LENA OnLINe :: Biography

Daughter, sister, friend, lover, actress, mother, wife... artist, revolutionary, gangster, Satanist, judge, psychic, terrorist.
Lena Olin has played many roles in her life. And we love them all!

Born Lena Maria Jonna Olin on March 22, 1955, in Stockholm, Sweden, to actors Britta Holmberg and Stig Olin, Lena was the youngest of three children. Growing up, the Olin household was a beehive of activity and chaos, filled at all hours with fellow actors and contemporaries of her parents, and young Lena was often overwhelmed by it, as well as somewhat left behind in the shadow of her more outgoing older siblings (brother Mats was a pop star in the 60s). Mats Olin in the 1960's

Painfully shy, Lena pretended that acting held no appeal for her, saying that she was going to become a doctor... a career choice that seemed to baffle the judges of the Miss Scandinavia pageant, as beautiful girls weren't supposed to want such serious careers.

Miss Scandinavia, 1974

Nevertheless, Lena won the title and released a record of her own... no longer known simply as "sister to Mats". Lena commented on this in a 1974 interview to the Swedish magazine SE, following her win as Miss Scandinavia. "I have almost been hurt by it. When I was younger, I would always sneak into the bathroom if a journalist would approach us, anything to avoid being the cute sister or daughter to a celebrity. And the then the other day I saw in a newspaper: 'Mats Olin, brother to Lena...' That kind of thing feels good."

Lena with Ingmar Bergman

When she was 19, Lena finally admitted to her secret desire to become an actress. After auditioning three times and being encouraged by Ingmar Bergman, a lifelong friend of the Olin family, not to give up, she was finally admitted to The State's School For Scenic Education, located a stone's throw from the birthplace of Greta Garbo. Ingmar Bergman would later have a strong influence on her career both in theater and film. During the years in drama school she also had her first significant role in a movie - Picassos äventyr (The Adventures of Picasso).

Under Bergman's tutelage, Lena honed her skills, sharpening her natural, but raw, talent into technical perfection and at last, finding a voice for the expression of all those emotions and feelings that the woman herself found it difficult to express. Acting was her way of communicating something to the world.

Olin's stage debut came in 1980, with a role in Ben Jonson's Alkemisten (The Alchemist) and was followed by role after role. It was in 1984's King Lear by William Shakespeare that Lena caught the attention of Bertil Ohlsson, the executive producer of The Unbearable Lightness of Being. He caught Lena's portrayal of the good Cordelia in a London performance and returned to America to tell producer, Saul Zaentz, who later found himself seated next to her at a dinner party in Sweden... a dinner party that Lena almost didn't attend.
Pregnant with her first child, a son, August, with Swedish actor Örjan Ramberg, Lena's first choice had been to stay at home. "I was in the late stages of my pregnancy and I didn't find anything nice enough to wear to a party." (Vecko Revyn, 1986) But at the last minute, she decided to attend, and Zaentz was impressed by her. Next, Philip Kaufman, the film's director, flew to Stockholm to meet with her, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Lena in 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being'

Lena in 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being'

Compared to Garbo, and once hailed as the second coming of Ingrid Bergman, Lena Olin exploded onto the American film scene dressed in little more than her underwear. In one of the sexiest scenes in cinematic history, she crawled across an upturned mirror and forever changed the way moviegoers would view an object as innocuous as a bowler hat.

Already an established actress in her native Sweden, with an impressive resumé and the distinction of being one of acclaimed Swedish director Ingmar Bergman's favorites, Lena was thrust upon the international film scene at a time in her life when most actresses would be looking to settle down, having established their careers and in many cases, seen their "heyday" come and gone.

Lena with August

In her early thirties, and with a brand new baby in tow, Lena seemed almost unprepared at times for the attention heaped upon her. Although she'd expressed a desire to move beyond her theatrical roots, Lena had not specifically chosen international stardom and more than once expressed that she could easily be just as content tucked away in her modest flat, working as she always had and being mamma to newborn son, August.
In a 1990 interview with the magazine GQ, Lena is quoted as saying, "I'm fine. My life was fine before the Americans kind of seduced me to come and do film. I never aimed for this. I don't have to do anything I wouldn't like to do, because I have work at home. If I ever started to feel that this is it, this is what I'm going to do with my life, then I would go home immediately. Because then it would be dangerous."

Lena and Ron Silver in 'Enemies, A Love Story'

Lena and Ron Silver in 'Enemies, A Love Story'

Fortunately, she decided to stick with it, giving audiences a wealth of characters as intriguing and enigmatic as the lady herself. Starring in roles such as the sexy, free-spirited Sabina in Philip Kaufman's adaptation of Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being, the tortured Masha of Paul Mazursky's Enemies, A Love Story and the idealistic revolutionary Bobby Duran in Sydney Pollack's lavish production of Havana, Lena quickly established herself as a superb dramatic actress, and proved, as Garbo had done so many years before her, that you didn't always need brilliant dialogue to captivate and mesmerize your audience.

