
Vicky Krieps
Luxembourgstage actor•film actor•television actor
Birthday
October 4, 1983
Birth Sign
Libra
Birthplace
Hesperange, Luxembourg
Age
42 years old
About
Vicky Krieps is a Luxembourgish and German actress who moves fluidly between European and American cinema, known for choosing complex, unconventional roles. She earned international recognition for her breakout performance as Alma in Paul Thomas Anderson's Phantom Thread (2017), holding her own opposite Daniel Day-Lewis. Krieps won the European Film Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Empress Elisabeth of Austria in Corsage (2022), a role that showcased her talent for revealing hidden depths beneath placid surfaces. As of 2026, she continues to work across multiple film industries, with recent projects including Hot Milk, Love Me Tender, and the upcoming thriller Diamond alongside Andy Garcia. Fans admire her commitment to character-driven storytelling and her refusal to be pigeonholed by Hollywood. Born on 4 October 1983 in Hesperange, Luxembourg, she is fluent in four languages and has built a career that balances European arthouse films with occasional Hollywood productions.
Early Life & Background
Krieps grew up in Hesperange, Luxembourg, speaking Luxembourgish, German, French, and English at home. She attended the Lycée de Garçons secondary school, where she first tried acting, and later trained at the Conservatoire of Luxembourg City. In 2004, instead of enrolling directly in drama school, she traveled to South Africa to volunteer at a primary school in a township near Knysna. That experience confirmed her commitment to acting. She went on to study at the Zurich University of the Arts while gaining stage experience at the Schauspielhaus Zürich. Her screen debut came in 2008 with Eileen Byrne's short film La nuit passée, followed by her feature debut in House of Boys (2009). She spent the next several years building her resume with German television and supporting roles in international productions, including appearances in Hanna (2011), Anonymous (2011), Two Lives (2012), A Most Wanted Man (2014), and Colonia (2015).
Career Growth
Krieps made her American film debut in Joe Wright's Hanna (2011) and appeared in Roland Emmerich's Anonymous the same year. She continued with roles in Two Lives (2012), Anton Corbijn's A Most Wanted Man (2014), and Colonia (2015). Her big break came in 2017 when Paul Thomas Anderson cast her as Alma in Phantom Thread, a role she landed after he saw her performance in The Chambermaid Lynn. The film earned multiple Academy Award nominations and put her on the map internationally. She followed up with the lead in The Girl in the Spider's Web (2018) and The Last Vermeer (2019). In 2021, she starred in three critically acclaimed films: M. Night Shyamalan's Old, Mia Hansen-Løve's Bergman Island, and Mathieu Amalric's Hold Me Tight. The following year, she won the European Film Award for Best Actress for Corsage, her portrayal of a restless Empress Elisabeth. Recent work includes Went Up the Hill, Hot Milk, Love Me Tender, Father Mother Sister Brother, and Re-creation (2024-2025), with Diamond releasing in 2026. She also won a German Television Award for her role in the series Das Boot.
Career Timeline
Public Image & Style
Krieps is known for portraying characters whose calm exteriors gradually crack to reveal turmoil underneath, a quality that defines her best performances. She favors European arthouse cinema and independent films over big-budget franchises, deliberately keeping her distance from Hollywood's mainstream machine. Critics have praised her ability to hold the screen opposite heavyweights like Daniel Day-Lewis, describing her as a performer who brings quiet intensity to every role. On social media, she maintains an understated presence, posting about her work and occasional personal moments. Fans appreciate her artistic integrity and her willingness to take on challenging, unconventional projects. She has not cultivated an official fandom name, but her audience skews toward cinephiles who follow her festival-circuit releases. In interviews, she has emphasized following her instinct and criticized Hollywood's focus on schedule over creativity.
Fame & Fandom
Vicky Krieps commands a presence that feels less like celebrity and more like a quiet revolution in cinema. Her audience isn't defined by screaming mobs or viral billboards, but by cinephiles who track her trajectory from the German arthouse scene to Paul Thomas Anderson's *Phantom Thread*. There is no formal name for her fanbase; they are simply viewers who recognize the specific alchemy of her work, the way she dissolves into characters like Alma or Empress Elisabeth with terrifying precision. While social media channels promote her latest projects like *Love Me Tender* or the upcoming *Ocean's Eleven* prequel, the community remains organic, driven by critical acclaim rather than organized campaigns or fan-funded rituals. The lore surrounding her career consists entirely of professional milestones: the moment Daniel Day-Lewis stood beside her on set, the shock of her European Film Award win, and the recent discussions about her role as a mother fighting for custody in 2026. These moments form the bedrock of her reputation, proving that her influence stems from artistic integrity rather than manufactured hype. Despite her international rise and high-profile collaborations with stars like Margot Robbie and Omar Sy, she has not cultivated a dedicated legion of followers with specific names or traditions. Her fame is measured in standing ovations and script rejections, not subway ads. iFANN's Global Fame Engine has evaluated this person, but they do not currently hold a placement in the published rankings (Global Top 1,000 or a Top-100 scope list).
