Paprika Steen Biography: Husband, Ethnicity, Awards, Movies, Age, Children, Height, Net Worth

Paprika Steen is a Danish actress and film director whose career emerged out of her work in the influential Dogme 95 movement and went on to span both acclaimed acting roles and directing ventures.

She gained broad recognition for her performances in films such as Festen and Open Hearts, and later took the director’s chair for features including Lad de små børn… (English: Aftermath). Her dual capacity as performer and filmmaker sets her apart in Danish cinema.

Profile

• Full name: Kirstine “Paprika” Steen
• Date of birth: 3 November 1964
• Age: 61 years old
• Gender: Female
• Place of birth: Frederiksberg, Denmark
• Nationality: Danish
• Profession: Actress, Film Director
• Height: 1.78 m (5′10″)
• Parents: Father – Niels Jørgen Steen; Mother – Avi Sagild
• Siblings: Brother – Nikolaj Steen
• Spouse: Mikael Rieks
• Children: N/A
• Relationship status: Married
• Religion: Christian
• Ethnicity: Danish
• Net worth: $1.5 million

Early Life and Education

Kirstine Paprika Steen was born on 3 November 1964 in Frederiksberg, Denmark, making her 61 years old. She grew up as the daughter of the musician‐conductor Niels Jørgen Steen and the actress Avi Sagild, and her brother Nikolaj Steen is also a musician and actor.

Her ambition to train formally in acting was persistent: she applied 13 times to the Acting School of Odense Theatre before being accepted. She studied there from 1988 to 1992.

After her training, she began stage work, performing in productions including with Dr. Dante, and from 1997 she was associated with the Royal Danish Theatre.

Personal Life

Paprika is married to film producer Mikael Christian Rieks. They have a son, Otto Leonardo Steen Rieks. While she keeps a relatively private personal life, her family background is artistic (both parents in the arts), and her marriage is to someone in the film industry, indicating a strong alignment with creative work.

Career

Paprika Steen began her professional career in the late 1980s and early 1990s on Danish stage and screen. Her major breakthrough came in the late 1990s when she appeared in leading films of the Dogme 95 movement such as Festen (1998), The Idiots (1998) and Mifune’s Last Song (1999) as one of the few actors to participate in those foundational works.

Her standout performances emerged especially in the early 2000s: for example, in Okay (2002) she won several Danish film awards for her leading role, and in the same year she also won as best supporting actress in Open Hearts.

She expanded her creative portfolio by directing her own films: her directorial debut came in 2004 with Lad de små børn…, followed by other directorial projects such as Til døden os skiller (2007) and subsequent films addressing social themes and human relationships.

Awards and Nominations

• 2000 – Bodil Award for Best Supporting Actress for The One and Only
• 2002 – Bodil Award & Robert Award for Best Actress for Okay
• 2002 – Bodil Award & Robert Award for Best Supporting Actress for Open Hearts
• 2009 – Bodil Award for Best Actress for Applause (along with other festival awards)

Net Worth

Paprika Steen’s estimated net worth is approximately US$1.5 million. She has earned her wealth primarily through her long and successful career in acting and through her work as a film director.

Social Media

Instagram: @paprikasteens_insta

Filmography

• Rami og Julie (1988)
• Black Harvest (1993)
• Festen (1998)
• The Idiots (1998)
• Mifune – Dogma 3 (1999)
• The One and Only (Den eneste ene) (1999)
• Okay (2002)
• Open Hearts (Elsker dig for evigt) (2002)
• Stealing Rembrandt (2003)
• Adam’s Apples (2005)
• Applause (2009)
• SuperClásico (2011)
• Love Is All You Need (2013)
• Silent Heart (Stille hjerte) (2014)
• Tove’s Room (Toves værelse) (2023)