie made his debut as a director and writer with the film, Uno, in which he also acted. For this role, Hennie and his co-star, Nicolai Cleve Broch, undertook six months of hard physical training in order to perform convincingly as bodybuilders.
In 2001, Hennie was named "Theatre Talent of the Year" by the newspaper Dagbladet. Hennie won the Amanda Award (an important Norwegian film award), for "Best Direction" for Uno in 2005. That year he was among the nominees for "Best Actor" and "Best Film." He won an Amanda Award for "Best Actor" for Jonny Vang in 2003. He was named one of European film's "Shooting Stars" by the European Film Promotion in 2004.
In 2008, Hennie starred in Max Manus, where he played the Norwegian war hero of the same name. The film had a large budget by Norwegian standards. In 2011, Age of Heroes was released, a World War II film primarily shot in Norway. On 30 August 2013, Pionér, a docudrama, was released. Hennie plays the main role as a commercial offshore diver in the North Sea during the 1970s who witnesses an accident while diving under extreme conditions, prompting him to search for answers.
On 1 December 2013, Hennie won an Angela Award at the Subtitle European Film Festival in Kilkenny for his role in the film 90 Minutes. That evening he appeared at a showing of Headhunters, and did a question and answer session with the audience in the theatre after the film.
Personal life Aksel Hennie married former squash player, on 6 September 2019. His cousin Kalle Hennie is also an actor.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1990–98 Bobby's Verden 1998 1732 Høtten Arnt-Olaf 2000 Fort Forover Even Short film 2002 Anolit Stefan Short film2003 Buddy Geir Jonny Vang Jonny Vang Ulvesommer Pål2004 Den Som Frykter Ulven Stefan Hawaii, Oslo Trygve Uno DavidAlso directed Tell me everything goes well SmithShort film The one who fears the wolf Stefan2005 Terkel in Trouble In the Norwegian dub, all voices were performed by actor Aksel Hennie The Hardest Words In The World The HusbandShort film 2007 Torpedo (TV series) Sebastian2008 Kurt Turns Evil Bud Max Manus: Man of War Max Manus Salary Christer In a mirror, in a riddle Enge 2010 A Somewhat Gentle Man Samí2011 Headhunters Roger Brown Age of Heroes Lieutenant Steinar Mortensen 2012 90 minutter Trond 2013 Pioneer Petter Jensen2014 24 Karl Rask Day 9: 4:00pm–5:00pm Hercules Tydeus 2015 Last Knights Geza Mott The Martian Dr. Alex Vogel2016 Nobel Erling RiiserNOMINATED- 2017 Gullruten Best Actor, TV Drama Smuggler Arthur Omre2018 The Cloverfield Paradox Volkov Mordene i Kongo Joshua French2020 The Doorman Borz White Wall Lars Ruud2021 The Trip/ I Onde Dager Lars The Middle Man Arthur Clintstone2022 Sisu Bruno HelldorfFinnish film Kent State 2024SpermageddonSimenVoice role StayerEven ElstadStarring role (two seasons, twelve episodes), also director (seven episodes) Filming
Theatre +YearTitleRoleDirectorTheatre2022–23Peer Gynt (written by Henrik Ibsen)ActorPer Olav SörensenGålå
Awards and nominations YearOrganizationCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.2001DagbladetTheatre Talent of the YearHimself 2003Brussels European Film FestivalBest ActorHimself for Jonny VangAmanda AwardBest Male LeadHimself for Jonny Vang2004Viareggio EuropaCinemaFIPRESCI PrizeHimself for UnoMolodist Film FestivalBest ActorHimself for UnoMolodist Film FestivalBest Young ActorHimself for UnoNordic Filmtage LübeckChurch Film PrizeHimself for Uno2005Amanda AwardBest DirectorHimself for UnoAmanda AwardBest Male ActorHimself for UnoFestival Premiers Plans d'AngersSpecial Jury PrizeHimself for UnoCinequest Film FestivalBest First Feature AwardHimself for UnoNordic Film FestivalJury's Grand PrixHimself for UnoKosmorama Film FestivalThe Canon Prize for BestHimself for UnoKosmorama Film FestivalThe best prizeHimself for UnoPalic International Film FestivalSilver TowerHimself for Uno2008Amanda AwardBest Male ActorHimself for Cold Lunch2009Amanda AwardBest Male ActorHimself for Max Manus: Man of War2012Amanda AwardBest Male LeadHimself for Headhunters2013Canon PrizeBest Male LeadHimself for Pioneer2014Amanda AwardBest Male ActorHimself for PioneerAmanda Award: «Pioneer» mot «Skam»2016ElleNorway's Most Sexy Man 2016Himself2017GullrutenBest Actor, TV DramaHimself for NobelGullruten: «Nobel» mot «vinnerne 2014»
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