Halina Reijn, born on November 10, 1975, is a Dutch actress, writer, and movie director.
Halina Reijn was born on November 10, 1975, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Her parents, Fleur ten Kate and Frank Volkert Reijn, were both artists. She grew up with two sisters, Leonora and Esther, in a creative household influenced by anthroposophy and the Subud spiritual movement. They lived in Wildervank, Groningen, in a house that attracted many artists. Reijn’s interest in acting began at six when she saw the movie “Annie” and wanted to perform like the main character. With her mother’s support, she joined a youth theater in Veendam but found it lacking seriousness. She auditioned successfully for De Voorziening theater collective at a young age.
At ten, after her parents separated and a year before her father’s sudden death from a pulmonary embolism, the family moved to Groningen. Halina Reijn then attended the Vooropleiding Theater in Groningen from age eleven, receiving training under Josja Hamann.
In the 1990s, Halina Reijn trained at the Maastricht Academy of Dramatic Arts, graduating in 1998. She quickly joined De Trust theater ensemble and gained acclaim for roles like Ophelia in “Hamlet” and Lulu in “Shopping and Fucking,” winning the Dutch theater prize Colombina. Reijn also appeared in TV series and films like “Suzy Q” and “De Trein van zes uur tien.” Her film career expanded in the early 2000s with roles in “Zus & Zo” and “Black Book.” Reijn later directed films like “Instinct” and is set to helm the erotic thriller “Babygirl,” starting production in December 2023.
During the 1990s, Halina Reijn studied acting at the Maastricht Academy of Dramatic Arts, completing her training in 1998. She joined the prestigious De Trust theater group during her second year of studies, where she earned recognition for her performances, including notable roles such as Ophelia in “Hamlet” and Lulu in “Shopping and Fucking,” which earned her the prestigious Colombina theater award in 1998. Alongside her theater work, Reijn also appeared in various television series and films, such as “Suzy Q” and “De Trein van zes uur tien.
Moving into the early 2000s, Halina Reijn expanded her career with roles in films like “Zus & Zo” and “Black Book,” gaining further acclaim and establishing herself as a versatile actress. Beyond acting, she ventured into directing, eventually releasing her debut feature film, “Instinct,” in 2019, which received international recognition and was selected as the Dutch entry for the Academy Awards. Currently, she is preparing to direct the erotic thriller “Babygirl,” featuring Nicole Kidman, with filming scheduled to begin in December 2023.
Halina Reijn released her first novel “Prinsesje Nooitgenoeg” in 2005 while in Hollywood. Her second book, a collection of columns presented as a diary for Viva magazine, is titled “Halina: doen alsof ik iemand anders ben”. She also co-wrote “Antiglamour” with Carice van Houten in 2013, and “Loos” in 2016.
Her work in writing film scripts and magazine columns later earned her recognition as one of the top 20 most influential people in Dutch media.
Halina Reijn is good friends with another Dutch actress, Carice van Houten. They’ve been friends since around 1994. They acted together in movies like Black Book and Valkyrie.
In 2013, they wrote a book together called “Anti Glamour.” It’s a fun style guide and celebrates their friendship. The book also gives a behind-the-scenes look at their not-so-glamorous lives. Sometimes, they kiss on camera and joke about being lesbians, but they’re not actually romantically involved.
When Halina Reijn was about six or seven years old, she and one of her sisters surprised their parents by wanting to join the Catholic Church. After some persuading, they started going to Sunday school. When Reijn was twelve, she was baptized. In a 2007 interview with the NRC, she mentioned that she doesn’t believe in God but does believe in reincarnation.