Brigitte Nielsen
Nielsen at London Fashion Week in 2010
Born
Gitte Nielsen

(1963-07-15) 15 July 1963
Rødovre, Denmark
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
  • singer
Years active1984–present
Spouses
  • Kasper Winding
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1983; div. 1984)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1985; div. 1987)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1990; div. 1992)​
  • Raoul Meyer
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1993; div. 2005)​
  • Mattia Dessì
    ​
    (m. 2006)​
PartnerMark Gastineau (1988–1990)
Children5
Websitebrigittenielsen.com

Brigitte Nielsen (Danish pronunciation: [pʁiˈkitə ˈne̝lsn̩]; born Gitte Nielsen; 15 July 1963) is a Danish actress, model, and singer. She began her career modelling for Greg Gorman and Helmut Newton. She subsequently acted in the 1985 films Red Sonja and Rocky IV, later returning to the Rocky series in Creed II (2018). Nielsen married Sylvester Stallone, with whom she starred in the 1986 film Cobra. She played a villain in Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) and starred as the Black Witch in the 1990s Italian film series Fantaghirò. She later built a career starring in B-movies, hosting TV shows, and appearing on reality shows.

Early life

Brigitte Nielsen was born Gitte Nielsen in Rødovre, Denmark. She is the daughter of Hanne, a librarian, and Svend Nielsen, an engineer,[1] and the ex-sister-in-law of film director Nicolas Winding Refn.

Career

Modelling

Standing 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in), at the beginning of the 1980s, Nielsen did some modelling work, and was photographed by Greg Gorman[2] and Helmut Newton.[3] Nielsen posed for Playboy magazine multiple times, garnering the cover in December 1987.[4][5] In the late 1980s, Marvel Comics approached Nielsen to pose for photographs dressed as the comic book character She-Hulk.[6] Nielsen's exploits were well-covered in the entertainment media in the 1980s, and the world press started referring to her as an "Amazon"[7][8][9] because of her tall stature.

Acting

In 1985, Nielsen began her acting career in the fantasy film Red Sonja alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger. That same year, she married Sylvester Stallone; the couple acted in two films together (Rocky IV and Cobra) before divorcing in 1987.

In 1987, Nielsen played Karla Fry in the film Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), alongside Eddie Murphy. In 1991, she was cast as Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk in a planned but never-produced film based on She-Hulk. She posed for photos dressed both as Jennifer Walters and her alter-ego, She-Hulk, before the film was cancelled.

Subsequently, she starred in 976-Evil II, The Double 0 Kid (1992), Chained Heat II (1993), Galaxis (1995), and Snowboard Academy (1997). She starred as the villainess of the Italian TV fantasy film Fantaghirò 2[10] and its sequels (1992–1996); her character was supposed to be killed off in the first of these films, but was then brought back due to popular demand.[11]

In 2011, Nielsen voice acted for the Danish animated comedy film Ronal the Barbarian.[12] In 2012, she played in the horror movie Eldorado. In 2013, she has featured in the short art film The Key alongside Ray Stevenson. In 2014, she starred in the science-fiction film Exodus,[13] in the TV series Raising Hope, and in the action film Mercenaries. In 2018, she reprised her role of Ludmilla Drago from Rocky IV in Creed II. In 2022, she joined the cast of TV Series The Guardians of Justice, when she played Anubis Queen.

Music and writing

Nielsen started a music career in 1987. She released her debut album Every Body Tells a Story in that year and recorded a duet with Austrian pop star Falco, Giorgio Moroder's penned "Body Next to Body" which went to No. 22 in Germany and No. 6 in Austria.[14] She released a follow-up album, I'm the One... Nobody Else, in 1991.

Nielsen released a few songs under the pseudonym "Gitta" because producers wanted to see if she could succeed as a singer without her name on the cover. The first song "No More Turning Back" peaked at No. 54 on the British Single Charts,[15] No. 63 on the Dutch Single Charts[16] and even reached the Top 10 in Spain.[17] Other tracks recorded as Gitta were 2001's "Tic Toc" and 2002's "You're No Lady", a collaboration with Ru Paul.

Nielsen appeared in Michael Jackson's "Liberian Girl" music video in 1989 and in metal band Korn's music video for the single "Make Me Bad" in 2000. In 2008, German record label Edel Music re-released her 1991 album I'm the One... Nobody Else and the 1987 Every Body Tells a Story under the title Brigitte Nielsen.[18] In 2012, she performed (as Gitte Nielsen) on the song "Misery" with Spleen United, from the album School of Euphoria.