These early performances garnered Olin critical acclaim as well, as she received a Golden Globe nomination in 1988 for her role as Sabina, as well as an Academy Award nomination the following year for her turn as holocaust survivor, Masha, in Enemies. (She would win the New York Film Critics Award for Enemies instead.)

Choosing to remain based at home in Stockholm, Lena continued to deliver spot-on performances, choosing her roles carefully and relying on her own instincts to lead her down the correct path. In a 1987, article featured in the Swedish magazine Vecko Revyn, it was said, "Lena prefers intuition, instinct, feelings rather than analysis, explanations and categories. 'I don't need to find explanations, not regarding myself, the world or why it is the way it is. Not as long as I have a great feeling that drives me. It's something that just grows stronger. Something I can't explain... you just have to follow what feels right. I believe that the moment, which can't be explained nor rationalized – that's life, it has to be. And if you miss that, you miss everything that's beautiful.'"

First and foremost for Lena was her role as mother, her son August accompanying her to the movie sets and cared for by a nanny while Lena worked. She told Vecko Revyn in a 1986 interview, "I have been through a radical change, even though you may not see it. There're new priorities in my life. I no longer work for my needs, my wishes. My own depressions are far down the list of what's important. Everything's got new, bright colours. I like working more than I did before and I can see the fun in going out more as well, which I rarely do. But when I do, I really enjoy it." But at the same time, she hasn't discarded the importance of work altogether. "I don't understand women who lose their interest for work when they get children, who can only talk about nappies and day-care." (MånadsJournalen, 1987) "I'm not one of those who turn their back on work when they become a mother. I want to remain in my work. I haven't changed at all about that." (Vecko Revyn, 1987)

Lena as Mona Demarkov

Following Havana was Romeo Is Bleeding in which Lena played Mona Demarkov, a bloodthirsty Russian gangster who seduces a corrupt New York City detective into helping her overthrow the local mafia kingpin. It was an over-the-top role that Lena played to the hilt, doing her own stunts (for which she earned an MTV Movie Award nomination for Best Action Sequence in 1994) and even injuring herself in the final scene, when a squib was dislodged and Lena was actually hit in the "gunfire". This role proved Lena could play more than angst-filled, teary characters, and would be the catalyst for a role that would come nearly a decade later, that of former KGB agent turned international terrorist, Irina Derevko, in the hit television series Alias.

Lena and Lasse

In 1994, Lena began yet another new role when she married long-time love, Swedish director Lasse Hallström. She would give birth to her second child the following year, a daughter, Tora.
Baby Tora, 1995

The couple made the move across the Atlantic when Tora was a baby, deciding to dive head first into their American adventure, as Lasse was becoming more and more sought out to direct feature films. They shunned the glitz and glamour of Hollywood though, choosing instead to settle on the east coast in a suburb about an hour north of New York City. From this distance, they could focus on what was most important to both of them... their family and each other... guarding their private lives and providing a sense of normalcy for their children.

Her unwavering commitment to place family over career set her apart from her contemporaries, and often meant that she turned down roles that might have garnered even more success and attention. The trappings of celebrity have never held much appeal for Lena though... she does the prerequisite publicity for her films, but does not live out her life in the tabloids. The work is the thing... it always has been.

And work she did! Lena starred opposite such leading men as Richard Gere in Mr. Jones, Andy Garcia in Night Falls on Manhattan, Gabriel Byrne in Polish Wedding, Johnny Depp in The Ninth Gate, Kevin Spacey in The United States of Leland and Harrison Ford in Hollywood Homicide. Occasionally films would come along that would pair Lena with an actor or actress with whom she'd previously worked. She's no stranger to these on-screen reunions, since she often worked with the same actors over and over in the small theater/film community of her native Sweden.

Lena with buddy Peter Stormare

In Lasse's Academy Award nominated production of Joanne Harris' novel Chocolat, Lena had the opportunity to reunite with French actress, Juliet Binoche, for the first time since starring opposite her in The Unbearable Lightness of Being, as well as The Ninth Gate co-star Johnny Depp and fellow country- man, Peter Stormare, with whom she acted throughout her Swedish stage career. (They'd also teamed up on the big screen in 1998's Swedish production of Hamilton, directed by Harald Zwart.) It's only fitting that Lena's first joint film venture with hubby Hallström should turn into a "family" affair. In addition to getting to work with old friends, stepson Johan worked the crew, and young daughter Tora was on the set as well.

Lena & Lasse on the set of 'Casanova'

In a 2005 MEA interview during the production of Casanova Lena spoke of what it was like to work with Lasse:
"He is very honest with both me and the others, and I can ask him about anything. And he is always calm. This morning things were a bit chaotic before we started filming, because the water had risen to such a high level that the extras couldn't get here. But Lasse was calm. And because he is calm, everyone else is calm too. He knows exactly what he wants to achieve and how to archive it. Which has the side effect that when we get home at night, we don't talk shop. A short reflection about one of the scenes maybe, that's it."

