Actor Interview

With singer, songwriter and acclaimed actress ticked-off her list of accomplishments, it's hard to imagine Trine Dyrholm in any better world.

On the brink of divorce, heartbroken and left to raise two sons in the idyllic Danish countryside, Dyrholm plays Marianne, a woman teetering on the brink of mental exhaustion. Directed by Susanne Bier, Dyrholm's performance directly contributed to the runaway success of 'In a Better World' which picked up both the 2011 Oscar and Golden Globe awards for Best Foreign Picture. â€œWe are so overwhelmed and honoured. It's just been a fantastic ride,” Dyrholm said. “Susanne's films have such a fantastic audience, especially here in Denmark. I never thought it would go so far. Never!” 

“I think it was the script that really had something great. What I liked about my character was that she was struggling with normal problems, then everything escalated. The problems became so huge that she actually crosses the line between right and wrong. I think that's what makes a character, where you have one scene where you completely step over the line, contradictory to everything the character believes in,” Dyrholm explained.

Cleverly set in the contrasting environments of countryside Denmark and a Sudanese refugee camp, the film delves into the philosophy behind violence and forgiveness - from its lowest levels of schoolyard bullying to extreme circumstances, like dictatorship in Africa. â€œThe film is about the safe western world, where you have the 'good life' as opposed to a situation where you don't even have enough food,” Dyrholm said. “It's a way of showing that what we could call a normal family could also end up in tragedy. We live in a global world and we have to realise that. Life is complex and it doesn't matter where you live, life can always find a way to be dark and difficult.”

After this success, it's a safe bet we’ll be seeing Dyrholm across the international film marketplace. So let’s all hope for a co-Denmark/ Australia production. “I've had so many good projects in Denmark and I've been able to develop as an actress here. But I want to try and get out in the world. Maybe they will call me to come to Australia!”

‘In A Better World’ is in cinemas.