Ellen Hillingsø


Ellen Gunilla Hillingsø is a Danish actress who is known primarily for her work in films. She is also a voice actress, narrating audio books.

Early life

Ellen Gunilla Hillingsø was born on 9 March 1967 in Copenhagen to Kjeld Georg Hilligsøe Hillingsø, then a lieutenant in the Danish Royal Life Guards, and Ellen Birgitta Hillingsø, an antiques dealer. Hillingsø's maternal grandfather was Gregers Juel, a chamberlain and a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog. Her paternal uncle was Lars Hillingsø, a fashion designer and founder of the Lars Paris brand.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, a friend of Hillingsø's parents who has known her mother since school, was made her godmother at her christening.
Hillingsø has one sibling, Jens Georg, who is three years older. Jens works at the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen and is a former chairman of Médecins sans Frontières.

Career

Primarily a film actress, Hillingsø made her debut in the farce Huller i suppen in 1988, playing a small role alongside the comic duo John and Aage. After appearing in En verden til forskel, she began as a stage actress, appearing at the Århus Theatre from 1990-94.
In 1996, Hillingsø appeared in Peter Thorsboe's drama, Krystalbarnet in which she starred with Mirosław Baka, Grażyna Barszczewska and Helene Egelund. In 1999 she starred in Søren Kragh-Jacobsen's Mifune's Last Song alongside Iben Hjejle, Anders Hove, Sofie Gråbøl and Paprika Steen. In 2007 she appeared in Karlas kabale, based on the 2003 book of the same title written by Renée Simonsen. Also in 2007 she starred in the Danish television police drama, Anna Pihl.
In 2010 she starred in the film Eksperimentet, directed by Louise Friedberg. The film deals with social experiments and the problem of cultural genocide in Greenland. The film premiered on 28 August 2010 in the Katuaq Culture Centre in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland.
Aside from her work as an actress, Hillingsø has done notable work as a voice actress in cartoons, film and TV, and in audio books.

Personal life

Hillingsø married the director of Saxo Bank, Christoffer Castenskiold, on 27 December 2000. They have two children together, Thomas and Anna.
As the goddaughter of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, Hillingsø often attends royal functions and events.

Filmography

Film

Charlot og Charlotte 1996