You know that feeling when you're watching a Netflix limited series and you keep pausing to say, "Wait, I know them"? That’s basically the entire experience of watching Per-Olav Sørensen’s holiday hit. The A Storm for Christmas cast isn't just a random assortment of actors; it is a literal "who’s who" of Scandinavian prestige television. Most of these folks have spent years working together on shows like Home for Christmas or Quicksand, which is why the chemistry feels so lived-in despite the fact that they’re all playing strangers trapped in Oslo Airport.
It’s a chaotic setup. A snowstorm hits. Planes are grounded. Everyone is stuck. It sounds like a Hallmark movie premise, but it’s much more Norwegian than that—meaning it’s a bit more melancholic, a lot more realistic about how annoying travel actually is, and way more interested in the quiet sadness of the holidays.
The Power Players: Ida Elise Broch and the Home for Christmas Connection
If you’ve dipped your toes into Norwegian TV before, you immediately recognized Ida Elise Broch. She’s basically the queen of Netflix Nordics at this point. In A Storm for Christmas, she plays Ida, a high-maintenance pop star who is, frankly, kind of a nightmare at first.
It’s a massive departure from her role as Johanne in Home for Christmas. In that show, she was the relatable, single nurse we all rooted for. Here? She’s wearing a massive white fur coat and acting like the world owes her a private jet. But that’s the magic of this specific ensemble. Sørensen (the director) loves to take his "regulars" and flip their archetypes. Seeing Broch play someone so shielded by fame and ego is a trip, especially when the script starts peeling back the layers of why she’s so defensive.
Then you have Hanna Ardéhn. You might remember her as the lead in Quicksand (Störst av allt), which was a much darker, much heavier show about a school shooting. In the A Storm for Christmas cast, she plays Magret, a woman dealing with a far more domestic but equally crushing kind of internal conflict. It’s wild to see her move from the high-tension legal drama of her previous work to this quiet, observational role.
Why the Airport Staff Steal the Show
Honestly, the travelers are great, but the heart of the series is the people who work at Gardermoen. Valter Skarsgård plays Elias, and yes, he is that Skarsgård family. He’s the son of Stellan and brother to Alexander, Bill, and Gustaf.
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He plays a baggage handler.
There is something inherently funny about a member of the most famous acting dynasty in Sweden playing a guy who just wants to make sure a dog doesn't freeze in the cargo hold. He brings a weird, nervous energy to the role that grounds the more "glamorous" storylines. He isn't the only one, though. Jon Øigarden plays Marius, the pilot who is clearly going through a mid-life crisis that involves a very expensive car and a lot of regret. Øigarden is a veteran of the screen; if you haven't seen him in Exit, you're missing out on some of the most depraved, brilliant acting to come out of Norway in a decade. Seeing him play a pilot who just wants to go home is a nice change of pace.
The International Flavor: It's Not Just Norwegians
One thing people often miss about the A Storm for Christmas cast is how pan-Scandinavian it actually is. It’s not just a Norwegian show. You’ve got Swedes, Danes, and even Spanish actors in the mix.
- Alexandra Rapaport: She’s Swedish royalty in the acting world. She plays Rosemarie, and if you haven’t seen The Sandhamn Murders, you might not realize just how much weight she brings to the screen.
- Dennis Storhøi: He plays Arthur, the aging pianist. He’s a legend. He was in The 13th Warrior with Antonio Banderas back in the day. His storyline is arguably the most heartbreaking one in the series.
- Maibritt Saerens: Representing Denmark as Ronja.
The casting reflects the reality of a major hub like Oslo Airport. It’s a crossroads. You’ve got the Spanish traveler played by Ariadna Cabrol, which adds this layer of "stranger in a strange land" that many of us feel when we’re stuck in a foreign airport where we don't speak the language.
Dealing With the "Cringe" and the "Real"
Let's be real for a second. Some of the dialogue in these holiday ensemble pieces can feel a bit... scripted. It’s the nature of the beast. When you have 20 characters and only six episodes, you have to move fast.
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But the reason this cast works where others fail is the "Nordic Noir" background most of them have. They don't play the "Christmas Magic" moments with a wink to the camera. They play them straight. When Jan Gunnar Røise (who plays David) is dealing with his son, he’s not acting in a holiday special. He’s acting in a drama about a father trying to do right by his kid. That sincerity is what keeps the show from dissolving into a puddle of seasonal slush.
The Supporting Characters You'll Google Later
There are a few faces that pop up for only a few minutes but leave a massive impression. Sus Noreen Jondahl Wilkins plays Stine, and she has this incredible ability to look exhausted yet empathetic—the universal look of anyone who has ever worked retail or hospitality during the holidays.
And then there's the dog. We have to talk about the dog. The storyline involving the pet in the cargo hold is the primary source of anxiety for about 40% of the audience. It’s a classic trope, sure, but it works because of how the human actors react to it. It gives the airport staff a common goal and a way to show their humanity outside of scanning boarding passes.
What This Cast Tells Us About the "Sørensen Universe"
Per-Olav Sørensen has essentially created a repertory theater company on Netflix. If you look at the credits for The Playlist, Home for Christmas, and A Storm for Christmas, you see the same names rotating through. This is great for the viewers because these actors have a shorthand with each other.
They know how to play off one another’s timing. In the scene where the travelers are all huddled together as the realization sinks in that they aren't leaving, there is a collective rhythm that you only get from people who have worked together for years. It’s not just about individual performances; it’s about the ensemble.
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Actionable Insights for Your Next Binge-Watch
If you enjoyed the A Storm for Christmas cast, you shouldn't just stop there. The Scandinavian TV world is interconnected in a way that makes "rabbit-holing" very rewarding.
First, go back and watch Home for Christmas (Hjem til jul) if you haven't. It’s the spiritual predecessor to this show and features many of the same actors in completely different vibes. It’s the gold standard for "cozy" TV that actually has some teeth.
Next, look up Jan Gunnar Røise in Pørni (or Henrietta in some regions). It’s one of the best-written shows of the last five years and shows a completely different side of his range. He’s a master of the "ordinary guy with a hidden depth" archetype.
Finally, if you want to see the darker side of these actors, Exit is the move. Just be warned: it is the polar opposite of a Christmas special. It’s dark, cynical, and features some of the same cast members behaving in ways that would get them permanently banned from any airport.
The beauty of a limited series like this is that it acts as a tasting menu. You get a little bit of everyone, and then you can go off and find their "main course" projects. The cast is the reason the show stays in the Top 10 every December; they make a high-concept premise feel like a small-town story.
To get the most out of your viewing, pay attention to the background characters in the final episode. Many of them are Easter eggs from other Norwegian productions or local celebrities making blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameos. It’s a love letter to the Norwegian industry, wrapped in a snowy airport terminal.