Ola Rapace Biography: Wife, Age, Kids, Height, Net Worth, Parents, Movies & TV Shows

Pär Ola Norell, known professionally as Ola Rapace, is a Swedish actor recognized for his intense performances in both Scandinavian and international productions.

He gained wider attention for his role as the assassin Patrice in the James Bond film Skyfall and has built a substantial body of work across Swedish television series, European cinema, and theatre.

Rapace is also noted for his collaborations in crime dramas and independent films, maintaining a distinctive presence in the industry over more than two decades.

Ola Rapace
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Pär Ola Norell
Stage Name:	Ola Rapace
Born:	3 December 1971 (age 54 years old)
Place of Birth:	Tyresö Municipality, Sweden
Nationality:	Swedish
Height:	1.8 m
Parents:	Jan-Olof Norell and Britta Margareta Norell
Spouse:	Noomi Rapace (m. 2001–2011); Sonja Jawo (m. 2019–2021)
Relationship:	Divorce
Children:	Line Rapace, Lev Rapace
Occupation:	Actor
Net Worth:	$1.5 million

Early Life and Education

Ola Rapace entered the world on 3 December 1971 in Tyresö, Sweden, to parents Jan-Olof Norell and Britta Margareta Norell, both academics. His parents separated when he was one year old, and he was raised primarily by his father in the middle-class suburb of Vallentuna north of Stockholm.

Details regarding siblings have not been publicly disclosed. He studied philosophy at the University of Montpellier in France, where he discovered acting, and later trained at the Theatre Academy at the University of Gothenburg from 1995 to 1998, gaining practical experience at Backa Theatre and Uppsala City Theatre. He is of Swedish ethnicity, and his religion is Christianity.

Career

Ola Rapace began his professional journey after theatre training, making his screen debut in Lukas Moodysson‘s ensemble comedy-drama Together in 2000.

Early television work included the series Sjätte dagen, followed by his breakthrough performance as Jan “Hoffa” Lenhoff in the popular crime series Tusenbröder. These roles established him as a compelling presence in Swedish television, leading to further appearances in Wallander films as Stefan Lindman and other domestic productions that showcased his range in dramatic and character-driven parts.

His career expanded significantly with international opportunities. In 2012 he portrayed the skilled assassin Patrice in the James Bond film Skyfall, a role that brought him broader recognition beyond Scandinavia.

Subsequent work included leading and supporting parts in European films such as Beyond (opposite his then-wife Noomi Rapace), the Crimes of Passion television films, Ares, Carole Matthieu, and Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets as Major Gibson. He has also taken on roles in series including Hassel, Section Zéro, and The Last Kingdom, while continuing stage work and contributing as a producer on select projects.

In later years Rapace has balanced acting with writing and other creative pursuits, publishing his autobiography Romeo: Min flykt i fem akter in 2020. He has remained active in both Swedish and international productions, theatre, and occasional music-related activities, solidifying a reputation for intense, versatile performances that span crime drama, science fiction, and independent cinema while influencing a generation of Scandinavian actors through consistent, grounded work.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @rapaceola

Personal Life

Ola Rapace was previously married to actress Noomi Rapace from 2001 to 2011; the couple jointly adopted the surname Rapace and share a son, Lev, born in 2003.

He also has a daughter, Line, born in 1999 with actress Malin Morgan. In 2019 he married Sonja Jawo in Paris; that marriage ended in divorce in 2021.

He has spoken openly about personal challenges and family life in interviews and his autobiography, and currently maintains a private personal life while remaining based primarily in Sweden after periods living in France.

Filmography

• Together (2000)
• Tusenbröder (2002)
• Beyond (2010)
• Skyfall (2012)
• Crimes of Passion: Death of a Loved One (2013)
• Tommy (2014)
• Ares (2016)
• Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
• White Trash (2021)

Net Worth

Ola Rapace has an estimated net worth of approximately $1.5 million, accumulated through a sustained career in film, television, and theatre across Sweden and internationally.

Primary sources of income include acting salaries from major productions such as Skyfall and European features, residual earnings from long-running series, production work, and related creative projects including his published autobiography.

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