{{Short description|Swedish actor (born 1971)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Ola Rapace | image = Ola Rapace.jpg | image_size = | caption = Rapace in November 2025 | birth_name = Pär Ola Norell | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1971|12|3}} | birth_place = [[Tyresö Municipality|Tyresö]], Sweden | other_names = | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1999–present | spouse = {{plainlist| * {{marriage|[[Noomi Rapace]]|2001|2011|reason=divorced}} * {{marriage|Sonja Jawo|2019|2021|reason=divorced}} }} | children = 2 | alma_mater = [[University of Montpellier]] }} '''Sonny Ola Rapace Jawo''' ({{IPA|sv|ˈûːla raˈpasː|lang}}; born '''Pär Ola Norell''', 3 December 1971<ref name=anzeiger>{{cite news|url=http://www.general-anzeiger-bonn.de/index.php?k=frei&itemid=10434&sub=pe&pid=ola_rapace |title=Ola Rapace |work=General-Anzeiger |access-date=8 June 2010 |language=de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623060039/http://www.general-anzeiger-bonn.de/index.php?k=frei&itemid=10434&sub=pe&pid=ola_rapace |archive-date=23 June 2011 }}</ref><ref name="ratsit">[https://www.ratsit.se/19711203-Sonny_Ola_Rapace_Jawo_Stockholm/0EUM-v9MDhX9ip0bq1Q4PAAOqFEHH5vsSGX6N1E-jgQ#personuppgifter Sonny Ola Rapace Jawo.] Ratsit.</ref>) is a Swedish actor, best known for playing Patrice in the 2012 [[James Bond]] film ''[[Skyfall]]''.
==Early life== Pär Ola Norell was born on 3 December 1971 in [[Tyresö Municipality|Tyresö]], a suburb southeast of Stockholm, Sweden.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=2012-10-25 |title=Ola Rapace skyr kändisskapet |url=https://www.svd.se/a/61ce912e-2ec1-3e60-8e8b-9831f2182624/ola-rapace-skyr-kandisskapet |access-date=2025-08-06 |work=[[Svenska Dagbladet]] |language=sv |issn=1101-2412}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Krafft |first=Eyal Sharon |date=2010-03-14 |title=Slåss mot flocken |url=https://www.svd.se/a/d0430ab7-d0d1-3cfb-8eb8-ae6606b93d8d/slass-mot-flocken |access-date=2025-08-06 |work=[[Svenska Dagbladet]] |language=sv |issn=1101-2412}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Ola Rapace |url=https://pressreader.com/article/282716224312764 |access-date=2025-08-05 |work=[[Göteborgs-Posten]] |language=sv |via=[[PressReader]]}}</ref> Both of his parents were academics. He grew up mainly in Vallentuna, a middle-class suburb north of Stockholm. When he was one year old, his parents separated, and he was raised by his father. He grew up playing [[association football|football]] and listening to [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fokus.se/2011/01/den-skapande-mannen-ar-en-roll/|title=Den skapande mannen är en roll|date=16 January 2011}}</ref>
While studying philosophy at the [[University of Montpellier]] in France, he discovered acting.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kuriren.nu/kultur/ola-rapace-siktar-pa-frankrike-6665149.aspx|title=Ola Rapace siktar på Frankrike|first=T. T.|last=Spektra|date=10 December 2012|website=kuriren.nu}}</ref>
==Career==
His first screen role was in [[Lukas Moodysson]]'s film ''[[Together (2000 film)|Together]]'', a bittersweet comedy about [[hippie]]-[[socialist]] values set in a Stockholm commune. The film won several awards at international film festivals,<ref name=anzeiger/> including the [[Paris Film Festival]] Special Jury Prize, and [[Philadelphia Film Festival]] Jury Award.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}
Rapace's big breakthrough came with the popular TV series ''[[Tusenbröder]]'' about a group of handymen who become involved with organised crime.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/a/qn1k9o|title=Polisen slog till på riktigt|website=Aftonbladet|date=30 September 2003 }}</ref> Immediately followed the role as Stefan Lindman in ''[[Wallander (Swedish TV series)|Wallander]]'', which was based on [[Henning Mankell]]'s [[Kurt Wallander]] books.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rapaces super-kropp |trans-title=Rapace' super body |url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/film/article3135774.ab |work=Aftonbladet |first=Andreas |last=Häggström |date=20 August 2008 |access-date=5 April 2010 |language=Swedish}}</ref>
He continued with several police and crime-related TV series, including portraying Daniel Nordström in the Danish police TV show ''[[Anna Pihl]]'',<ref name=anzeiger/> ''[[Crimes of Passion (TV series)|Crimes of Passion]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2017/11/15/filmatiserade-langdeckare-forfor-med-nostalgi-och-sexiga-undertoner|title=Filmatiserade Langdeckare förför med nostalgi och sexiga undertoner|website=Svenska YLE}}</ref> a crime drama set in 1950's rural Sweden, ''Farang''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/guide/article/2017/07/26/sun-surf-and-sex-farang-not-your-typical-scandi-thriller|title=Sun, surf and sex – ''Farang'' is not your typical Scandi thriller|website=Guide|date=26 July 2017 }}</ref> about a Scandinavian ex-convict living in Thailand and ''Hassel'', an updated dark and gritty cop show based on a classic series of books from the '70s and '80s. This was a cop show he also executive produced,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/a/ej4n9|title=Ola Rapace tvekan för superrollen i "Hassel"|website=Aftonbladet|date=12 September 2017 }}</ref> and ''Section Zéro'', a French, science-fiction influenced drama.
