Mads Sjøgård Pettersen
Mads Sjøgård Pettersen (born 21 January 1984) is a Norwegian actor, writer, and director from Sørfold in Nordland county.[1][2][3] Renowned for his versatile performances in film and television, Pettersen first gained prominence with his supporting role as Ulrik in the drama Nord (2009), for which he won the Amanda Award for Best Male Supporting Actor at the Norwegian International Film Festival in Haugesund.[2] His breakthrough in international cinema came with the role of Erik Moberg in the biographical sports film Eddie the Eagle (2016), directed by Dexter Fletcher and starring Taron Egerton and Hugh Jackman.[3][4] He followed this with the supporting role of Marius Grønnvoll in the World War II thriller The 12th Man (2017), a Norwegian production that became one of the country's highest-grossing films.[3] In 2022, Pettersen portrayed Captain Kristoffer Holm in the Netflix monster film Troll, directed by Roar Uthaug, which drew widespread attention for its blend of Norwegian folklore and action-horror elements and became a global streaming hit; he is set to reprise the role in the sequel Troll 2 (2025).[3][5][6] On television, Pettersen has delivered notable performances in several acclaimed Norwegian series, including the role of Petter Bjørnstad in the political thriller Occupied (Okkupert, 2015–2018), Håvard Bakkeli in the espionage drama Nobel (2016), and Fredrik Kayser in the historical miniseries The Heavy Water War (Kampen om tungtvannet, 2015).[7][8] He achieved further popularity as the romantic lead Stein in the Netflix comedy-drama Home for Christmas (Hjem til jul, 2019–2020), a series that explores modern relationships in a Norwegian holiday setting and earned praise for its witty scripting and ensemble cast.[8][9] Beyond acting, Pettersen debuted as a director with the documentary Human Tsunami (2019), which addresses themes of human resilience, and has credits as a writer on select projects.[10] With over 40 acting credits across Norwegian and English-language productions as of 2025, he continues to be a prominent figure in Scandinavian cinema, often collaborating with directors like Harald Zwart and Erik Skjoldbjaerg.[7]Early life and education
Early life
Mads Sjøgård Pettersen was born on January 21, 1984, in Sørfold, a municipality in Nordland county, northern Norway.[3][11] He entered the world weighing just 2.6 kilograms and was described in his early years as a tough yet quiet child, often characterized as a devoted mama's boy who enjoyed playing with a stroller and other childhood toys.[12] Pettersen's family background includes relatives who worked in the local mines, reflecting the industrial heritage of the Sørfold region.[11] Reflecting on his upbringing, Pettersen has shared that his childhood was largely positive but interspersed with difficult periods, including a familial pattern of intense anger that traces back through generations.[13] These experiences contributed to his personal development before he pursued formal acting studies.Education
Mads Sjøgård Pettersen pursued his formal training in the performing arts at the Norwegian Theatre Academy in Fredrikstad, a department of Østfold University College, where he enrolled in 2003. The academy, known for its international programs in theatre and performance, provided a rigorous environment focused on practical and theoretical aspects of scenography and acting.[14] Pettersen specialized in acting and video design during his three-year program, which emphasized interdisciplinary skills combining performance with technical elements of visual media. This dual focus equipped him with a versatile approach to theatre and film, allowing him to integrate narrative performance with innovative video projection and design techniques that would later define his contributions as both an actor and a video designer. He graduated in 2006, completing his bachelor's-level studies with a foundation in collaborative artistic practices. His education at the academy, rooted in Norway's tradition of experimental theatre, honed skills in ensemble work, improvisation, and multimedia integration, influencing his ability to adapt across stage, screen, and design roles.Career
Early career
Following his graduation from the Norwegian Theatre Academy in Fredrikstad in 2006, where he studied acting and scenography, Mads Sjøgård Pettersen transitioned into professional work by co-founding the independent theatre company AKT 5 with fellow alumni Kim Atle Hansen, Anders Høgli, and Niklas Westerberg.[15][16] This collective focused on experimental productions, performing at prominent Norwegian venues such as Black Box Teater in Oslo and Den Nationale Scene in Bergen, allowing Pettersen to build experience in contemporary theatre amid the competitive Norwegian performing arts scene. One of his initial theatre roles came in 2006 with AKT 5's staging of Henrik Ibsen's Sancthansnatten (St. John's Night), directed by Kim Atle Hansen at Den Nationale Scene, where he portrayed the character Birk. Pettersen also began contributing to video design elements in these early productions, integrating multimedia into performances as an extension of his scenography training.[15] Pettersen's entry into cinema began with his debut role as Johan in the horror film Cold Prey 2 (2008). He followed this with the role of Ulrik in the 2009 Norwegian drama Nord, directed by Rune Denstad Langlo. The performance in Nord earned him the Amanda Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2009, highlighting his emerging presence in Norwegian film.[17][8]Television and film breakthrough
