Ulrich Thomsen

Ulrich Thomsen (born 6 December 1963) is a Danish actor, best known for his role as Christian in the 1998 film The Celebration and as Kai Proctor in the Cinemax original series Banshee (2013–2016). Since 2026, he is currently starring as the DC Comics character Sinestro in the DC Universe, beginning with the superhero crime neo-Western thriller series Lanterns.

Early and personal life Ulrich Thomsen was born in (Næsby) Odense, Denmark and graduated from the Danish National School of Theatre and Contemporary Dance in 1993, after which he performed in several theatres in Copenhagen, such as Dr. Dantes Aveny, Mungo Park and Østre Gasværks Teater. He is married to Catherine Ekehed and they have two children, including Alma Ekehed Thomsen, who is an actress. Both Ulrich and his daughter appeared in Face to Face portraying a father, Bjørn and his daughter, Christina.

Career His film debut was in 1994 in Nightwatch, directed by Ole Bornedal. Since then, he has starred in a number of roles including, among others, Thomas Vinterberg's The Biggest Heroes (1996), Susanne Bier's Sekten (1997) and Anders Thomas Jensen's Flickering Lights (2000). The major breakthrough in his career came in the 1998 film Festen followed by an important role in the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough (1999) portraying the part of henchman Sasha Davidov.

This established Thomsen as an international actor, famous outside his native Denmark. He played a part in the 2002 English film Killing Me Softly. In 2009, he played Jonas Skarssen, the lead villain in Tom Tykwer's The International. From 2013 to 2016, he starred as series regular in Banshee playing the role of primary antagonist, Kai Proctor.

Filmography Film

YearTitleRoleNotes 1994 Nightwatch Rod 1 1996 Portland Lasse De nye lejere Peter Short film The Biggest Heroes Peter Robert Award for Best Actor in a Supporting RoleRouen Nordic Film Festival Award for Best Actor Café Hector Christian Short film 1997 Kys, kærlighed og kroner Holger Short film Credo Svane Royal Blues Christian 1998 Baby Doom Magnus Tempo Dirgenten Festen Christian Klingenfeldt-Hansen Bodil Award for Best Actor in a Leading RoleRobert Award for Best Actor in a Leading RoleNominated—European Film Award for Best Actor Angel of the Night Alex Election Night Peter Short film 1999 Sasha Davidov 2000 Maries Herz Short film John Hontvedt Flickering Lights Peter Solen er så rød Sælgeren Short film 2001 Mostly Martha Samuel "Sam" Thalberg Mike Bassett: England Manager Dr. Hans Shoegaarten Dragov P.O.V. Henrik 2002 Den gamle møller Kulturgangster I Short film Killing Me Softly Klaus Max Karl Mayr 2003 The Inheritance Christoffer Bodil Award for Best Actor in a Leading RoleFlaiano Film Festival Award for Best ActorMexico City International Contemporary Film Festival Special Award for Best ActorRobert Award for Best Actor in a Leading RoleRouen Nordic Film Festival Award for Best Actor Baby Marc Also executive producer Blueprint Dr. Martin Fisher 2004 Gerhard Zucker Brothers Michael San Sebastián International Film Festival Silver Seashell for Best ActorNominated—Bodil Award for Best Actor in a Leading RoleNominated—European Film Award for Best ActorNominated—Robert Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Sergeant Pepper Johnny Sínger 2005 Adam’s Apples Adam Pedersen Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival Award for Best ActorFantasporto Directors' Week Award for Best ActorNominated–Robert Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Kingdom of Heaven Templar Master Allegro Zetterstrøm 2006 Han, hun og Strindberg Executive producer Sprængfarlig Bombe Tonny Jensen Jan 2007 Opium: Diary of a Madwoman Dr. Brenner The Substitute Jesper Osböll Nominated—Robert Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role Fremkaldt Nikolaj Short film Hitman Mikhail Belicoff 2008 One Shot Executive producer Dr. Robert Zachman Fear Me Not MikaelMar del Plata International Film Festival Award for Best ActorNominated—Bodil Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Nominated—Robert Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Reservations Leigh 2009 Lulu und Jimi Harry Hass Jonas Skarssen Duplicity Big Swiss Suit Tell-Tale Lethe 2010 Centurion Gorlacon The Silence Peer Sommer In a Better World Claus 2011 Season of the Witch Johann Eckhardt Dr. Sander Halvorson 2012 Aya Mr. Overby Short film 2013 The Notebook Officer Tiszt Jakob 2014 A Second Chance Simon Livsforkortelses Ekspert Michael 2015 Mortdecai Romanov Skyggen af en helt Gustaf (voice) Sommeren '92 Richard Møller Nielsen Robert Award for Best Actor in a Leading RoleNominated—Bodil Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role 2016 The Commune Erik Nominated—Bodil Award for Best Actor in a Leading RoleNominated—Robert Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role In Embryo Peter Also director, writer, and executive producer 2017 Dræberne fra Nibe Edward Darling Kristian 2018 Gutterbee Director and writer. Post-production I Krig & Kærlighed Müller 2019 The Space Between the Lines Bernhard Rothner Gooseboy Knud Heinesen 2020 The Good Traitor Henrik Kauffmann Marco-effekten Carl Mørck 2022 Tag min hånd Claes A Violent Man Governor Goodwillie 2024 Den grænseløse 2025 Dead Language lighting designer Israeli film Run Matt Television

YearTitleRoleNotes 1995 Mappen Television film 1996 Charlot og Charlotte Læge 1 episode: "Jeg så ind i dig" 1997 Bryggeren Gartner Jørgensen 1 episode: "7. afsnit, 1862–1864" Deadline Television film 1999 Naja fra Narjana Far Miniseries Dybt vand Flygge Television film 2000 Labyrinten Dansk polisman Miniseries 2003 Ins Leben zurück Eric Lundgren Television film 2005 Alias Ulrich Kottor 1 Episode: "Tuesday" Baron Casper Breuner Miniseries (3 episodes) 2007 Starik Zhilov Miniseries (2 episodes) 2009 Dr. Albert Brand Television film Blekingegade Jørn Moos Lead role 2011 Den som dræber Martin Høeg 2 episodes Fringe Man in Zeppelin / Mr X 1 episode: "Lysergic Acid Diethylamide" 2013–2016 Banshee Kai Proctor Series regular (37 episodes) 2014 In der Überzahl Stig Television film 2016 Alexander Kirk / Constantin Rostov Recurring role (10 episodes) 2017–2018 Counterpart Aldrich Recurring role (9 episodes) 2019 Forhøret Bjørn Rasmussen Lead role (8 episodes) 2020 The New Pope Doctor Helmer Lindegard Recurring role (4 episodes) 2022 Trom Hannis Martinsson Lead role (6 episodes)Golden Nymph Awards 2022 for Best Actor 2026 Lanterns Thaal Sinestro Recurring role

Web series YearTitleRoleNotes 2013–2016 Banshee Origins Kai Proctor 8 episodes