Carice van Houten

Carice van Houten is an Emmy Award-nominated actress recognized for her work in European cinema, Hollywood films, and international television. Best known for her portrayal of Melisandre in HBO's "Game of Thrones," van Houten has established a career that spans multiple genres and languages, contributing to both Dutch and global entertainment industries.

Van Houten began her career in the Dutch film and television industry, earning early acclaim for her leading role in the television film "Suzy Q," which won her the Golden Calf for Best Acting in a Television Drama. She later received the Golden Calf for Best Actress for her performance in "Miss Minoes." Her international breakthrough came with Paul Verhoeven's wartime thriller "Black Book," which became the most commercially successful Dutch film. The film received international recognition, including the BAFTA for Best Foreign Language Film, a Best Actress nomination for van Houten from the European Film Awards, another Golden Calf, and the Rembrandt Award.

Following the success of "Black Book," van Houten appeared in several high-profile international productions, including Bryan Singer's "Valkyrie" with Tom Cruise, Bill Condon's "The Fifth Estate," and Martin Koolhoven's "Brimstone" with Guy Pearce. She was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for "Valkyrie" and won additional Golden Calf Awards for her roles in "The Happy Housewife" and "Black Butterflies." Her performance in "The Happy Housewife" earned her a record-breaking fifth Golden Calf, and she received a Best Actress award at the Tribeca Festival for "Black Butterflies."

Van Houten's role as Melisandre on "Game of Thrones" brought her international recognition, including nominations for two Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. She received media attention for self-submitting her Emmy nomination for the role.

Beyond "Game of Thrones," van Houten has continued to work on projects with social impact. She co-created and starred in the Dutch television series "Red Light," which explores human trafficking, prostitution, and organized crime. She also starred as a prison therapist in Halina Reijn's directorial debut "Instinct," which premiered at the Locarno Film Festival, received the Variety Piazza Grande Award, and was selected as the Dutch submission for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards.

Van Houten has appeared in the international TV series "Temple" with Mark Strong and the television adaptation of "Dangerous Liaisons." In addition to her acting career, she is an environmental activist, advocating for sustainable living and raising awareness about climate change, reflecting her commitment to causes beyond the entertainment industry.