Nielsen performing at the 2012 Vienna Opera Ball

In 2009, she published her first autobiography in Scandinavia titled "Gitte Nielsen – Du har kun ét liv – sådan fandt jeg tilbage til mig selv" ("You only have one life – this is how I found myself again").[19] The book reached the Top 5 of Denmark's bestseller list[20] and was released in the United Kingdom under the title You Only Get One Life in 2011.[21]

Television

Nielsen has worked for Italian television, hosting shows such as: Festival (1987), the 1992 edition of the Sanremo Music Festival, Retromarsh! (1996–1997), and ..la sai l'ultima? (1999). In 1997, she hosted a talk show series Gittes venner for a Danish TV network and some TV shows for RTSI, the Italian language Swiss television network.[22] She guest starred for an episode of the German TV series Stuttgart Homicide, aired by ZDF on 28 March 2011,[23] guest-hosted the British chat show Loose Women on 7 December 2010. In April 2011, she attended the British variety/talent show Sing If You Can, which aired on ITV.[24]

Nielsen appeared on the first season of the Italian production of The Mole (2004) and on the third season of the VH1 reality show The Surreal Life (2004). Nielsen also appeared with Flav on VH1's Big in '04 Awards.[25] In 2006, she guest-starred on Flav's other reality show, Flavor of Love. In 2003, Nielsen appeared in the Danish Big Brother VIP. In January 2005, she was a contestant in Britain's Celebrity Big Brother, along with her former mother-in-law, Jackie Stallone, coming third in the final public vote. In 2006, she appeared in another reality TV series, VH1's The Surreal Life: Fame Games. In 2007, she starred in a new British mockumentary Killing Brigitte Nielsen, which aired on Sky Travel.[26] She also appeared in the first season of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, which chronicled her struggle to overcome her alcoholism at the Pasadena Recovery Center in Pasadena, California.[27]

In May 2008, Nielsen revealed on German television that she would "renew" her body by having six plastic surgeries, which would cost €66,000 altogether. She was filmed during those surgeries by RTL and she had her own television show Aus alt mach neu – Brigitte Nielsen in der Promi-Beauty-Klinik. The same show was broadcast twice in Italy: at first under the title Celebrity Makeover: Brigitte Nielsen on SKY Italia in 2008 and secondly in 2009 on Italia 1.[28] In 2009, Nielsen appeared as a panel speaker to a new group of addicts at the Pasadena Recovery Center, anticipating the two-year mark of her sobriety that coming July. Her appearance was aired in the third-season episode "Triggers", which aired in February 2010.[29]

In 2010, Nielsen appeared as one of the celebrity contestants of TF1 reality show La Ferme Célébrités, the French version of the TV series The Farm. She was eliminated after one week, mainly due to her lack of fluency in French and subsequent difficulties to interact with the other contestants.[30][31] Nielsen was one of the celebrity contestants of 2010's Let's Dance, the German version of Dancing with the Stars.[32] That same year, she also took part of Celebrity Come Dine with Me in Denmark (Til middag hos... ),[33] and in Germany (Das Perfekte Promi Dinner).[34]

From 13 January 2012, Nielsen was one of the celebrity contestants and winner of Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus!, the German version of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, broadcast by RTL Television.[35] On 28 January 2012, she won the show as the "Jungle Queen". Bild revealed on 30 January 2012 that Nielsen had received the most calls from TV viewers throughout the entire show, ranking No. 1 with 30–50% of all call-ins.[36] Nielsen was paid 150.000 Euro (approx. $163,000) for participating in the show, more than any other celebrity.[37] In October 2012, Nielsen was featured in the Danish version of Maestro broadcast on DR1 in which celebrities competed for the chance to conduct a classical orchestra. In September 2013, she joined the cast of the German TV show Promi-Hochzeitsplanern (Celebrity Wedding planners) for Sat.1. The following year, she joined the panel of the German TV show Promi Shopping Queen for VOX.