Interesting Facts and Legends
Born on 4 October 1983, Vicky Krieps speaks four languages fluently: Luxembourgish, German, French, and English. Before stepping onto film sets, she volunteered at a primary school in a South African township, an experience she credits with solidifying her path toward acting. She studied at the Zurich University of the Arts and was discovered by Paul Thomas Anderson after watching her performance in the German film *The Chambermaid Lynn*. Her grandfather, Robert Krieps, served as Luxembourg's Minister of Justice, National Education, and Culture after fighting as a Resistance member during World War II. Krieps shares two children, including a daughter named Elise, with her former partner Jonas Laux. Beyond these facts, it is reported that her casting in *Phantom Thread* involved a dynamic where she matched Daniel Day-Lewis's intensity without being overshadowed, a narrative that became industry folklore. More recently, her portrayal in *Love Me Tender* generated intense critical discussion regarding her depiction of maternal rage.
Notable Quotes
“Go with your instinct.”
“It becomes very difficult to summon up these more magical moments. The schedule becomes more important than the scene, the outcome becomes more important than anything else.”
“When I'm doing this, I look at the color of the wall. Then I see the paint on the wall and how old the paint is and where the paint is coming off.”
Family & Personal Life
Krieps was born to Bob Krieps, director general of the Ministry of Culture of Luxembourg and former president of the Luxembourg Film Fund, and a German mother. Her paternal grandfather, Robert Krieps, was a prominent politician and a member of the Luxembourg Resistance during the Nazi occupation, later serving as Luxembourg's Minister of Justice, National Education, and Culture. She grew up in a culturally rich household and remains close to her family. As of 2026, she is married to Lazaros Gounaridis, whom she wed in May 2025. She has two children from her previous relationship with actor Jonas Laux: a daughter named Elise and a younger child whose name has not been publicly shared. The family lives in Berlin, where Krieps balances her career with raising her kids.
Notable Connections
Krieps has collaborated with several notable directors: Paul Thomas Anderson (Phantom Thread), M. Night Shyamalan (Old), Mathieu Amalric (Hold Me Tight), Marie Kreutzer (Corsage), and Mia Hansen-Løve (Bergman Island). She shared the screen with Daniel Day-Lewis in her breakout role and has worked with actors like Guy Pearce, Emma Watson, and Andy Garcia.
Relationships & Dating History
Krieps was in a long-term relationship with German actor Jonas Laux, beginning around 2010. The couple had two children together, including a daughter named Elise, but eventually separated at an unknown date. In May 2025, she married Lazaros Gounaridis, a Greek-born professional whose background is not widely publicized. As of 2026, she remains married to Gounaridis and the couple lives in Berlin with her children.
- DatedJonas Laux2010 - presentLong-term relationship; had two children together, including daughter Elise.
- MarriedLazaros Gounaridis2025 - presentCurrentMarried in May 2025; lives in Berlin.
Salary, Net Worth In 2026
$5 Million
iFANN Editorial Team estimate
Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Vicky Krieps's net worth stands at $5 Million as of 2026. This financial standing reflects a career built on selective choices rather than commercial saturation. Her earnings derive primarily from film salaries, with significant payouts for Hollywood productions like *Phantom Thread* and *The Girl in the Spider's Web*. She also generates income through European independent films, stage work, and residuals from international releases. Unlike many A-list contemporaries, she has declined major endorsement deals or business ventures, maintaining a strict focus on her craft. Her wealth has accumulated steadily since her breakout performance in 2017, growing alongside her reputation as a versatile performer who navigates both American and European markets with equal ease.
Awards Won (10)
Krieps won the European Film Award for Best Actress in 2022 for her performance in Corsage. She also received a German Television Award for her work on the series Das Boot. Her portrayal of Empress Elisabeth earned her widespread critical acclaim and solidified her reputation as a leading dramatic actress.
2022 · Un Certain Regard Best Performance Prize, (shared with Adam Bessa for Harka)
Corsage
2022 · Best Actress
Corsage
Known For
Phantom Thread
2017 · Alma
Corsage
2022 · Empress Elisabeth of Austria
Bergman Island
2021 · Chris
Old
2021 · Crystal
Keywords
Sources
Quick Facts
- Profession
- stage actor, film actor, television actor
- Born
- October 4, 1983
- Birthplace
- Hesperange, Luxembourg
- Gender
- Female
- Spouse
- Lazaros Gounaridis
- Birth Sign
- Libra
- Height
- Net Worth
- $5 Million
- Children
- 2
- Education
- Zurich University of the Arts
Personal Details
- Spouse
- Lazaros Gounaridis
- Children
- 2
- Education
- Zurich University of the Arts
Filmography
35
Total
30
Film
5
TV
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