Ellen Hillingsø

Ellen Gunilla Hillingsø (born 9 March 1967) is a Danish actress. She started her acting career on stage, before starring in many Danish films, more recently becoming known for her work in TV series, including The Bridge (2011–2018) and Oxen (TV series) (2023–). She is also a voice actress, narrating audio books.

Early life and education 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. Her parents had connections with the Danish royal family.

Hillingsø first considered becoming a journalist, becoming a host on TV 2 in the 1980s. After appearing in En verden til forskel (1989), she worked as a stage actress at Aarhus Theatre, both as a student there as well as for two years after graduating. 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.

In 2023, she starred as head of PET (the Danish intelligence service) in Oxen, reprising the role in the second series, broadcast in Denmark in 2025.

Voice work 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.

Filmography

Film Huller i suppen (1988) En verden til forskel (1989) Krystalbarnet (1996) Sekten (1997) Mifunes sidste sang (1999) Klinkevals (1999) Når lysterne tændes (2001) Jolly Roger (2001) En kort en lang (2001) Olsen-banden Junior (2001) Drengen der ville gøre det umulige Floden (2002 - stemme) Silkevejen (2004) Opbrud (2005) Afrejsen (2005) Allegro (2005) Den Rette Ånd (2005) Sprængfarlig bombe (2006) Anja og Viktor - brændende kærlighed (2007) Karlas kabale (2007) En forelskelse (2008) Maj & Charlie (2008) Karla og Katrine (2009) Over gaden under vandet (2009) Karla og Jonas (2010) Eksperimentet (2010)

TV Charlot og Charlotte (1996) Hvor svært kan det være (2002) Absalons hemmelighed (2006) Anna Pihl (2007) Album (2008) Livvagterne (2009) The Bridge (2011–2018) Rita (2012–2020) Hjørdis (2015) Oxen (TV series) (2023–)