Following the amazing success of the critically acclaimed Chocolat, Lena proved to be just as prolific in the new millennium as she had been in the 1990's, starring as a federal judge in 2001's Ignition opposite Bill Pullman, as a vampire in Michael Rymer's 2002 production of the Anne Rice novel, Queen of the Damned, a nurse in denial over the odd-happenings within her own home in the horror film Darkness, a devastated mother in The United States of Leland, and a psychic radio talk show host in Ron Shelton's blockbuster, Hollywood Homicide in 2003... roles as varied and multi-faceted as Lena is herself. And like her films in the 1990's, while neither necessarily successful in the box-office nor with the critics, Lena gave everything she had to each performance, leaving no doubt as to her range or abilities.

Lena as Irina Derevko

The quintessential role of her career (since The Unbearable Lightness of Being and Enemies, A Love Story) would surprisingly come on the small screen. In 2002, Lena signed on as a regular cast member of J.J. Abram's hit television series, Alias. Having seen her as Mona Demarkov in Romeo Is Bleeding years before, Abrams knew that she'd be perfect in the role of series' star, Sydney Bristow's (played by Jennifer Garner) mother, Irina Derevko. Derevko was a former KGB spy sent to the United States in the 1970's to seduce and marry a CIA agent, steal his secrets and help Mother Russia win the Cold War. After faking her death in a car crash, Derevko returned home and eventually began her own empire as "The Man", a mafia leader and terrorist, who resurfaces in her family's life unexpectedly, leaving everyone guessing as to what her true intentions are.

In a 2002 Entertainment Weekly interview, Abrams said, "This is a coup for us. Here is a woman who is so accessible and relatable and vulnerable, and at the same time, she is whip smart and could kick your ass faster than you blink."

A hit with teens and twentysomethings, Lena's fabulous portrayal of this enigmatic character brought her to the attention of a whole new generation of fans, earning her a cult-like following of devotees... attention that left the usually shy star a bit uncomfortable, as well as confused ("...it seems as people are suddenly reminded that I exist..." she was quoted as saying in a 2003 National Post interview) as to what all the fuss was about.

After just one season, Lena took some time off, preferring to spend more time with her family back on the east coast. The regular commute cross country had taken its toll, and there were other roles being offered to her that she wanted the time to pursue. Still, Lena would be a recurring cast member through the show's five-season run, lending credibility to what would become second-rate by the end.

In 2005, Lena returned to Sweden to star in Danish director, Simon Staho's, independent production Bang Bang Orangutang, opposite Mikael Persbrandt, a favorite Swedish leading man, playing his estranged wife, coping with the loss of their young son in a freak automobile accident.

Lena in 'Casanova'

That same year, Lena hit the big screen in the United States in her second joint project with Lasse Hallström, playing a Venetian mother hell-bent on marrying her only daughter off to a wealthy merchant in the comedy Casanova, which also starred Heath Ledger, Sienna Miller and Jeremy Irons. Having proved her comedic chops in the independent film Polish Wedding, Lena once again showed audiences that she was far from a "one-note".

A favorite, not only with fans, but also with her co-stars, one role that you'll never see her play is that of "diva"... unless of course the script calls for that. While she does enjoy the perks that come along with being an American film actress, Lena isn't afraid to get down and dirty and just focus on the work... a trait that was proven when she was offered the role of Kathryn Vale in the upcoming independent production of Devil You Know. The role had originally gone to Lesley-Anne Warren, but Warren was fired from the production after repeated complaints about the quality of her accommodations, etc. Gracious as ever, Lena stepped into the production and gave it her all, as always, not caring that the budget had no allowances for a team of stylists and assistants to trail her every move. No release date has been set at this time.

Lena in 'Awake'

Immediately following Devil You Know, came another independent role in Awake, where she plays the mother of surgical patient (played by Hayden Christensen) who experiences anesthetic awareness during surgery. This intense thriller by director Joby Harold opened in theaters across the US on November 30, 2007.

While Lena and Lasse both place family and their roles as mother and father to their three children over their careers, both have worked continuously since beginning their American adventure over ten years ago. Favoring those opportunities that bring them together professionally as well, they are always on the lookout for films that will bring them together on set.

Yes... Lena has played many roles, both personally and professionally. We all have our favorites, but the question remains... what is Lena's favorite? Only the lady herself could really give you that answer, but we think it's pretty obvious!

Copyright
This biography was written exclusively for LENA OnLINe by Lynne Mosley.
You may not distribute, modify, reuse, repost, copy, or use this biography for public or commercial purposes, or for personal gain, without the written permission of LENA OnLINe and/or the author. [Contact]

Disclaimer
Every effort was made to ensure the accuracy of the facts presented herein, using the resources that were available to us at the time of its publication. However, we cannot guarantee 100% accuracy.
If you know of an error that was made and have documentation regarding the correct information, please contact us. [Contact]

Date of publication: 01 November 2006 | Last update: 25 November 2007