Carice van Houten

Early Life

Carice Anouk van Houten was born on September 5, 1976, in Leiderdorp, Netherlands. Growing up, she was captivated by silent films, which influenced her preference for performing scenes without dialogue. She has a younger sister, Jelka, who is also an actress. Carice attended St. Bonifatiuscollege in Utrecht, where she showcased her talent by playing the lead in a production directed by Ad Migchielsen. After a brief stint at the Maastricht Academy of Dramatic Arts, she honed her skills at the Kleinkunstacademie in Amsterdam.

Career

Carice's acting career took off with her leading role in the television film "Suzy Q" (1999), which earned her the prestigious Golden Calf for Best Actress in a Television Drama. She continued to impress audiences with her performance in "Miss Minoes" (2001), winning another Golden Calf for her role as a kitten who transforms into a woman. Her international breakthrough came with the film "Black Book" (2006), where she played Rachel Stein, a performance that garnered her yet another Golden Calf and acclaim from director Paul Verhoeven, who praised her exceptional talent. In addition to her acting, Carice has ventured into music, releasing the album "See You on the Ice" under EMI.

Personal Life

Carice van Houten has been open about her personal life, including her relationship with Australian actor Guy Pearce, with whom she shares a son, Monte, born in 2016. Despite her success, she has expressed discomfort with Hollywood, preferring to remain in Europe. A lifelong fan of Laurel and Hardy, she has also been active in climate activism, participating in protests organized by Extinction Rebellion. In 2013, she co-authored a book titled "Anti Glamour" with her friend Halina Reijn, celebrating their friendship and candidly discussing the less glamorous aspects of their lives in the film industry.