Thomas La Barbera Christensen has never been interested in taking the expected path. Born in Charlottenlund and raised in the Danish town of Ganløse, he has built a career that bridges cultures, languages, and artistic disciplines with remarkable versatility. Whether portraying emotionally layered characters in television, stepping into physically demanding period roles, or preparing for upcoming dramatic projects, Christensen approaches every performance with meticulous preparation and an unwavering commitment to authenticity.
While audiences may recognize him from projects including “General Hospital”, “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23”, “9JK”, and David Fincher’s “Video Synchronicity”, Thomas continues to evolve as an artist through compelling new work. His latest projects, including the family drama “Hard to Say” and his continued development as both an actor and storyteller, reflect an artist drawn to emotionally resonant narratives that explore the complexities of human connection. Beyond acting, he balances family life, mentors young athletes as a soccer coach, is developing an action-drama screenplay set in Denmark, and is expanding into fashion, proving that creativity for him extends well beyond the screen. In this conversation with REGARD, Thomas discusses the evolution of his craft, the lessons learned from his latest work, and the exciting future he is creating on his own terms.
Your recent work continues to showcase a wide range of emotional and physical performances. Looking at your latest projects, what themes or characters are drawing you in at this stage of your career?
Hello, Regard. Thank you for having me! I’ve noticed that I keep getting cast as the antagonist lately, and I’m thoroughly enjoying it. There’s something fascinating about exploring characters who appear composed on the surface but are simmering with frustration, obsession, or desperation underneath. Those emotional layers are incredibly rewarding to build.
Over the past year, I’ve also had the chance to play two government agents and an emotionally conflicted father in Hard to Say. Becoming a dad myself has undoubtedly made me a more empathetic actor. It’s given me a deeper emotional well to draw from… along with a few extra grey hairs. As for what’s next, I’m happy to put it out into the universe: I’d love to lead a smart action thriller, swing a sword in a swashbuckling period adventure, or, perhaps make a dark Danish comedy with Mads Mikkelsen and Anders Thomas Jensen!
You play Axel in the upcoming action comedy,“The Wrong Girls”. Without giving too much away, what attracted you to the project, and what did you hope to bring to your character?
I mean, who wouldn’t want to play a Danish villain opposite Kristen Stewart and Alia Shawkat? Dylan Meyer’s script is gloriously off-the-wall, razor-sharp, and just the right amount of ridiculous. The idea that I would get to speak my native Danish while terrorizing everyone on screen immediately made me smile.
My fellow henchmen, Thomas N. and Thor K., and I had a fantastic time translating our dialogue, weaving in little Danish linguistic quirks and expressions that most audiences won’t notice, but every Dane in the theater hopefully will. It was our way of adding another layer of authenticity and comedy.
From the start, I wanted Axel to be the impeccably composed, hyper-controlled Danish villain whose carefully constructed world and manicure slowly comes apart. Watching someone cling desperately to control while everything unravels around them is a delicious dynamic to play. That tension between absolute seriousness and mounting frustration over the stoned girls was so fun to play with.
You’ve worked across comedy, drama, action, and period pieces. How has your process evolved over the years, and what have your most recent roles taught you about yourself as an actor?
Being an actor is a lifelong commitment. A lot of people come into this profession and eventually fade away because it is incredibly difficult to make a living from it. When I first came to Los Angeles, I thought I might give Hollywood a year, have some success, and then return to Denmark. Seventeen years later, I’m still here, still working, and finally feeling like things are beginning to move in the direction I’ve always hoped for.
That’s worth mentioning because, as an actor, you often don’t have the luxury of being particularly picky. You want to work, so you take the opportunities that come your way. That’s the real talk of it. But over the years, I’ve learned that the more important thing is understanding what I uniquely bring to a role.
My most recent roles have also taught me the value of stillness and experience. Age and lived experience give you layers you simply can’t manufacture. I’ve found myself particularly drawn to antagonists lately because flawed characters give you so much emotional territory to explore. I enjoy finding the humanity underneath the behavior.
Audiences often see the finished performance, but not the preparation behind it. What did your preparation look like for your latest projects, and how important is research in shaping your performances?
Early in my career, I would get an audition and spend a lot of time trying to figure out what “they” wanted from me. Eventually, I realized that the more interesting approach is to stay true to yourself and find the part of you that belongs in the character. My process has become much more about digging into the script, understanding the character on the page, and then figuring out how I can bring something unexpected and personal to it. I’ll often work through ideas with a friend, a coach, or someone I trust. It’s a bit like any other craft: you keep working through the knots until something clicks and starts to feel alive.
For Axel in *The Wrong Girls*, a lot of the work happened before I ever stepped onto the set. I usually write a backstory for a character, almost like creating a private biography. Where did he come from? What does he want? What has shaped him? What does he believe about himself and the world around him? I also mapped out his goals and the emotional journey I thought he was taking throughout the film. That preparation helped me inhabit him rather than simply “play” him.
Ultimately, most of the heavy lifting happens in preparation. Then you get on set, the director says, “Action,” and all that research, imagination, and preparation has to somehow become instinctive. Depending on the scene, you might have thirty seconds to let an entire history of a character come through. That’s the exciting part for me: doing all the work beforehand, then letting go of it enough to actually live in the moment.
As someone fluent in multiple languages and comfortable moving between cultures, how has your international perspective influenced the kinds of stories you want to tell today?
