Mikael Persbrandt

Biography

Mikael Åke Persbrandt, born 25 September 1963) is a Swedish actor. In Swedish films, he is perhaps best known for playing Gunvald Larsson in the Beck series of movies. He is internationally known for his starring role in the Academy Award-winning feature, In a Better World, directed by Susanne Bier. His performance earned him a 2011 European Film Award nomination for Best Actor. Other parts include the role of Carl Hamilton from the novels by Jan Guillou, Beorn in The Hobbit, as well as Jakob Nyman in the English TV series Sex Education. He has performed onstage with the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm and in numerous film and TV roles. Persbrandt is well known for his role as the hardboiled police inspector Gunvald Larsson, in the Beck series of films. He won the Guldbagge Award for Best Actor in a leading role twice, the first in 2009 for Everlasting Moments and the second in 2014 for Nobody Owns Me. In 2015, Persbrandt reported that he would quit starring in his popular role of Gunvald Larsson. In 2019, Persbrandt began playing Jakob Nyman in the Netflix comedy drama Sex Education. He was a leading actor in the film The Salvation.

Known For

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

as Beorn

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

as Beorn

Sex Education

as Jakob Nyman

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

as Greybeard

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga

as Victor Karlosson

The Girl in the Spider's Web

as Alexander Zalachenko

Foundation

as The Mule

The Siege of Jadotville

as Dag Hammarskjold

The Salvation

as Peter Jensen

In a Better World

as Anton