Joel Kinnaman

A handsome Swedish actor who crossed over internationally, Joel Kinnaman became a star in his native country with a starring role in the romantic drama "I skuggan av v?rmen" ("In Your Veins") (2009) and for his role in the "Johan Falk" (2009) miniseries, for which he earned a Best Supporting Actor Guldbagge Award nomination, the Swedish equivalent of the Oscar. He starred as a man trying to maintain a double life in the thriller "Snabba Cash" ("Easy Money") (2010), which marked the first part of a trilogy and became the highest grossing Swedish film of all time. Subsequently, he was tapped to screen-test for the lead roles in "Thor" (2011) and "Mad Max 4: Fury Road." In the meantime, he nabbed the juicy role of an inexperienced cop partnered to lead homicide detective Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos) on "The Killing" (AMC, 2011- ), the American adaptation of the hit Danish murder mystery. Critics and fans raved about the atmospheric series - particularly the quality of acting on the series - all of which helped Kinnaman book major film roles in such projects as the alien invasion thriller "The Darkest Hour" (2011) and the highly anticipated American adaptation of the global phenomenon "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" (2011). Poised to become an internationally successful superstar, Joel Kinnaman also possessed the raw talent and acting chops to deliver world-class performances in any genre of project.

Born Nov. 25, 1979 in Stockholm, Sweden, Charles Joel Nordstr?m was the son of an American father and a Swedish mother. He had five sisters, including Swedish actress Melinda Kinnaman, who was most famous in America as the female lead in "My Life as a Dog" (1987). A graduate of the prestigious Swedish Academic School of Drama - whose alumni include Stellan Skarsg?rd, Peter Stormare and Lena Olin - Kinnaman cut his professional teeth on a variety of projects such as "Hannah med H" (2003) and "Tjenare Kungen" ("God Save the King") (2005). He broke through as a star in the romantic drama "I skuggan av v?rmen" ("In Your Veins") (2009) and that same year followed up as Frank Wagner in the "Johan Falk" series of films, earning a nomination for a Best Supporting Actor Guldbagge Award, the Swedish equivalent of the Oscar.

He became a superstar in his native country and a rising international commodity with his Best Actor Guldbagge Award-nominated turn in the smash double-life thriller "Snabba Cash" ("Easy Money") (2010). Directed by Daniel Espinosa, the critically acclaimed film was the first installment of a trilogy based on the international bestseller written by Jens Lapidus and became the highest grossing Swedish film ever made. Tapped to make the crossover himself to the U.S. market, Kinnaman made headlines around the world when he screen-tested for the lead roles in Kenneth Branagh's "Thor" (2011) and George Miller's long-gestating "Mad Max 4: Fury Road."

After the actor moved to Los Angeles, he landed the juicy role of Stephen Holder, a dogged, rough-edged former narcotics detective promoted to partner lead homicide detective Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos) on "The Killing" (AMC, 2011- ). The stylishly dark American adaptation of the successful Danish murder mystery wowed critics and audiences, with Kinnaman's turn as an inexperienced but resourceful cop proving a true standout. 2011 was set to be a breakthrough year for the actor on both television and in film; he played the villain in the Russia-set alien invasion thriller "The Darkest Hour" (2011) alongside Emile Hirsch and essayed a supporting role in the American adaptation of the international phenomenon "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" (2011).