The Dutch cinema industry is relatively small. The Netherlands is home to roughly three hundred and seventeen million fewer people than the United States. However, the Dutch film industry produces about 200 movies a year. That's still a considerably amount of movies that goes into production.
The Dutch film industry may be small in global terms, but has produced award-winning movies - and actors, for the past 50 years. In fact, you may have already seen a few Dutch screen marvels and legends, unaware that they hailed from the Netherlands. This article makes their formal introduction.
- Audrey Hepburn
- Rutger Hauer
- Jeroen Krabbé
- Famke Janssen
- Carice van Houten
- Marwan Kenzari
- Lotte Verbeek
- Sylvia Hoeks
- Michiel Huisman
- Thekla Reuten
1. Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn's mother was the Dutch Baroness Ella van Heemstra. Audrey spent some of her childhood in the Netherlands, before moving to the UK. After studying ballet in Amsterdam, she performed as a chorus girl in West End musical theater productions.
In 1944, while still a teen, Audrey danced ballet to raise money for the Dutch Resistance.
Audrey's career in the movie industry started with small appearances. The film Dutch in Seven Lessons was her screen debut. Her international education meant that she could speak English, French and Dutch. These skills landed her a small role in Monte Carlo Baby (which was shot both in French and English).
The French novelist, Colette, decided to cast Audrey as Gigi, the title role of a Broadway production. From that moment on, Hepburn was under the spotlight and was quickly cast for more starring roles.
Audrey is just one of 27 people to win an E.G.O.T - an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award. Upon retiring from the movie business, Hepburn dedicated her time to working with UNICEF on humanitarian causes. She received the US Presidential Medal of Freedom (1992) for her contributions.
2. Rutger Hauer
Hauer's international career started in 1981, starring as a psychopathic terrorist in Sylvester Stallone's Nighthawks. Before that, Rutger had a successful career in the Netherlands. He played the lead role in Soldiers of Orange (1977), one of the most successful Dutch movies of all times.
Blade Runner will forever be his defining Hollywood role. In one of this film's most famous scenes, Harrison Ford is chasing Rutger's character. Replicant Roy Batty (Hauer) improvised the iconic "tears in rain monologue".
Hauer's deft performance is heartbreaking in its gentle evocation of the memories, experiences, and passions that have driven Batty's short life.
Jason Vest, writing in Future Imperfect: Philip K. Dick at the Movies
After his Blade Runner success, Rutger Hauer made many more films in the US. So prolific was he that even now, five years past his death, studios have yet to release all of his works.
3. Jeroen Krabbé
Krabbé has had a long career, both in the Netherlands and in Hollywood. He appeared in more than 60 movies over the past five decades. He played alongside Rutger Hauer in Soldiers of Orange and again in Spetters, both movies being directed by Paul Verhoeven.
In Hollywood, a comedy marked his first big success. He starred Whoopi Goldberg in Jumpin' Jack Flash. Still, his best parts were villains, including in No Mercy (1986), and the James Bond thriller, The Living Daylights (1987).
4. Famke Janssen
Janssen ranks among the most famous Dutch actresses; she's also a director, screenwriter, and former model. She found fame in the US, both in Hollywood and on TV. In 1995, she was Pierce Brosnan's first femme fatale in his first James Bond movie, GoldenEye.
Later, to avoid typecasting, she accepted a role in Woody Allen's comedy-drama, Celebrity. Millennials are more likely to recognize her from her X-Men roles, as superhero Dr Jean Grey. She appeared in the original film, as well as in X-2 (2003) and X-Men: Last Stand (2006).
For this last movie, she won a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress. On TV, Janssen had a recurring role in the FX series Nip/Tuck as Ava Moore. She's starred in the Netflix Original horror series Hemlock Grove since 2013.
5. Carice van Houten
Every Games of Thrones fan will recognize van Houten as Melissandre, a role that this actress held since 2012. Van Houten's first big breakthrough on the international scene was in a Dutch movie, Black Book. At the time, this was the country's most significant production. She won her first Rembrandt and Golden Calf awards for this work.
Her performance in Valkyrie netted Carice a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She worked with Jude Law and Forest Whitaker in Repo Men (2010), and alongside Benedict Cumberbatch and Daniel Bruhl in The Fifth Estate (2013). However, Black Butterflies remains her most celebrated work.
6. Marwan Kenzari
You may recognize this Dutch actor from his role as Pierre Michel, in Murder on the Orient Express (2017). Marwan has relatively few credits to his name so far; he's been in this industry only since 2008. Still, demand for his smouldering gaze is growing; Marwan has three projects in post-production for 2024.
7. Lotte Verbeek
You may recognize Lotte Verbeek as Giulia Farnese, from the Showtime series, The Borgias (2011-13). In 2014, Verbeek played Geillis Duncan in the ongoing series, Outlander.
Her breakout role came in the Dutch film, Nothing Personal (2009). This film tells the story of two strangers who find common ground. Lotte earned the Best Actress award at the Marrakech International Film Festival, and a Golden Calf nomination at home.
Lotte has already made her mark on the history of the Dutch cinema. Like many of her Dutch actor and actress colleagues, Verbeek is multilingual. She speaks Dutch, English, French, German, Italian and Gaelic.
8. Sylvia Hoeks
Blade Runner enthusiasts will recognize Sylvia Hoeks from her role as Luv, in Blade Runner 2049. However, this actress has far more range. She's cycled from dystopia to romance, and thrillers to biographies. Admittedly, her native audience knows her work far better than international viewers.
9. Michiel Huisman
Michiel Huisman portrayed Daario Naharis in Game of Thrones, starting in 2014. He also played in the BBC-American series Orphan Black, in which he held the recurring role of Cal Morisson. In 2016, Huisman was cast as the co-lead in the romantic drama Guernsey, opposite Lily James. His acting talent and musical background landed him a role in HBO's drama Treme.
10. Thekla Reuten
Born: July 18, 1981
Where: Busum, North Holland, Netherlands
Known for: In Bruges, Red Sparrow, The American
Awards: Golden Calf Award, Rembrandt Award (nominations); Shooting Star Award (won)
In the Netherlands, Thekla Reuten has played in recurring series on national TV. She has also played many supporting roles in American productions. You may have spotted her alongside Colin Farrell in the movie In Bruges (2008), or opposite George Clooney in The American (2010).
Being one of the smallest countries in Europe, Holland does not lack onscreen - or behind-the-scenes talent. Learning multiple languages gives Dutch film industry professionals access to the international stage. You may enjoy these artists' works in your native language or, as you're learning Dutch, in theirs.
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