From June 2015, she has hosted her own talk show Gitte Talks on the Danish TV Channel Kanal 4.[38] From August 2016, she has also presented the dating show "Wirt sucht Liebe" ("Is Looking for Love") for the German TV channel RTL II.[39]

Personal life

Besides her native Danish, Nielsen is fluent in English, German and Italian,[40] and has some understanding of French.[31]

Relationships and family

Nielsen with Sylvester Stallone, Ronald and Nancy Reagan at the White House, 1985

Nielsen has been married five times and has four sons and one daughter. Her first husband was Kasper Winding, to whom she was married from 1983 to 1984. They have one son, Julian Winding,[41] who was largely raised by his father and had little contact with Nielsen.[42]

In her 2011 book, she revealed having had an affair with Arnold Schwarzenegger during the filming of Red Sonja (1985), after Schwarzenegger had just started a relationship with Maria Shriver. Schwarzenegger confirmed this in July 2020.[43][44]

Nielsen became engaged to actor Sylvester Stallone during the production of Rocky IV. They married after the release of the film, on December 15, 1985, at the Beverly Hills, California home of producer Irwin Winkler.[45] They eventually divorced.[46] Their marriage and divorce were both highly publicized by the tabloid press due to their involvement on Rocky IV and Cobra.[47][48][49]

From 1988 to 1990, she was in a relationship with American football player Mark Gastineau, with whom she had her second child, Killian Gastineau.[41]

Between 1990 and 1992 she was married to director and photographer Sebastian Copeland. During a 2012 interview on the German reality TV show Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus!, she confessed to having had a one-night stand with Sean Penn in Cannes back in May 1991.[50]

Nielsen has two sons with her fourth husband Raoul Meyer,[51] Raoul Meyer Jr. and Douglas Meyer.[41]

In 2005, she had a relationship with rapper Flavor Flav, whom she met during her participation in VH1 reality show The Surreal Life.[52]

Nielsen's husband Mattia Dessì (born 1978) lived with her in Italy as shown on Strange Love, which was filmed prior to their marriage. The couple were married in Malta on July 8, 2006.[53] They reside in Palm Springs.[54] In June 2018, she gave birth to her daughter Frida Dessì at the age of 54.[41][55]

Alcohol problems

On July 9, 2007, Nielsen checked herself into the Cri-Help rehabilitation facility in North Hollywood following what some reports claim was a family intervention.[56] Her manager, Steven Tempone, confirmed on 19 July 2007 that she had checked into a rehabilitation center and said, "All I know is it's something she did of her own free will and we're proud of her and wish her very well... When she gets out we'll have a big birthday party, and Coca-Cola only." As of 22 July 2007, Nielsen was out of rehabilitation to attend the Comedy Central roast of Flavor Flav. She remarked that she felt "like a new-born person ... I made a choice about a new life. It's not been easy but it was definitely time." While the date that Nielsen checked into rehabilitation was reported, she "had been in treatment for a few weeks."[57] On January 10, 2008, VH1 began airing the reality TV series Celebrity Rehab. Nielsen appeared on the show for alcoholism.[58] In a January 2010, TV Guide story on her success with sobriety, Celebrity Rehab producer John Irwin stated, "She's sober, and she quit smoking."[54]

Plastic surgery

In mid-2008, Nielsen starred in the reality show Aus alt mach neu, broadcast by German TV station RTL. The theme of the show was Nielsen's attempt to look "as young as her husband" by undergoing plastic surgery. The show was aired in Italy as well, on SKY Italia during December 2008[59] and the following summer on Italia 1.[60]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1985 Red Sonja Red Sonja
Rocky IV Ludmilla Vobet Drago
1986 Cobra Ingrid Knudsen
1987 Beverly Hills Cop II Karla Fry
1988 Bye Bye Baby Lisa
Domino Domino
1989 Murder by Moonlight Maggie Bartok
1992 976-Evil II Agnes
The Double 0 Kid Rhonda
Mission of Justice Dr. Rachel K. Larkin
Fantaghirò 2 Black Witch (Black Queen)
1993 Fantaghirò 3 Black Witch
Chained Heat II Magda Kassar
1994 Fantaghirò 4 Black Witch
1995 Compelling Evidence Michelle Stone
Codename: Silencer Sybil
Galaxis Ladera
1996 Fantaghirò 5 Black Witch
1997 Snowboard Academy Mimi
1998 Paparazzi Gitte
She's Too Tall Veronica Lamar
1999 Hostile Environment Minna
2000 Doomsdayer Elizabeth Gast
2008 The Hustle Rich lady
2009 The Fish Herself
2010 Big Money Rustlas Wife
2011 Ronal the Barbarian Amazon Queen Voice
2012 Eldorado Angel
2013 The Key Short film
2014 Mercenaries Ulrika
2015 Exodus[13] Mother
2018 Creed II Ludmilla Vobet Drago
2019 The Experience Ezilda
2022 The Bricklayer Klausen

