Susanne Bier

Born on 15 April 1960 in Copenhagen, Denmark, Susanne Bier is a renowned Danish filmmaker, esteemed for her emotionally intense, relatable movies. Bier was the first female director to reputedly receive an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a European Film Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award. Bier's career took off with her feature film debut, Freud's Leaving Home in 1991. Over the years, she helmed a string of acclaimed films including Open Hearts (2002), Brothers (2004), After the Wedding (2006), and In a Better World (2010), the latter of which won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Continuing her success, she ventured into English-language films and notable TV series including The Night Manager (2016), The Undoing (2020), and the Netflix mystery series, The Perfect Couple (2024).

Bier was born into a Jewish family, and her parent’s experiences during World War II greatly influenced her work. This, coupled with her education at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem, the Architectural Association in London, and the National Film School in Denmark, equipped her with a distinct creative voice that resonates within her films. The recurring themes of human resilience, dignity, and morality in her films are evident, giving her work depth and relatability. Bier's ability to empathize with her characters, to craft them into authentic, engaging personalities is part of her unique directorial signature that has been celebrated across many award platforms.