Nicolas Bro (born 16 March 1972) is a Danish actor of stage and screen, and a playwright. He played a German soldier in Steven Spielberg's 2011 film War Horse. On television, he is known for his role as Thomas Buch in the TV series The Killing (2009), as Ditlev Gothardt Monrad in 1864 (2014), and as Freddie in The Bridge (2015). He appears as Folke in the 2025 Netflix series The Asset.
Contents
Early life and education
Nicolas Bro was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 16 March 1972. He grew up in a family of actors; his mother is Danish actress Helle Hertz and father is the actor Christoffer Bro. His sister Laura Bro and brother Anders Peter Bro are both actors.
He attended the Danish National School of Performing Arts (Statens Teaterskole) from 1994, graduating in 1998.
Career
Stage
Bro gave his debut performance while still a student, in the play Slottet ("The Castle") at Mammut Theatre in 1994, and his first play as a playwright, Natsværmer ("Night Swarms"). Since 2000 he has been employed by the Royal Danish Theatre, appearing in many plays there as well as giving performances in other independent theatre.
Screen
Bro appeared the film 2006 film Offscreen, directed by Christoffer Boe, as himself. In 2011, he became known internationally when he played the German Private Friedrich, in Steven Spielberg's War Horse.
On television, he appeared in a supporting role as Justice Minister Thomas Buch in series 2 of the hit Danish TV crime drama The Killing in 2009, and as Council President D. G. Monrad in the Danish TV period drama 1864 in 2014. He also appeared as Freddie Holst in season 3 of Swedish-Danish series The Bridge in 2015.
He played Otto in the TV3 crime drama series Face to Face (Forhøret), from 2019 to 2023.
In 2025, he appears as Folke in the Netflix series The Asset (Legenden).
Awards
Stage
In 1999, Bro was awarded the Reumert Talent Prize, in April 2002 received a Reumert Award for best supporting role in Ole Bornedal's Skrigerne at the Aveny Theatre.
He won the 2007 Reumert Prize Award for male leading actor for his performance as Mephisto in Goethe's Faust at the Royal Danish Theatre, and the following year was again awarded the same prize, for his role as Hamlet in the newly-opened Royal Danish Playhouse.
Screen
In 2007, Bro was awarded a Bodil Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in Offscreen.
In 2005 he was awarded the Natsvaerme Award for young Danish talent at the Copenhagen NatFilm Festival.
Personal life
In 1995 he married prop designer and director Theresa Stougaard Bro (née Petersen).
Filmography
Bro has acted in many films and TV series, including:
TV
The Killing (2009) – Thomas Buch
Mammon (2014) – Arkitekten
1864 (2014) – Ditlev Gothardt Monrad
The Bridge (2015) – Freddie
Troldspejlet & Co (2019)
DNA (2019) – Jarl Skaubo
The Kingdom (2022) - Balder
Face to Face (2023) – Otto
The Asset (2025; Legenden) - Folke
