Vicky Krieps
A mesmerizing actress from Luxembourg whose subtle, formidable presence more than held its own against Daniel Day-Lewis.
Born 1983 (age 43)·Luxembourgish actress·Birthday: October 4·Millennials
Biography
Vicky Krieps arrived in international cinema not with a bang, but with a steady, unnerving gaze. Her role as Alma in Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Phantom Thread' was a masterclass in quiet assertion, her performance a delicate needle threading through the domineering world of Daniel Day-Lewis's Reynolds Woodcock. The Luxembourgish actress didn't just hold the screen; she commanded it, turning a period piece into a riveting battle of wills. That breakout was no accident, but the culmination of years of meticulous work in European theatre and film. Since then, she has deliberately chosen eclectic, challenging projects, from the psychological horror of 'The Nightingale' to the existential comedy of 'Old.' Krieps operates with a chameleonic fearlessness, avoiding the Hollywood track to build a filmography defined by artistic integrity and a profound, unsettling depth.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Vicky was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Vicky Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Vicky's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received widespread critical acclaim for her leading role as Alma in Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Phantom Thread' (2017).
- Won the German Film Award (Lola) for Best Actress for her role in 'The Last Vermeer' (2019).
- Starred in major international films like 'Old' (M. Night Shyamalan) and 'The Northman' (Robert Eggers).
- Served as a member of the jury for the Un Certain Regard section at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
Did You Know?
She is fluent in Luxembourgish, German, French, and English.
Krieps initially studied theatre in Luxembourg before training at the Zurich University of the Arts.
Her great-grandfather was the Luxembourgish painter Sosthène Weis.
She often collaborates with her partner, director Guillaume Nicloux.
She performed all her own piano playing in 'Phantom Thread'.
“I'm not interested in playing the victim. I'm interested in playing people who have their own agency.”
