Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has a bit of a problem. When you’ve spent nearly a decade playing a guy who pushes children out of windows and sleeps with his sister, people tend to struggle seeing you as anything else. Jaime Lannister was a once-in-a-generation role. It made him a global superstar. But honestly, if you only know him from Game of Thrones, you’re missing out on some of the best gritty, low-budget, and flat-out weird performances in modern cinema.
The man has been working since the early 90s. He’s not just an actor; he’s a writer, a producer, and lately, an environmental activist who seems more interested in saving the world than conquering it.
The Roles That Defined Him Before (and After) Westeros
Most people don't realize his "breakthrough" actually happened way back in 1994.
He starred in a Danish thriller called Nightwatch (Nattevagten). He played a law student working as a night watchman in a morgue. It was a massive hit in Denmark. Recently, in 2024, he actually went back to that world for a sequel, Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever. It’s a bit of a full-circle moment for him.
Between those two points, he’s popped up in places you probably forgot.
Remember Black Hawk Down? He was Gary Gordon, the sniper who won a posthumous Medal of Honor. He was in Wimbledon as a tennis pro. He even played a god in the messy, big-budget Gods of Egypt.
But his best work? It’s usually when he’s playing someone miserable.
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Why Shot Caller is His Secret Masterpiece
If you want to see what he can actually do, watch Shot Caller (2017). Basically, he plays a successful businessman who goes to prison after a tragic accident and has to transform into a hardened gang leader just to survive.
It's a brutal movie. He's got the horseshoe mustache and the tattoos. You completely forget he’s the guy with the golden hand from HBO.
The Netflix Connection: Against the Ice
Fast forward to 2022. Coster-Waldau co-wrote and starred in Against the Ice for Netflix. It’s a survival story based on the real-life 1909 Danish expedition to Greenland.
He plays Captain Ejnar Mikkelsen. He’s stuck in the snow. He’s losing his mind. He’s eating sled dogs (hypothetically, don't worry). It’s a passion project that shows his commitment to his Danish roots and his love for a good, old-fashioned "man vs. nature" struggle.
The 2025/2026 Shift: King & Conqueror and Beyond
Right now, in 2026, he’s everywhere again.
The biggest project recently has been King & Conqueror. It premiered in late 2025 on the BBC and Amazon Prime Video. He plays William, Duke of Normandy (William the Conqueror). It’s another historical epic, but it feels different than Thrones. It’s more grounded. It’s about the power struggle leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
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Watching him play William against James Norton’s Harold Godwinson is a masterclass in tension. He also directed an episode of the series, titled "The Beast in the Mirror."
Then there’s his TV work.
He’s returning for Season 2 of The Last Thing He Told Me on Apple TV+, which is set to drop in February 2026. He plays Owen Michaels, the husband who disappears and leaves Jennifer Garner with a mess of secrets. It’s a solid mystery-thriller that keeps him in the "mysterious guy with secrets" lane he excels at.
A Different Kind of Leading Man
What's kinda cool about his career is that he doesn't seem to care about being a "Hollywood leading man" in the traditional sense.
He spends a huge chunk of his time as a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador.
He produced and hosted An Optimist’s Guide to the Planet, a docuseries that just wrapped its second season.
He’s traveling to places like the Ecuadorian rainforest and Vietnam to talk about biodiversity.
It’s a weird pivot for a guy who used to play a knight, but it feels authentic. He’s using his Game of Thrones capital to fund things he actually gives a damn about.
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Every Notable Project You Should Check Out
If you're looking for a watchlist, don't just stick to the hits.
- Headhunters (2011): A Norwegian thriller where he plays a former CEO who is also a high-end art thief. It's fast, smart, and way better than most American thrillers.
- A Taste of Hunger (2021): He plays a chef obsessed with getting a Michelin star. It’s stressful. It’s about how ambition can ruin your life.
- The Silencing (2020): A gritty crime flick where he’s a reformed hunter living in a wildlife sanctuary.
- Mama (2013): A Guillermo del Toro-produced horror where he plays twins. It’s actually pretty scary.
The Reality of Post-Thrones Life
Honestly, it’s hard to shake a character like Jaime.
He was nominated for two Emmys for that role (2018 and 2019). He was making millions per episode by the end. But if you look at his choices since 2019, he’s leaning into "difficult" characters. He doesn't want the "McDonald's" of acting—the easy, big-budget fluff. He wants the "nice meal," the projects that make him feel something.
Whether he's playing an immortal detective in the short-lived New Amsterdam (the 2008 one, not the hospital show) or a Viking-era conqueror, he brings this specific weight to his roles. He’s great at playing men who are tired. Men who have done bad things but want to be better.
To really appreciate the range of Nikolaj Coster-Waldau movies and shows, you have to look past the sword. Look at the small Danish films. Look at the writing credits. That's where the real talent is hidden.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the Originals: If you liked Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever, go back and find the 1994 original. It's a classic of European horror.
- Support the Documentaries: If you’re tired of bleak news, An Optimist’s Guide to the Planet is actually a refreshing change of pace and shows a side of him you won't see in scripted TV.
- Track His Producing: Keep an eye on his production company, Ill Kippers. He's becoming a major player in Scandinavian-International co-productions.