You know that feeling when you watch a massive 90s blockbuster and realize a huge star was hiding in plain sight? That was Connie Nielsen in The Devil's Advocate. Most people remember Al Pacino’s legendary scenery-chewing or Keanu Reeves’ somewhat questionable Southern accent. Some recall Charlize Theron’s heartbreaking, haunting performance as the unraveling Mary Ann. But Connie Nielsen? She was the secret weapon.
Playing Christabella Andreoli, Nielsen wasn't just another face in the crowd of a high-stakes New York law firm. She was the temptress. The sister. The literal daughter of the Devil.
Why Connie Nielsen in The Devil's Advocate Was a Game Changer
It’s hard to believe, but this was her first major English-language role. Before 1997, Nielsen had been working mostly in French and Italian cinema. She moved to the U.S. in 1996, and suddenly, she's standing across from Al Pacino. Talk about a trial by fire. Honestly, she didn't just hold her own; she basically redefined what a "corporate femme fatale" could look like.
Nielsen’s Christabella is introduced as a high-powered attorney at Milton, Chadwick & Waters. She's sleek. She's sophisticated. She has this mysterious, shifting accent that seems to change whenever she talks to Keanu’s character, Kevin Lomax.
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Wait. Did you notice that?
A lot of viewers missed it on the first watch. Her accent is a chameleon act. It's subtle, but it's there to show how she’s constantly molding herself into whatever Kevin finds most alluring. It’s part of the trap John Milton (Pacino) is setting.
The Incestuous Twist Nobody Saw Coming
Let’s get into the weird stuff. The third act of The Devil's Advocate goes from "legal thriller" to "supernatural horror" at breakneck speed.
Kevin Lomax finds out he’s not just a prodigy lawyer; he’s Satan’s son. And Christabella? She’s his half-sister. The plan is for the two of them to conceive the Antichrist. It’s a plot point that feels like it belongs in a different movie, yet Nielsen plays it with a chilling, seductive sincerity.
She isn't playing a villain in the mustache-twirling sense. She's playing someone who is entirely "all in" on her father's vision. When she stands on that altar, she’s the ultimate personification of vanity and entitlement.
The Aftermath: From Devil’s Daughter to Queen of the Amazons
If you think about it, Connie Nielsen’s career trajectory is wild.
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- 1997: Plays the daughter of Satan.
- 2000: Plays Lucilla in Gladiator, arguably her most famous role.
- 2017: Becomes Queen Hippolyta in Wonder Woman.
Without the success of Connie Nielsen in The Devil's Advocate, we might never have seen her as the regal, commanding presence in Gladiator. Hollywood saw her ability to be "otherworldly." She has a face that looks like it belongs in a history book or a myth, and The Devil's Advocate was the first time American audiences got a taste of that.
Critics at the time were actually quite kind to her, even if they were busy laughing at Pacino shouting "HOO-AH" (wrong movie, but same energy). They noted her mystery. They liked that she wasn't just a 2D sex symbol. She brought a specific, European gravity to a film that was otherwise very "New York loud."
What Most People Get Wrong About Christabella
Is she actually "evil"?
That’s the nuance Nielsen brings. In the world of the film, Christabella is a victim of her father just as much as Kevin is, but she’s already been corrupted. She doesn't have the "free will" struggle that Kevin does because she’s already made her choice.
Nielsen has mentioned in later interviews that she doesn't believe in a feminism that represses sexuality, but she’s always careful about the line between "expression and exploitation." In The Devil's Advocate, she used that sexuality as a tool of power. It wasn't just for the male gaze; it was a weapon.
Actionable Takeaway: How to Re-Watch Like an Expert
If you’re going to revisit this 1997 classic, don't just wait for the Pacino monologues. Pay attention to Nielsen’s scenes.
- Watch the eyes. In her early scenes with Keanu, she’s scanning him. It’s a predator watching prey.
- Listen to the voice. See if you can catch the moments where her European lilt softens or sharpens depending on Kevin's comfort level.
- The Wardrobe. Her clothing is intentionally armor-like. Sharp shoulders, deep blacks. She is the corporate world personified.
Connie Nielsen might be known as the mother of Wonder Woman now, but she started her Hollywood journey by trying to birth the end of the world. And honestly? She was magnificent at it.
To truly appreciate her range, your next step should be a double feature: watch The Devil's Advocate followed immediately by her performance as Sarah in the 2004 Danish film Brothers (Brødre). The contrast between the cold, demonic Christabella and the raw, grieving Sarah is exactly why she is one of the most underrated actresses of her generation.
Next Steps:
- Watch the Unrated Director's Cut of The Devil's Advocate to see the altered CGI in the final scene (a result of a real-life lawsuit over a sculpture).
- Compare her performance to Charlize Theron’s; notice how one represents the "untainted" soul while Nielsen represents the "bought" soul.
- Look for her brief stint in Law & Order: SVU where she filled in for Mariska Hargitay—it’s a rare look at her playing a grounded, gritty American detective.