While he has worked on many cop shows, Rapace has been very critical of the genre. In 2012 he told ''Cafe Magazin''e: "All the ''[[Wallander (Swedish TV series)|Wallander]]'' and ''[[Beck (Swedish TV series)|Beck]]'' films are worthless. There is no credibility, it does not work to investigate thousands of murders in Ystad year after year. In the end, it becomes a joke, and the quality becomes so low that one has no other option but to shut down the production".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/a/oR93VK|title=Ola Rapace: Alla ''Wallander'' och ''Beck'' är ju värdelösa|website=Aftonbladet|date=23 October 2012 }}</ref>
His first English-language film was the 2004 independent movie ''[[Rancid (film)|Rancid]]'' starring [[Matthew Settle]] (from ''[[Band of Brothers (miniseries)|Band of Brothers]]'' and ''[[Gossip Girl]]''). A bigger project was the 2012 [[James Bond]] film ''[[Skyfall]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/007/status/133679555167784960|title=@007: 8 November|work=Twitter|publisher=Twitter Inc.|date=8 November 2011|access-date=8 November 2011}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=March 2020}} where he portrayed the hitman "Patrice".
Rapace lived in Paris from 2015 to 2020 and has worked on Swedish, French and international projects. In 2016, he starred in the French science fiction film ''[[Ares (film)|Ares]]'' and soon after followed ''[[:fr:Section Zéro|Section Zéro]]'', a French TV-series about a para-military police squad in the near future.
Rapace had a supporting role as Major Gibson in [[Luc Besson]]'s 2017 French/American big budget comic book/science fiction film ''[[Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.moviezine.se/nyheter/exklusivt-ola-rapace-i-luc-bessons-sci-fi|title=Exklusivt: Ola Rapace i Luc Bessons sci-fi|website=MovieZine}}</ref>
In 2018 Rapace was one of the main antagonists in series 3 of the drama ''[[The Last Kingdom (TV series)|The Last Kingdom]]'' as Jarl Sigurd Bloodhair.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1022631/The-Last-Kingdom-season-3-cast-Bloodhair-Who-is-Ola-Rapace-series-Netflix-Uhtred|title=The Last Kingdom season 3 cast: Who is playing Bloodhair? Who is Ola Rapace?|first=Neela|last=Debnath|date=25 September 2018|website=Daily Express}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.moviezine.se/nyheter/ola-rapace-far-stor-roll-i-netflix-serien-the-last-kingdom|title=Ola Rapace får stor skurkroll i Netflix-serien "The Last Kingdom"|website=MovieZine}}</ref>
Rapace joined the cast of ''Below the Surface'' (''Gidseltagningen''), a Danish drama about 15 innocent people held hostage underground in a subway train, as "Yusef" when it returned for a second series in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://liserisomolsen.com/news/2018/9/7/lise-is-in-the-cast-of-the-danish-series-gidseltagningen-2|title=Lise starring in the second season of the danish series "Gidseltagningen".|website=Lise Risom Olsen|date=15 April 2023 }}</ref>
Rapace starred alongside [[Kellan Lutz]] in ''Divertimento'', an English-language, French thriller that came out in 2020.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.francenetinfos.com/rencontre-avec-lacteur-suedois-ola-rapace-198448/ | title=Rencontre avec l'acteur suédois Ola Rapace - | date=17 February 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/twilight-kellan-lutz-divertimento-movie-1202632941/ | title='Twilight's Kellan Lutz Toplines 'Divertimento' Indie Thriller | date=17 June 2019 }}</ref>
In August 2022 director [[Lukas Moodysson]] announced the start of a sequel to the movie ''[[Together (2000 film)|Together]]'' and that the role of ''Lasse'' would not be portrayed by Ola Rapace as in the original film. Moodysson explained this was per request from [[SF Studios]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.svt.se/kultur/darfor-far-inte-ola-rapace-vara-med-i-nya-tillsammans-99 | title=Därför får inte Ola Rapace vara med i nya "Tillsammans 99" | date=20 August 2022 }}</ref>
