Actress Karis van Houten: biography, best films. "Game of Thrones"

Karis van Houten is a Dutch actress, known to every devoted fan of the popular television saga "The Game of Thrones". Her mysterious character Melisandra appears in the second season of the series. Of course, shooting in the film adaptation of the work of George Martin - is not the only achievement of this charming brunette. What is known about the life of the star, what roles did she play at the age of 39?

Karis van Houten: Star Biography

"Melisandra" was born in the Netherlands, there was a joyful event in September 1976. The mother and father of the girl were creative people - TV presenter and writer. Her unusual name was given to Karis van Houten at the request of her father, who wanted to call her the same as the name of the daughter of his beloved composer Elgar.

The girl almost in the first years of her life was carried away by music, she learned to play beautifully on the clarinet. However, her life, Karis van Houten wanted to connect with the world of cinema, which she fell ill at the age of five, being with her father in the theater. The future star enjoyed visiting the school theater circle, a rare school play was held without her participation. It's not surprising that Karis played her first serial heroine as a schoolgirl. She got an insignificant role in the TV project "Labyrinth".

After graduating from school, Karis van Houten spent several years attending to the basics of acting, choosing one of Amsterdam's theaters for this purpose. She successfully combined the studies with performances on the stage.

Starring role

Fans of Melisandra will be interested to know which film made the Dutch actress a star. It was the "Black Book", released in 2006 by such a famous director as Paul Verhoeven. The anti-Nazi drama gave the sultry brunette world recognition.

The picture received enthusiastic reviews of critics, separately was noted the game Karis van Houten, films with the participation of which had not previously made such a sensation. The girl got a complicated character - the Jewish singer Rachel, who lives for revenge. The heroine seeks to pay the Nazis for the death of their parents. And without that the difficult task is complicated when Rachel suddenly becomes fascinated with the charming enemy captain.

The "Game of Thrones" series

In 2012, the role of Rachel ceased to be considered the most famous work of the Dutch star in the cinema. The second season of the screen version of the cult epic George Martin was held with the participation of Karis van Houten. "The Game of Thrones" was an interesting experience for her, as she had to translate the image of Melisander - a heroine, unlike any of the characters she had played before. Curiously, that initially the girl claimed the role of Cersei, but the creators of the series preferred to stay on the candidature of Lena Hidi.

Melisandra is one of the most mysterious characters in the "Game of Thrones". Red-haired priestess wears exclusively red, worships the powerful god Rgloru. Among her supernatural abilities is the ability to predict the future. In one of her visions, Melisandra saw that only King Stannis could lead people to light. Since then, the priestess has become his faithful companion, which tells the pretender to the throne certain actions, often unseemly. She deftly manages not only Stannis, but also his wife Selisa and the royal associates.

In the 6th season of the sensational series at Melisandra will be an important mission. Many fans who do not agree to part with the hero John Snow, killed in the previous season, hope that the red-haired priestess will be able to bring him to life.

What else to see

Above are not all the fascinating paintings and TV projects with the participation of Karis van Houten. Filmography of the Netherlands film star also includes the famous tape "Operation Valkyrie", in which she got the image of the wife of the character Tom Cruise. She also often plays in horror films, as evidenced by such popular film projects as "Black Death", "From Time to Time."

Interestingly, in the "Black Death" colleague Karis on the set was Sean Bean, who later played Eddard Stark in the first season of the "Game of Thrones." Had van Houten acted in other films and with the actor who plays her serial antagonist Davos in the movie "Songs of Ice and Flame".

Personal life

Not so long ago, the Internet was filled with rumors that Melisandra would soon become a mother. Karis confirmed the reliability of this information. She and her partner Guy Pearce (British actor) are really waiting for a child who will be the first for his parents.