Maria Sten

Maria Sten (born 29 October 1989) is a Danish actress, writer, director and beauty pageant titleholder. She was crowned Miss Denmark Universe 2008 and represented her country at Miss Universe 2008. She portrays Frances Neagley in the Prime Video action series Reacher.

Childhood Sten was born in Copenhagen, Denmark to Danish painter Nina Sten-Knudsen with Swedish heritage and a Congolese father. She has eight siblings: one brother, four sisters, two step-sisters and one unrelated sister. She grew up with only one of the sisters, an older sister who was her mother’s only other child.

As a child, Sten often posed for her mother's art and, as a child, she also started doing theater in school; participating in a youth acting program at Scandinavian Theater School. Her other childhood activities included horseback riding, gymnastics, kickboxing, track and field and playing the piano.

As she grew older, she grew taller and was convinced to try modeling. Sten moved to New York City in the United States when she was 18 years old to pursue a career in Performing Arts.

Career Sten competed in Miss Supertalent of the World 2011 and was placed in the top seven women among 50 candidates.

Writer In February 2017, Sten's submission "The Courier" was announced as a finalist for the second annual television writing program from the ATX Television Festival and The Black List. Sten has also written two episodes of David E. Kelley's series Big Sky, and wrote, directed, and produced the short films Wild Things Run Free and When It Burns. In 2018 Sten was named to the Tracking Board's Young & Hungry List, which showcases the top 100 new writers as voted on by Hollywood's most influential.

Since 2022, she has starred as the character Frances Neagley in the Amazon Prime Video series Reacher.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2014 I'm Good Kia Short film 2015 Straight Outta Compton Girlfriend Uncredited Mellow Peaches Short film The Comments Woman in Pool Short film Dream... The Boss Short film 2016 When It Burns Kate Short film; also Director, executive producer and writer Kessi Blue Robin C. Short film; also Line producer 2017 Wild Things Run Free The Woman Short film; also Director, producer and writer Book Trader Cassandra Short film 2019 Emmanuel and Me Christina

Television Year Title Role Notes 2012 The Doctors Woman in Bedroom Episode: "Secrets to Look & Feel Better Naked"; as Maria Sten-Knudsen Eros.Emmanuel and Me Christina Television mini-series 2014 Celebrity Crime Files Angela Davis Episode: "The Black Panthers" Out the Box Maria Episode: "These Hands" 2018 Channel Zero: The Dream Door Jillian Hope Hodgson Main role; 6 episodes 2019 Swamp Thing Liz Tremayne Main role; 10 episodes 2021 Big Sky — Writer; Episode: "The Wolves Are Always Out for Blood" 2022–present Reacher Frances Neagley Main role; 12 episodes 2026 Neagley Lead role; 8 episodes

Web Year Title Role Notes 2015 Persuasion Terry Main role; 9 episodes 2022 Narcissa Andie Main role; 8 episodes

Producer Year Title Notes 2015 In the Still of the Night Short film