Honestly, if you haven’t heard the name Renate Reinsve by now, you’ve probably been living under a very comfortable rock. Or maybe you just don't watch enough Norwegian existential dramas. Either way, that’s about to change. She’s not just "that girl from the running through the streets meme." She's the real deal.
Most people got their first taste of her in The Worst Person in the World. It was 2021. The world was messy. And here was Julie—a character so indecisive, so vibrant, and so frustratingly human that she basically became the patron saint of the thirty-something identity crisis.
But Reinsve didn't just appear out of thin air. She’s been grinding in the Norwegian scene for years. Now, in 2026, she’s everywhere—from high-stakes Apple TV+ thrillers to A24 horror flicks.
The Big Break: The Worst Person in the World (2021)
You can't talk about Renate Reinsve movies and tv shows without starting here. It’s the law. Directed by Joachim Trier, this film is basically the third part of his "Oslo Trilogy."
Reinsve plays Julie. She changes her career every five minutes. Medicine? No, psychology. Wait, maybe photography? It’s relatable. It’s painful. She won the Best Actress award at Cannes for this, and she deserved it. There’s a scene where time freezes and she runs through the city to find a guy. It’s cinematic magic, sure, but it’s her face—that mix of terror and pure adrenaline—that makes it work.
What’s wild is that before this role, Reinsve was actually thinking about quitting acting. She was going to become a carpenter. Can you imagine? We almost lost one of the best actors of our generation to literal woodworking.
Breaking Into Hollywood: Presumed Innocent and A Different Man
After Cannes, Hollywood came knocking. Loudly.
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She landed a massive role in the Apple TV+ series Presumed Innocent (2024). She played Carolyn Polhemus. If you’ve seen it, you know it’s a heavy role. She’s acting opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, playing a prosecutor who gets murdered, kicking off the whole plot. It’s a "dead girl" trope on paper, but Reinsve makes Carolyn feel like a ghost that still has opinions. She’s sharp. She’s complicated.
Then came A Different Man (2024). This one is weird in the best way. She plays Ingrid, an aspiring playwright who lives next door to Edward (Sebastian Stan).
- The Vibe: Gritty, 70s-style New York.
- The Character: Ingrid is bubbly but sort of... selfish?
- The Twist: It’s a dark comedy about identity and how we perceive beauty.
Critics loved her in this because she didn’t play the "supportive neighbor." She played a real person with questionable motives. It proved she could hold her own in an English-language production without losing that "Scandi" edge.
The 2024–2025 "Renate-issance"
If 2021 was the spark, 2024 and 2025 were the explosion. She went on a run that would make most A-listers sweat.
Handling the Undead (2024)
This isn't your typical zombie movie. No one is getting their brains eaten in a shopping mall. It’s a "grief horror" film based on the book by John Ajvide Lindqvist (the guy who wrote Let the Right One In). Reinsve plays Anna, a woman dealing with the return of her deceased son. It’s quiet. It’s devastating. If you want to cry while being slightly creeped out, this is the one.
Armand (2024)
Directed by Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel (who happens to be Ingmar Bergman’s grandson, no pressure), this film is intense. Reinsve plays Elisabeth. The whole movie takes place at an elementary school during a parent-teacher meeting that goes off the rails. She has a laughing fit in this movie that is genuinely one of the most haunting things put on film. It’s about how we judge people with zero information.
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Sentimental Value (2025)
She reunited with Joachim Trier for this. Finally. She plays Nora, an actress whose estranged father (Stellan Skarsgård) tries to cast her in his film. It’s a family drama, but since it’s Trier, it’s probably also about the crushing weight of existence. It’s been cleaning up at awards shows lately. She even bagged a European Film Award for it.
What’s New in 2026?
We are currently in 2026, and the momentum isn't stopping. If you’re looking for what to watch right now or what’s hitting theaters soon, here’s the breakdown.
The Backrooms (2026)
This is the big one for horror fans. Produced by A24 and directed by Kane Parsons (the kid who made those viral YouTube videos), Reinsve is venturing into the "liminal space" genre. It’s a bold move. It shows she’s not just interested in "prestige drama"—she wants to do the weird stuff, too.
Fjord (2026)
She’s back with Sebastian Stan for this one, directed by Cristian Mungiu. They seem to like working together. It’s a Romanian-Norwegian co-production. Expect lots of long takes and heavy themes.
Somewhere Out There
She’s currently filming this with Alexander Payne (the Sideways and The Holdovers director). Shooting is happening in Denmark. Working with Payne usually means an Oscar nomination is looming, so keep an eye on this for 2027.
The TV Side of Things
While she's mostly a film star, her TV credits are worth a look if you can find them (some might require a VPN and a basic understanding of Norwegian).
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- Nesten voksen: A comedy series where she was a lead.
- Hvite gutter: She had a recurring role here.
- The Night Manager Season 2: There are strong rumors and listings placing her in the upcoming expansion of this universe.
Why Everyone Is Obsessed With Her
It’s the "un-actress" quality.
A lot of Hollywood stars feel like they were grown in a lab. They have perfect teeth and perfect reactions. Reinsve feels like someone you’d meet at a bar who tells you a story that’s slightly too personal. She’s messy.
She has this ability to look like she’s thinking ten things at once without saying a word. In The Worst Person in the World, there are long stretches where she’s just... being. And you can't look away. It’s a rare gift.
Making a Watchlist: Where to Start?
If you’re new to the Reinsve cinematic universe, don't just jump into the deepest, darkest Norwegian horror. Ease into it.
- The Entry Point: The Worst Person in the World. It’s the definitive performance.
- The Hollywood Pivot: A Different Man. It’s funny, weird, and shows her range.
- The Binge: Presumed Innocent on Apple TV+. It’s a classic legal thriller.
- The Deep End: Armand. Only watch this if you’re prepared to feel things. Uncomfortable things.
Honestly, the best way to keep up with her is to just follow the A24 release schedule at this point. She’s become their unofficial muse.
Next time someone asks you about the "next big thing" in cinema, you can confidently drop her name. Just make sure you pronounce it right. It’s basically Reh-nah-teh Rain-sveh. Now go watch Sentimental Value before it leaves the theaters. It's the kind of movie that stays with you for a week.
Stay curious about the smaller projects, too. She tends to pick scripts based on the director's vision rather than the paycheck. That's why her filmography is so consistently high-quality. You're rarely going to see her in a mindless blockbuster, and frankly, that's why we love her.