Renate Reinsve: From Outsider to Norway’s cinematic Leading Light
Renate Reinsve is rapidly becoming one of the most compelling actors working in contemporary cinema. Her breakout role in Joachim Trier‘s the Worst Person in the World catapulted her to international acclaim, adn she’s continuing to build momentum with a string of intriguing projects. But her journey to this point wasn’t conventional, and her perspective offers a engaging insight into the evolving landscape of Scandinavian filmmaking.
A Late Bloomer Finds Her Stage
Reinsve didn’t begin acting until her early twenties. This unconventional start shaped her approach and perspective. She initially trained as a dancer, but a knee injury redirected her towards the theater.
Returning to her theatrical roots was a key element in her recent film, Sentimental Value. She even fulfilled a long-held ambition during the production: playing Hamlet, though those scenes ultimately didn’t make the final cut. Reinsve approaches improvisation with caution, believing it can dilute nuance. “You want to say something and you want the audience to hear something else and see something third,” she explains.
However, she isn’t afraid to collaborate on script adjustments when necessary. For example,she refined a scene where her character,Nora,articulates her love for acting.She felt the original dialog didn’t fully capture the emotional core of the moment, emphasizing the security found in inhabiting different perspectives to better understand her own feelings.
Expanding Horizons, staying grounded
Despite growing interest from Hollywood – including a role in Apple TV’s Presumed Innocent alongside Jake Gyllenhaal – reinsve remains firmly rooted in Scandinavia. Last year,she starred in Armand,which won the Caméra d’Or,directed by Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel,the grandson of cinematic legends Ingmar Bergman and Liv Ullmann.
She’s also reuniting with Trier for Fjord, a film exploring the lives of Romanian immigrants in Norway.Additionally, she’s been cast in Alexander Payne’s Somebody Out There, set in Denmark.
You might assume this is a deliberate act of loyalty to the local film scene. Reinsve laughs, admitting it’s more a matter of possibility. “It’s not loyalty, it’s actually that it’s so many exciting things happening because of Joachim.”
A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats
Trier and Reinsve’s success is undeniably putting Norwegian cinema on the global map. She acknowledges feeling a sense of responsibility in contributing to the country’s growing cinematic identity.”Yes, absolutely. We all understand: Oh, something’s happening now.”
Pinpointing what makes Norway’s film output unique is challenging for Reinsve,as she’s immersed within it. However, the energy and momentum are palpable.
Finding a Place to Belong
Perhaps most profoundly, Reinsve’s story is one of finding belonging. After a childhood marked by feelings of alienation, she’s now a central figure in her nation’s film industry and a celebrated actor internationally.”I don’t know what this feeling is…” she reflects, with genuine surprise and a characteristic, layered smile. “A feeling of not believing that you finally feel you belong.”
Sentimental Value is currently in cinemas.