During September–October 2022, Rapace portrayed Mr. Y in [[August Strindberg]]'s ''[[Pariah (play)|Pariah]]'' at [[Lövstad Castle |Lövstad Castle Theatre]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nt.se/bli-prenumerant|title=Bli prenumerant på NT|website=nt.se|accessdate=29 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://corren.se/kultur/recension/artikel/briljant-slagsmal-pa-slottet-ola-rapace-kampar-pa-lofstad/jv68ek1l | title=Briljant slagsmål på slottet – Ola Rapace kämpar på Löfstad }}</ref>
==Reality television== Rapace was one of the participants in [[Sveriges Television|SVT]]'s reality series ''[[:sv:Maestro (TV-program)|Maestro]]'', in which Swedish celebrities were taught the basics of conducting a classical orchestra. The series aired in late summer and autumn 2011.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.expressen.se/noje/ola-rapace-om-maestro-svarare-an-jag-trodde/ | title=Ola Rapace om "Maestro": Svårare än jag trodde | date=26 May 2011 }}</ref>
He was one of five Swedish celebrities featured in 2020 edition of the popular TV series ''[[Stjärnorna på slottet|Stars at the Castle]]''. In the show, five famous people live together in a castle or manor house for five days. Each day focuses on one person and their career as they eat dinners and they discuss their life and career, and the other celebrities ask questions.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.expressen.se/noje/blogg/tvbloggen/2020/06/08/perrelli-rapace-och-billgren-i-arets-stjarnorna-pa-slottet-i-svt/ | title=Charlotte Perrelli, Ola Rapace, Ernst Billgren i Stjärnorna på slottet i SVT }}</ref> A few months before the announcement of Rapace's joining the 2020 season, he had criticized this specific reality television show.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.expressen.se/noje/ola-rapace-vill-bemota-ryktena-sa-manga-granslosa-personer/|title = Ola Rapace vill bemöta ryktena: "Så många gränslösa personer"| date=11 June 2020 }}</ref>
In 2021, Swedish [[Discovery+]] announced he was one of several celebrities, including electropop musician [[Kleerup]], and reality TV stars [[Jackie Ferm]] and [[Håkan Hallin]], who would join the unscripted TV-series ''Treatment'', a series about mental illness and addiction problems. [[Discovery, Inc.|Discovery Networks Sweden]] describes the series as "individually adapted medical and therapeutic treatments, composed and led by addiction doctors and therapists" on an archipelago island.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.expressen.se/noje/blogg/tvbloggen/2021/09/30/behandlingen-discovery-plus-kanal-5/|title=Premiär Behandlingen Discovery Plus - Rapace, Kleerup berättar i tv|accessdate=29 April 2024}}</ref>
==Personal life== Rapace married actress [[Noomi Rapace]] in 2001, divorcing in 2011; they have a son, Lev, who was born in 2003.<ref name="DN">{{cite news |url=https://www.dn.se/kultur-noje/film-tv/nominerad-till-dns-kulturpris-2010-noomi-rapace/ |newspaper=Dagens Nyheter |title=Nominerad till DN:s kulturpris 2010: Noomi Rapace |trans-title=Nominated for the 2010 DN Culture Prize: Noomi Rapace |first=Ingrid |last=Carlberg |date=19 January 2010 |access-date=14 October 2015 |language=sv}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/article7806523.ab|title='Millennium'-stjärnan Noomi Rapace har ansökt om skilsmässa från maken Ola Rapace|language=sv|work=Aftonbladet|access-date=4 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Drop's Noomi Rapace: on her rough past and the pressure to be sexy |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/11204926/The-Drops-Noomi-Rapace-on-her-rough-past-and-the-pressure-to-be-sexy.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=9 November 2014 |access-date=4 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Noomi Rapace interview: the world's most seductive sleuth |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/7262886/Noomi-Rapace-interview-the-worlds-most-seductive-sleuth.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=18 February 2010 |access-date=4 November 2016 | location=London | first=David | last=Gritten}}</ref> They jointly chose the surname Rapace after they were married, which means "bird of prey" in French and Italian.<ref name=anzeiger/> Rapace also has a daughter, Line, born in 1999, with the actress Malin Morgan. Rapace lived in France for several years and speaks fluent French.<ref name=anzeiger/>