Pettersen's breakthrough in Norwegian television and film began with his supporting role as Fredrik Kayser, a Norwegian resistance fighter involved in the sabotage of the Nazi heavy water program, in the 2015 NRK miniseries The Heavy Water War. This six-episode production dramatized one of World War II's lesser-known chapters, emphasizing the high-stakes espionage and heroism that delayed Germany's atomic ambitions, and Pettersen's portrayal contributed to the series' acclaim for its tense historical narrative.[18] Building on this momentum, Pettersen took on the role of Lieutenant Håvard Bakkeli in the 2016 NRK political thriller Nobel, appearing in all eight episodes. As a special forces officer entangled in the moral ambiguities of the Afghanistan conflict and its repercussions back home, his performance underscored the series' exploration of dramatic tension between duty, politics, and personal ethics, earning praise for the ensemble's realistic depiction of military life.[19] A pivotal early recognition came with Pettersen's 2009 Amanda Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film Nord, which marked a significant step in establishing his domestic reputation before his television surge.[17] This win highlighted his ability to deliver nuanced supporting performances in Norwegian cinema. Pettersen further demonstrated his versatility in the late 2010s with comedic and dramatic television roles. In the 2019–2020 Netflix series Home for Christmas, he played Stein, a charming doctor and romantic interest, across eight episodes, bringing warmth and humor to the show's lighthearted take on holiday pressures and relationships. Complementing this, he portrayed Petter Bjørnstad, a pragmatic politician navigating geopolitical intrigue, in five episodes of the third season of Occupied (2019–2020), showcasing his range in the thriller's blend of drama and suspense amid a fictional Russian occupation of Norway.[20] These roles solidified his status as a prominent figure in Norwegian screen acting, drawing on his theatre training for seamless transitions between genres.International work and directing
Pettersen's international breakthrough came with his supporting role as Erik Moberg, a Swedish ski jumper, in the 2015 biographical sports comedy Eddie the Eagle, a British-American production directed by Dexter Fletcher that highlighted his ability to portray competitive athletes in a Hollywood context.[21] This marked his first significant exposure beyond Norwegian cinema, contributing to the film's global release and positive reception for its uplifting portrayal of underdog perseverance.[22] Building on this momentum, he portrayed Marius Grønnvoll, a key member of the Norwegian resistance team, in the 2017 World War II thriller The 12th Man, a Norwegian film with international co-production elements and an English-language release featuring Jonathan Rhys Meyers.[23] The role underscored his versatility in historical dramas, aiding the film's distribution in Europe and the United States through platforms like Netflix.[24] In more recent years, Pettersen expanded his presence in global streaming content with the role of Captain Kristoffer Holm, a military leader confronting mythical threats, in the 2022 Norwegian monster film Troll, a Netflix original that achieved widespread international viewership for its blend of folklore and action.[25] He reprises this character as Captain Kris in the upcoming sequel Troll 2, set for Netflix release on December 1, 2025, where the narrative escalates with a new ancient troll awakening devastation across Norway.[26] These projects represent his growing involvement in high-profile fantasy genres with broad appeal, directed by Roar Uthaug and emphasizing large-scale visual effects.[27] Venturing beyond acting, Pettersen made his directing debut with the 2019 documentary Human Tsunami, which he also co-wrote, capturing the political atmosphere in Washington, D.C., during Donald Trump's 2017 inauguration and its implications for Europe and Norway.[28] The film served as an exploratory work on contemporary geopolitics, shot over five days to reflect on rising populism.[10] In 2024, he co-created and directed the theatre production 1969 – True. Crime. Theatre. in collaboration with Kate Pendry, a play examining crime, memory, and family history through a reported historical offense, premiering at Black Box Teater in Oslo from December 6 to 15.[29] From 2020 to 2025, Pettersen has evolved into a multifaceted artist, incorporating writing, directing, and production elements across film and theatre, as evidenced by his credits in Human Tsunami and 1969 – True. Crime. Theatre., alongside acting roles that demonstrate a shift toward creative control in international narratives.[3] This progression builds on earlier domestic successes like Nobel, which provided a platform for his global opportunities.[30]Filmography
Television
Pettersen's television career began with supporting roles in Norwegian series before gaining prominence in historical and dramatic miniseries.- Dag (2013, To Tom Fire)[31]
- Erobreren (2012, Axel ung)[32]
- Lilyhammer (2012, Sverre Falck)[33]
- The Heavy Water War (2015, Fredrik Kayser)
- Nobel (2016, Håvard Bakkeli)
- State of Happiness (2018–2024, Martin Lekanger)[33]
- Home for Christmas (2019–2020, Stein)[34]
- Occupied (2019–2020, Petter Bjørnstad)[33]
- Wisting (2019–, Tommy Kvanter)[35]
- Billionaire Island (2024–2025, Cato Johnsen)
Film
Pettersen's contributions to film encompass acting roles in Norwegian features, international co-productions, and occasional directing in documentaries, with his international work exemplified by the English-language biopic Eddie the Eagle (2016).[3] The following table lists his film credits chronologically by release year, including feature films, shorts, and documentaries where applicable.| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Cold Prey 2 | Johan[1] |
| 2009 | Upperdog | Per[1] |
| 2009 | Nord | Ulrik[1] |
| 2012 | All That Matters Is Past | William 18[1] |
| 2013 | Victoria | Ditlef[1] |
| 2013 | August Fools | Robert[1] |
| 2015 | Dark Woods 2 | Even[1] |
| 2016 | Eddie the Eagle | Erik Moberg |
| 2016 | Cave | Adrian[1] |
| 2017 | The 12th Man | Marius Grønvoll[1] |
| 2017 | The Ash Lad: In the Hall of the Mountain King | Per[1] |
| 2019 | The Ash Lad: In Search of the Golden Castle | Per[1] |
| 2019 | Amundsen | Helmer Hanssen[1] |
| 2019 | Human Tsunami | Director[28] |
| 2022 | Troll | Kristoffer[1] |
| 2023 | The Riot | Per Melien[1] |
| 2023 | Ocean Deep | Theis[1] |
| 2023 | Christmas as Usual | Jørgen[1] |
| 2024 | Explosions in the Heart | Jon[36] |
| 2024 | Dead Men in the Skitrack | Leif Slogum[37] |
| 2025 | Troll 2 | Captain Kristoffer Holm[1] |