Mikael Åke Persbrandt (Swedish pronunciation: (
listen); 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 British TV series Sex Education.
Early life
Persbrandt was born in Jakobsberg, Järfälla Municipality, Stockholm County.
Career
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 Netflixcomedy drama Sex Education. He was a leading actor in the film “The Salvation.”
Public image and legal issues
Sex appeal
Persbrandt has often been noted for his good looks, and when Swedish media makes lists of the most attractive Swedish men, he has often been on those lists.
Expressen dispute
In December 2005, Persbrandt notified police that the newspaper Expressen had made false accusations about him having acute alcohol poisoning and being admitted to a clinic in Uppsala. The information was inaccurate. Expressen apologised and admitted that their information was false, but the apology was not accepted by Persbrandt. Otto Sjöberg, at the time editor of the newspaper was fined 75,000 SEK (≈ 6800 €, US$8900), in damages to Persbrandt.
Drug use
Persbrandt was arrested twice in 2011 for cocaine use and received a fine. In April 2014, he was sentenced to five months’ imprisonment for another cocaine offence, but on appeal this was reduced to 75 hours’ community service.
Personal life
He is in a relationship with Sanna Lundell and the couple have three children together. He has previously been married to Maria Bonnevie.
Theatre
All the performances are in Swedish.
| Year | Play | Venue | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | King Lear | The Royal Dramatic Theatre | Extra |
| 1985 | Julius Caesar | ||
| 1991 | Rekviem | Teater Galeasen | |
| 1992 | Ferrando Bruno | ||
| 1993 | Gatan | ||
| Roberto Zucco | |||
| 1994 | Three Sisters | ||
| 1995 | Änglar | ||
| 1996 | Puntila | The Royal Dramatic Theatre | |
| Death of a salesman | Teater Plaza | ||
| 1998 | The Good Person of Szechwan | The Royal Dramatic Theatre | |
| Lång dags färd mot natt | |||
| 1999 | Don Juan | ||
| 2000 | Maria Stuart | ||
| Vildanden | |||
| 2002 | Leka med elden | ||
| 2004 | Arbetarklassens sista hjältar | Lilla elverket | |
| 2005 | Miss Julie | The Royal Dramatic Theatre | |
| Lik som män | Vasateatern | ||
| 2007 | Måsen | Teater Galeasen | |
| 2009 | I väntan på Godot | Stockholm City Theatre | |
| 2014 | Dödsdansen | Maxim Theatre |
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Rederiet | Ola Simonsson | |
| 1994 | The Police Murderer | Police 1 | |
| Svensson, Svensson | Jesper | ||
| 1995 | Sommaren | Peter | |
| 1996 | Anna Holt | Jocke | |
| Under ytan | Roffe | ||
| 1997 | Beck – Lockpojken | Gunvald Larsson | |
| Beck – Mannen med ikonerna | |||
| Beck – Spår i mörker | |||
| Beck – Pensionat Pärlan | |||
| 9 millimeter | Konstantin | ||
| 1998 | Beck – Öga för öga | Gunvald Larsson | |
| Sista kontraktet | Roger Nyman | ||
| 102 Years in the Heart of Europe: A Portrait of Ernst Jünger | Reader | Voice role, documentary | |
| Beck – The Money Man | Gunvald Larsson | ||
| Beck – Monstret | |||
| Beck – Vita nätter | |||
| Vuxna människor | Georg | ||
| Mulan | Shan Yu | Swedish dubbing | |
| 1999 | Dödlig drift | Andreas Persson | |
| Dinosaur | Kron | Swedish dubbing | |
| Gossip | Åke Frigårdh | ||
| 2000 | Titan A.E. | Tek | Swedish dubbing |
| Beck – Hämndens pris | Gunvald Larsson | ||
| 2001 | Beck – Mannen utan ansikte | ||
| Beck – Kartellen | |||
| Beck – Enslingen | |||
| Atlantis: The Lost Empire | Doctor Joshua Strongbear Sweet | Swedish dubbing | |
| 2002 | Nu | Adam | |
| Beck – Okänd avsändare | Gunvald Larsson | ||
| Beck – Annonsmannen | |||
| Beck – Sista vittnet | |||
| Alla älskar Alice | Johan Lindberg | ||
| Beck – Pojken i glaskulan | Gunvald Larsson | ||
| 2003 | Rånarna | Frank/Richard | |
| Tre solar | Ulf | ||
| Finding Nemo | Gill | Voice, Swedish dubbing | |
| 2004 | Dag och natt | Thomas | |
| 2005 | Medicinmannen | Martin Holst | |
| Bang Bang Orangutang | Åke Jönsson | ||
| Som man bäddar | Jocke | ||
| Inga tårar | Lars Bjerking | ||
| Tjocktjuven | The Priest | ||
| 2006 | Open Season | Boog | Swedish dubbing |
| Beck – Skarpt läge | Gunvald Larsson | ||
| Beck – Flickan i jordkällaren | |||
| Beck – Gamen | |||
| Beck – Advokaten | |||
| 2007 | Beck – Den japanska shungamålningen | ||
| Beck – Den svaga länken | |||
| Beck – Det tysta skriket | |||
| Beck – I Guds namn | |||
| Ett öga rött | Himself | ||
| Solstorm | Thomas Söderberg | ||
| 2008 | Kautokeino-opprøret | Carl-Johan Ruth | |
| Everlasting Moments | Sigfrid Larsson | ||
| Die Patin – Kein Weg zurück | Sergej Assinowitsch | ||
| Himlens hjärta | Lars | ||
| Oskyldigt dömd | Markus Haglund | ||
| 2009 | Beck – I stormens öga | Gunvald Larsson | |
| 2010 | Beck – Levande begravd | ||
| In a Better World | Anton | ||
| 2011 | Stockholm East | Johan | |
| Agent Hamilton: In the Interest of the Nation | Carl Hamilton | ||
| 2012 | The Hypnotist | Erik Maria Bark | |
| Agent Hamilton: But Not If It Concerns Your Daughter | Carl Hamilton | ||
| 2013 | Mig äger ingen | Hasse | |
| The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug | Beorn | ||
| 2014 | The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies | ||
| En sång från hjärtat | Thomas Jacob | ||
| The Salvation | Peter | ||
| Beck – Rum 302 | Gunvald Larsson | ||
| 2015 | Beck – Familjen | ||
| Beck – Invasionen | |||
| Beck – Sjukhusmorden | |||
| 2015–2017 | The Last Kingdom | Kjartan | |
| 2016 | Beck – Gunvald | Gunvald Larsson | |
| Alone in Berlin | Standartenführer Prall | ||
| The Siege of Jadotville | Dag Hammarskjöld | ||
| 2017 | King Arthur: Legend of the Sword | Greybeard | |
| 2018 | Tårtgeneralen | Hasse P | |
| X&Y | Himself | ||
| 2019–present | Sex Education | Jakob Nyman | Main role |
| 2019 | Invisible Heroes | Harald Edelstam | |
| 2020 | Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga | Victor Karlosson | |
| TBA | Agent Hamilton: In Her Majesty’s Service | Carl Hamilton | Filming |
| TBA | Sophie’s War | Franz | Pre-production |
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| DEN | ||
| 2014 | Someone You Love | 29 |