I think living abroad can give you an even deeper appreciation for where you come from. There are so many things I miss about Denmark, from the everyday rhythms of life there to my family and the particular sense of humor and culture that you carry with you. I see myself as an adventurer, a citizen of the world, so the stories I tell could be in Europe, in the US and Egypt where I traveled or Jordan where I’ve also been. I’ve also always been quite comfortable moving in and out of different cultures and environments. I think that ability has become part of who I am as an actor. In some ways, I’m a bit of a chameleon. I enjoy observing how people behave, adapting to different worlds, and finding the little details that make a character feel like they genuinely belong there. That sense of cultural fluidity is something I enjoy bringing into my work.
You’re currently developing an action-drama screenplay set in Denmark. What inspired the story, and what can you share about the world you’re creating?
Yeah, I’ve been developing a story that blends contemporary geopolitics with the extraordinary landscapes, wildlife, and culture of Greenland. At its heart is a marine biologist who uncovers a series of mysterious wildlife deaths along Greenland’s coast. What begins as an environmental mystery quickly escalates into an international political thriller involving Greenland, Denmark, and the United States. Alongside him is a Greenlandic Inuit heroine, a descendant of a shamanic lineage, whose ancestral knowledge reveals that some mysteries cannot be explained by science alone. The story moves between Greenland and Denmark, weaving political tension, ancient mythology, and environmental suspense into a single narrative. I’m looking for collaborators to help develop this project.
Beyond acting, you’re also building a fashion label. What inspired that venture, and how does fashion complement your creative identity?
Fashion has been part of my creative life for many years, long before I became an actor. I started as a model, doing runway shows in Milan and throughout Europe with Best Boys Cph., later working on commercials with Elite Models, and eventually making the transition into acting. So I’ve always had one foot in the world of fashion and design.
I’ve also had a lifelong fascination with Italian design. It extends beyond clothing to furniture, architecture, automobiles, and beautifully considered everyday objects. As a kid, my family would drive to Lake Garda for vacations, and I still remember seeing my first Ferrari, designed by Sergio Pininfarina. I was fascinated by the idea that something could be engineered to function beautifully and, at the same time, become an object of desire.
That interest eventually led me to study product design at Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in Milan. Spending a year in the classrooms, absorbing what the Italian professors were teaching us, was one of the great formative experiences of my life. I learned to look at design not simply as aesthetics, but as a process of thinking, refining, and making.
Henderson/Christensen is still in the start up phase and came about rather organically. I was talking to Michael one day and telling him that I thought he had great style, and I jokingly said, “Why don’t we start a fashion label?” He said, “Heck yeah.” And suddenly we had a business.
What I’ve discovered is that creating a garment is a remarkably 360-degree process. It starts with an idea, then moves into sketches, materials, construction, what a factory can realistically produce, and, of course, what the economics will allow. There’s a constant negotiation between the creative vision and the practical reality of making something well. I’m enjoying that process immensely because it engages a completely different part of my brain, while still coming back to the same thing I’ve always been drawn to: creating something thoughtfully designed and beautifully made.
You have spoken about your dream of making an Indiana Jones-style adventure film shot throughout Europe. What is it about that genre that continues to inspire you, and do you see yourself producing as well as starring in it?
I’ve always been fascinated by the Knights Templar, Egyptology, and the mysteries of ancient civilizations and lost artifacts. There’s something irresistible about stories that weave history, mythology, and archaeology into a contemporary adventure. That’s why the Indiana Jones films have always resonated with me. They invite audiences to travel the world, uncover forgotten secrets, and experience the thrill of discovery, all while delivering suspense and spectacle.
I also love the idea of using film to showcase extraordinary locations around the world, allowing the landscapes and history to become characters in their own right. For me, the perfect adventure combines historical intrigue, globe-trotting exploration, and a genuinely gripping thriller.
And yes, I absolutely see myself producing as well as starring in a project like that. Producing would allow me to help shape the story from the ground up, while stepping into the lead role would be the realization of a lifelong dream.
Between acting, writing, fashion, fatherhood, and coaching youth soccer, your life is incredibly multifaceted. How do those experiences outside of Hollywood make you a stronger storyteller?
Life lived gives me perspective. Miles travelled and countries visited makes me wiser. Having kids opened up to new heights of love. Everyone has a story to tell and I think it’s finding what really makes you excited to write about. You have to be with that story for a while so make sure it resonates deeply. For me I need a strong family life outside Hollywood to fill me up that’s how I grew up in Denmark. Traditions and family gatherings. Hollywood is work and play but at the end of the day – I come back to family and friends.
Looking ahead, what would you like audiences to know about Thomas Christensen that they may not discover simply by watching your performances, and what excites you most about this next chapter of your career?
That deepest down I want to make a positive impact in the world and inspire the youth. If I can make someone laugh via a performance, that’s worth it. That I love my family and I have sacrificed a lot leaving Denmark 18 years ago to pursue my dreams as an actor, leaving behind my parents, brother, nephews and best friends. I don’t know if I would recommend that type of life. It’s not safe or comfortable living as an artist but always exciting. It takes a certain willingness to suffer to reach your highest goals. I guess it’s that draw America has on people.
In the next chapter of my career I’m excited about the new friends I’ve made working on The Wrong Girls and hope to make more projects with Neon and Nevermind. Also would love to work more with Danish, Scandinavian and European filmmakers exploring the stories of our region. I’m excited to give myself fully to the next project and use my full creative potential in the service of the story and this business we love.
Photo credit: David Zaugh