Halina Reijn

Halina Reijn is a Dutch actress, director, writer and producer whose career has spanned over three decades of Dutch and international cinema, theatre, and literature. Born on 10 November 1975 in Amsterdam to artistic parents Fleur ten Kate and Frank Volkert Reijn, she grew up in an anthroposophic household that nurtured her creativity through music, drawing and a home‑built theatre room. A formative experience came at the age of six when a babysitter took her to a local showing of the film Annie, igniting a lifelong passion for performance. After an intensive education at the Maastricht Academy of Dramatic Arts, she entered the professional stage world with the ensemble De Trust, where her portrayal of Lulu in Shopping and Fucking earned her the prestigious Colombina award for Best Supporting Actress in 1998. She quickly became a fixture in Dutch theatre, joining Toneelgroep Amsterdam under Ivo van Hove and earning a Theo d'Or nomination for her role as Lavinia in Mourning Becomes Electra. Her film breakthrough arrived with the critically acclaimed Black Book (2006), where she played the morally ambiguous Ronnie opposite Carice van Houten, a role that secured a second Golden Calf nomination and cemented her status as a versatile screen talent. Over the years she balanced high‑profile projects such as Valkyrie (2008) and the television series Charlie (2013) while also exploring experimental solo work, most notably her acclaimed one‑woman show La voix humaine, which she performed 183 times worldwide. In addition to acting, Reijn authored several books, including the semi‑autobiographical novel Prinsesje Nooitgenoeg, and co‑founded the production company Man Up with Carice van Houten, through which she made her directorial debut with Instinct (2019), winning the Variety Piazza Grande Award and representing the Netherlands at the Academy Awards. Her recent English‑language directorial effort Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022) premiered at SXSW and earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination, while her upcoming thriller Babygirl starring Nicole Kidman showcases her growing influence as a filmmaker on the global stage. Reijn continues to live and work internationally, currently residing in New York, and remains a pivotal figure in contemporary European performing arts.