For years, Ola and Noomi were frequent subjects of Swedish tabloids and gossip magazines while Noomi's international career was taking off.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.expressen.se/noje/ola-rapace-darfor-lamnade-noomi-mig/|title=Ola Rapace: Därför lämnade Noomi mig|website=Expressen|date=28 December 2017 }}</ref> He has had several run-ins with the law, including spending the night in a jail in Austria.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.expressen.se/noje/ola-rapace-bond-var-en-lekstuga-for-mig/|title=Ola Rapace: "Bond var en lekstuga för mig" – Nöje – Expressen|website=Expressen|date=11 December 2012 }}</ref> In October 2008, he was arrested for possession of cocaine and steroids, which resulted in a fine for a minor drug offence in April 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article11741848.ab |newspaper=Aftonbladet |first=Linda |last=Hjertén |date=3 April 2009 |title=Ola Rapace dömd för ringa narkotikabrott |trans-title=Ola Rapace convicted of minor drug offences |language=sv |access-date=30 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nyheter24.se/nyheter/inrikes/73985-nu-ska-ola-rapace-upp-i-ratten|title=Nu ska Ola Rapace upp i rätten|date=26 March 2009|website=nyheter24.se}}</ref>
He moved to Paris in 2015, but returned to Sweden five years later after an audit by French tax authorities which consumed most of his wealth.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ola Rapace sorg - kunde inte rädda sin kollega|url=https://www.expressen.se/noje/ola-rapace-sorg-kunde-inte-radda-sin-kollega/|access-date=2021-11-07|website=www.expressen.se|date=5 November 2020 |language=sv}}</ref>
In the podcast ''Helt ärligt med Sebastian Stakset'' released on April 4, 2020 Rapace explained how, during the filming of French TV-series ''[[:fr:Section Zéro|Section Zéro]]'', he and the series creator [[Olivier Marchal]] used cocaine every night after filming, and the TV series ended up being really depressing.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Helt ärligt med Sebastian Stakset|url=https://poddtoppen.se/podcast/1509518970/helt-arligt-med-sebastian-stakset|access-date=2021-11-07|website=Poddtoppen|language=sv}}</ref>
In November 2020, real estate magazine ''Hem & Hyra'' reported he was one of several people suing a deceased landlord, and the story revealed how apartment contracts were sold for millions. Rapace had paid 1.7 million SEK in cash to the landlord and was asking for the money back from the deceased landlord's estate.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Stor härva med svartkontrakt avslöjad – Ola Rapace kräver tillbaka 1,7 miljoner av död värd|url=https://www.hemhyra.se/nyheter/stor-harva-med-svartkontrakt-avslojad-ola-rapace-kraver-tillbaka-17-miljoner-av-dod-vard/|access-date=2021-11-07|website=Hem & Hyra|language=sv-SE}}</ref>
In May 2019, he married Sonja Jawo in Paris. She is the older sister of Aino Jawo, of Swedish [[electropop]] duo [[Icona Pop]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.expressen.se/noje/ola-rapace-har-gift-sig-i-hemlighet-i-paris/|title=Ola Rapace har gift sig i hemlighet i Paris|website=Expressen|date=16 May 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.seher.no/kjendis/giftet-seg-i-skjul-med-hemmelig-kjaereste/71086646|title=Giftet seg i skjul med "hemmelig" kjæreste|first=Ingunn|last=Dorholt|date=16 May 2019|website=Seher}}</ref> They divorced in the summer of 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ola Rapace och Sonja Jawo skiljer sig: "Supersorgligt"|date=29 September 2021 |url=https://www.expressen.se/noje/ola-rapace-och-sonja-jawo-skiljer-sig-supersorgligt/|access-date=2021-11-07|publisher=Expressen|language=Swedish}}</ref>