Television

Year Title too Role Notes
1992 Counterstrike Monica Steile Episode: "Bastille Day Terror"
2000 Un posto al sole Gitte 2 episodes
2004 The Surreal Life Herself 12 episodes (Season 3)
2005 Strange Love Herself 11 episodes. The show is a spin-off of The Surreal Life and is based around her relationship with Flavor Flav
2006 Flavor of Love Herself Episode: “IntteroGitted”
2009 Nite Tales: The Series Mona Episode: "Black Widow"
2010 La Ferme Célébrités Herself Evicted on day 7
2011 Stuttgart Homicide Gina Wartenberg Episode: "Stuttgart ist sexy"
2012 Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus! Herself Won the season
2014 Raising Hope Svetlana Episode: "Road to the Natesville"
2015 Portlandia[61] Herself Episode: "Healthcare"
2015– Gitte Talks Host Danish TV-show (kanal4)
2017– Adi Shankar's Gods and Secrets[62]
2022- The Guardians of Justice Anubis Queen 6 episodes
2022 Germany's Next Topmodel Herself 1 episode

Discography

Albums

Singles

  • "Body Next to Body" – Falco meets Brigitte Nielsen; 1987; (No. 6 Austria, No. 22 Germany, No. 1 Japan)
  • "Every Body Tells a Story"; 1987; (No. 38 Italy; No. 15 Germany)
  • "Maybe"; 1988
  • "Siento"; 1988 (South America only)
  • "It's a Strange Love"; 1988
  • "Rockin' Like a Radio"; 1990
  • "My Girl (My Guy)"; 1991
  • "How Could You Let Me Go?"; 1992
  • "Work That Body"; 1993
  • "No More Turning Back" (as Gitta); 2000; released by Jive; (No. 1 Spain, No. 1 Eurodance chart; No. 64 Netherlands, No. 54 UK)
  • "Everybody's Turning Back" (as Gitta vs. Rozalla)
  • "Tic Toc" (as Gitta); 2001; released by Blanco y Negro
  • "You're No Lady" (as Gitta with Ru Paul); 2002; released by Do It Yourself; (No. 1 Spain)
  • "Misery" (as Gitte Nielsen with Spleen United); 2012

