David Dencik

Early life and education

Karl David Sebastian Dencik was born 31 October 1974 in Stockholm, Sweden, to Swedish parents: Lars Dencik, a social psychologist and Kerstin Allrot, a former film historian and producer. His last name is Slovak and comes from his paternal grandfather, who left Liptovský Mikuláš, Czechoslovakia, for asylum in Sweden to escape the Nazi persecution of Jews in Slovakia in 1939.{{cite web |url=http://www.zentrum-juedische-studien.de/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Vortrag-Lars-Dencik-21-10-13.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024150608/http://www.zentrum-juedische-studien.de/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Vortrag-Lars-Dencik-21-10-13.pdf |archive-date=24 October 2013 |title=The Art of Being Jewish in the Swedish Modernity |first=Lars |last=Dencik |date=21 October 2013 |publisher=Zentrum Jüdische Studien Berlin-Brandenburg |access-date=30 April 2018}}

The family moved to Denmark in 1976, where Dencik spent his childhood. The dance aspect of capoeira led him to take an interest in theatre.

In 1999, Dencik moved to Stockholm to study at the Swedish National Academy of Mime and Acting (Teaterhögskolan), where he graduated in 2003.

Career

Dencik first performed on stage, including a role in A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm.

Dencik's first film appearance was a bartender in the 2003 film Reconstruction by Christoffer Boe.

In 2006, he played the transsexual Veronica in Pernille Fischer Christensen's A Soap, for which he received the Robert Award for Best Actor.

Also in 2006, he starred in the comedy Everything About My Bush (known as Allt om min buske in Swedish). In 2007, he appeared in the Danish feature film Daisy Diamond, directed by Simon Staho.

He portrayed Fred Åkerström in the 2010 biographical film Cornelis. In 2011, he appeared in the Hollywood adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and played Toby Esterhase in the film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

He also starred in the gay-themed Brotherhood and the Dimension Films thriller Regression. In 2017, he played brothel owner Alexander "Puss" Braun in Jane Campion's acclaimed Top of the Lake. McMafia (2018) saw Dencik play Russian boss Uncle Boris Godman, inspired by the book McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld (2008) by journalist Misha Glenny.

In 2019, Dencik played Mikhail Gorbachev in HBO's miniseries Chernobyl.

Dencik then portrayed a rogue scientist, Valdo Obruchev, in the James Bond film No Time to Die (2021).

In August 2024, it was reported that Dencik had joined the cast of the crime thriller television series The Assassin.

In March 2025, Dencik appeared as the titular mad monk in the music video for ‘Satanized’ by the legendary Swedish rock/metal band, Ghost (Swedish band).

Personal life

Dencik is married to Danish lawyer Sofie Dencik. They live in Copenhagen and have two children.

Selected filmography

Film

Television

Music Videos

Awards and nominations

• 2006: Winner of the Danish Robert Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, for his role in A Soap
• 2011: Nominated, Guldbagge Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
• 2014: Nominated, Guldbagge Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
• 2015: Nominated, Guldbagge Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
• 2020: Winner, Guldbagge Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role

References

References

1. Önnevall, Erik. (2023). "David Dencik".
2. "Kerstin Allroth".
3. (2008). "Turning the Kaleidoscope: Perspectives on European Jewry". Berghahn Books.
4. (9 October 2012). "Actor extraordinaire David Dencik!". Sveriges Radio P3.
5. Quist, Dorte. (1 February 2011). "David Dencik: Svært at miste min mor". Billed Bladet.
6. Björnulfson, Jenny. (25 July 2023). "Denciks mörka genombrott".
7. Modin, Lina. (27 May 2016). "Skådespelaren: "Jag ville träffa lasermannen"".
8. Miska, Brad. (12 February 2015). "Dimension's 'Regression' Trailer, In English This Time!".
9. Starkey, Adam. (24 May 2019). "Chernobyl cast next to their real-life characters: The true story behind the disaster".
10. Thomas, Leah Marilla. (4 November 2021). "The 12 Best Characters In ''No Time to Die'' Ranked".
11. Creamer, Jon. (22 August 2024). "Two Brothers' The Assassin lands at Prime Video".
12. Bang, Anna Norklaer. (31 October 2014). "40 år i dag: Manden med de mange ansigter". Berlingske Tidende.
13. Andersson, Erika. (29 April 2022). "The roles, the height and the wife – everything about David Dencik".
14. "Backstabbing for Beginners". Copenhagen Film Fund.