In 2020, Rapace published his autobiography ''Romeo: Min flykt i fem akter''.<ref>{{cite news | author=Josefsson, Erika | title=Ola Rapace skriver avslöjande självbiografi | newspaper=Hufvudstadsbladet | date=3 June 2020 | page=23 | language=Swedish | url=http://www.hbl.fi/artikel/alla-roller-byts-mot-loften-om-sex-pa-ett-eller-annat-satt-ola-rapace-skriver-avslojande-sjalvbi/ | url-access=subscription | archive-date=18 December 2021 | access-date=18 December 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218185923/https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/alla-roller-byts-mot-loften-om-sex-pa-ett-eller-annat-satt-ola-rapace-skriver-avslojande-sjalvbi/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 2021, he was arrested by police under suspicion of gross violation of women's rights /sexual misconduct/spousal abuse<ref name="expressen.se">{{cite web | url=https://www.expressen.se/noje/ola-rapace-jag-har-betett-mig-hansynslost/ | title=Ola Rapace: "Jag har betett mig hänsynslöst" | date=12 December 2021 }}</ref> Prosecutors announced on September 13, 2022 that they were closing the investigation, and the case was dismissed.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.expressen.se/noje/utredningen-laggs--ned-rapace-frias/ | title=Utredningen läggs ned – Rapace frias | date=13 September 2022 }}</ref>
He hosted the podcast ''Sorry, allt gick åt helvete'' (''Sorry, it all went to hell'') together radio host and author Fredrik Söderholm. In one episode Rapace explains how he while intoxicated stole a production van from a film shoot so he could drive to his house that apparently was on fire after the producer told him not to use the van.<ref name="expressen.se"/>
Rapace and Söderholm parted ways in July 2022. According to Söderholm, Rapace allegedly refused to pay him his share of the podcast income. "We were supposed to get 1.3 million to share," said Söderholm.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/a/0GPqJM/sorry-allt-gick-at-helvete-lagger-ner | title=Efter miljonbråket – podduon avslutar samarbetet | date=26 July 2022 }}</ref>
==Filmography== * ''[[Together (2000 film)|Together]]'' (2000) – Lasse * ''Syndare i sommarsol'' (2001) – Fredrik * ''Hus i helvete'' (2002) – Pontus * ''[[Rancid (film)|Rancid]]'' (2004) – Bob * ''Tusenbröder – Återkomsten'' (2006) – Hoffa * ''[[Desmond & the Swamp Barbarian Trap]]'' (2006) – Elake Wille (voice) * ''Allt om min buske'' (2007) – Nils * ''[[Beyond (2010 film)|Beyond]]'' (2010) – Johan * ''[[Jag saknar dig]]'' (2011) – George * ''[[Skyfall]]'' (2012) – Patrice * ''Mördaren ljuger inte ensam'' (2013) – Christer * ''[[I Am Yours (film)|I Am Yours]]'' (2013) – Jesper * ''[[Tommy (2014 film)|Tommy]]'' (2014) – Bobby * ''[[Itsi Bitsi]]'' (2014) * ''[[Long Story Short (film)|Long Story Short]]'' (2015) – Sebastian * ''Glada hälsningar från Missångerträsk'' (2015) – Jocke * ''[[Carole Matthieu]]'' (2016) – Revel * ''[[Ares (film)|Ares]]'' (2016) – Arès * ''[[Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets]]'' (2017) – Major Gibson * ''White Trash'' (2017) – Sami * ''Divertimento'' (2020)
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|0635262}} *{{Sfdb name}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rapace, Ola}} [[Category:1971 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Tyresö Municipality]] [[Category:Male actors from Stockholm County]] [[Category:Swedish expatriates in France]] [[Category:21st-century Swedish male actors]] [[Category:Swedish male film actors]] [[Category:21st-century autobiographers]] [[Category:Swedish autobiographers]] [[Category:Participants in Swedish reality television series]] [[Category:Prisoners and detainees of Austria]] [[Category:University of Montpellier alumni]] [[Category:Swedish male television actors]] [[Category:Swedish male stage actors]]