References

  1. ↑ "Brigitte Nielsen Biography". filmreference.com.
  2. ↑ "Brigitte Nielsen by Greg Gorman". Danskmagazine.com. 10 February 2010. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  3. ↑ "Brigitte Nielsen by Helmut Newton". Danskmagazine.com. 8 February 2010. Archived from the original on 11 February 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  4. ↑ "Playboy magazine December 1987 Gore Vidal Brigitte Nielsen Sex Stars". Dtmagazine.com. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  5. ↑ "Amazon.com". Amazon.
  6. ↑ "Brigitte Nielsen as She-Hulk | She-Hulk Fan Site". Shulkie.com. 12 May 2007. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  7. ↑ Brigitte Nielsen attacks image as film Amazon, 17 May 1987, archived from the original on 2 November 2012
  8. ↑ "What's good for the Danish goose, but not for the Maltese gander?". Independent.com.mt. 9 July 2006. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  9. ↑ "Strange Love". People. 21 March 2005. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  10. ↑ Calcagno Paolo. "Fantaghiro' 2, attenti a strega Brigitte". Archiviostorico.corriere.it. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  11. ↑ "Che Natale sarebbe senza Fantaghirò? La saga fantasy torna su Mediaset". www.film.it (in Italian). Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  12. ↑ "RONAL BARBAREN (2011) IMDB profile". Imdb.it. 1 May 2009. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  13. 1 2 "Danish Sci-Fi Project Exodus Uses Unique Approach To Visual Effects". Giant Freakin Robot. 10 December 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  14. ↑ Steffen Hung. "Body Next to Body – Austrian Chart Archive". Austriancharts.at. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  15. ↑ "GITTA Official Charts". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  16. ↑ "GITTA - NO MORE TURNING BACK!!". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  17. ↑ Hits of the world (cont.). Billboard Magazine. 15 July 2000. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  18. ↑ "Edel Music (Germany)". Edel.de. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  19. ↑ Af admin (22 February 1999). "Article published by Kulturplakaten on 15 September 2009". Kulturplakaten.dk. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  20. ↑ "Brigitte Nielsen official website". Brigittenielsen.com. Archived from the original on 25 June 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  21. ↑ "You only get one life – Tesco Books". Tesco.com. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  22. ↑ "Talkshows i Danmark". Faktalink.dk. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  23. ↑ "Video Interview by www.zdf.de". Zdf.de. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  24. ↑ "Press Releases – SING IF YOU CAN /". Itv.com. Archived from the original on 4 April 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  25. ↑ "VH1 Big In '04". Cbsnews.com. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  26. ↑ "Sky Travel to air 'Killing Brigitte Nielsen'". Digital Spy. 24 February 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  27. ↑ "Inside Vh1's Controversial Show Celebrity Rehab". People. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  28. ↑ "Article appeared in TVGuida.com on 24 July 2009". Tvguida.com. 21 February 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  29. ↑ "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew Episode 3.6 ("Triggers") VH1; 11 February 2010". vh1.com. Archived from the original on 15 February 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  30. ↑ "La ferme célébrités : Brigitte Nielsen". La-ferme-celebrites.programme-tv.net. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  31. 1 2 "Brigitte Nielsen : " Je me sens coupable "". Leparisien.fr. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  32. ↑ "LET'S DANCE – Rtl Official Site". Rtl.de. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  33. ↑ "Billed-Bladet – Til middag hos Gitte Nielsen". Billedbladet.dk. 5 July 2010. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  34. ↑ "Das perfekte Promi Dinner – Brigitte Nielsen". VOX.de. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  35. ↑ "Dschungelcamp 2012: Brigitte Nielsen". RTL.de. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  36. ↑ "Dschungelcamp: Die geheimen Abstimmungs-Protokolle". Bild.de. 29 January 2012.
  37. ↑ "Brigitte Nielsen erhält die höchste Gage im RTL-Camp". DerWesten.de. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  38. ↑ "Gitte Nielsen får eget talkshow - Gitte Nielsen får eget talkshow - Kanal4". kanal4.dk. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  39. ↑ "Folge 1". www.rtl2.de.
  40. ↑ "Intrigue Management – The Celebrity Management & Talent Agency". Intriguemanagement.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 October 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  41. 1 2 3 4 "Baby at 54! Brigitte Nielsen Welcomes Fifth Child, Daughter Frida: 'We Are Overjoyed'". People. 23 June 2018.
  42. ↑ "Julian Winding er stolt af mor!". Go.tv2.dk. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  43. ↑
  44. ↑ "Arnold Schwarzenegger Admits to Affair with Brigitte Nielsen". 30 September 2012.
  45. ↑ "A Rocky Marriage". Entertainment Weekly. 12 December 1997. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  46. ↑ Kaufman, Joanne; Salomonsen, Jorgen; Richman, Alan (4 April 1988). "Gitte Finds Her Mark". People. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  47. ↑ Susan Zannos, Male Fitness Stars of TV and the Movies: Featuring Profiles of Sylvester Stallone, John Travolta, Bruce Willis and Wesley Snipes, Mitchell Lane Publishers, 2000, page 27
  48. ↑ "Stallone divorce stops Tabloid presses", Sarasota Herald-Tribune – 23 July 1987.
  49. ↑ "Stallone Seeks a Serious Turn for the Better – Page 3 – The New York Times". The New York Times. 10 August 1997. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  50. ↑ "Dschungelcamp 2012: Brigitte Nielsen: "Ich hatte einen One-Night-Stand mit Sean Penn". RTL.de. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  51. ↑ "Brigitte Nielsen zeigt sich hier erstmals mit ihren vier Söhnen - klatsch-tratsch.de". klatsch-tratsch.de. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  52. ↑ Baz Dreisinger (9 January 2005). "Can This Hook Up Survive?". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  53. ↑ "The Great Dane marries in Malta". Times of Malta. 8 July 2006. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  54. 1 2 Rochlin, Margy (1 February 2010), "Addicted to Rehab", TV Guide, pp. 34–35
  55. ↑ "Brigitte Nielsen on Instagram". Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  56. ↑ "Sylvester Stallone | Nielsen In Rehab". Contactmusic. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  57. ↑ Rodriguez, Brenda (23 July 2007). "Brigitte Nielsen: I Feel Reborn After Rehab – Brigitte Nielsen". People. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  58. ↑ "Celebrity Rehab 5 | Show Cast, Episodes, Guides, Trailers, Web Exclusives, Previews". VH1.com. Archived from the original on 8 December 2007. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  59. ↑ "Article appeared on TvBlog.it on 10 December 2009". Tvblog.it. 10 December 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  60. ↑ "Article appeared on TvBlog.it on 23 July 2009". Tvblog.it. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  61. ↑ "sitemap". twcc.com.
  62. ↑ "sitemap". twcc.com. 14 July 2017.
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