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Claes Bang

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Claes Bang
Bang in 2015
Born
Claes Kasper Bang

(1967-04-28) 28 April 1967 (age 57)
Odense, Denmark
NationalityDanish
Alma materDanish National School of Theatre
Occupation(s)Actor, musician, narrator
Years active1996–present
Spouse
Lis Louis-Jensen
​
(m. 2010)​
Musical career
Also known asThis Is Not America
GenresElectronica, synth-pop
Instrument(s)Vocals, piano, guitar
Years active2008–present
LabelsMusic for Dreams, Sound Seduction
Websitewww.facebook.com/This-is-not-America-172895036087968/

Claes Kasper Bang (Danish: [ˈkʰlɛˀs ˈpɑŋˀ]; born 28 April 1967) is a Danish actor and musician. He is best known for playing the leading role of Christian in Ruben Östlund's 2017 film The Square. For that role he won the European Film Award for Best Actor, being the first Dane to do so.[1] In 2019 he played the role of Sasha Mann for the final season of The Affair. He rose to international recognition by starring as Count Dracula in 2020's TV show Dracula.[2]

Early life

Bang was born in Odense on the Danish island of Funen. After his parents’ divorce, he mostly lived with his father and moved around many times; he ended up attending several different schools while growing up.[3][4][5] During his third year at high school, Bang participated in a musical called Hair which sparked his interest in acting, and after he left school, he continued to do amateur theatre. At the age of 23, he made an application to the Danish National School of Theatre after discovering that the age limit for applying is 25. He was unsuccessful but applied again the next year and was accepted five days before his 25th birthday. He attended the school in 1992 and graduated with a diploma in 1996.[4][3][6] His first theatre role after graduation was at Børneteatret Skægspire in the play Tudseakvariet, and he received his first breakthrough role in the Danish 1997 television show Taxa.[7] He has worked mainly on stage and television in Denmark.

Acting career

From 2001 to 2004, he was a permanent member of the cast at Aalborg Teater. In 2002, he asked the theatre director for permission to perform a monologue called Ondskaben, which is based on Jan Guillou’s novel Evil. After leaving the theatre in 2004, Bang bought the rights to the work so he could perform the monologue at other theatres. He has performed the monologue almost 400 times, including an English language version in Denmark, Sweden, the UK, Germany, and South Africa.[8][4][9][10]

Bang starred in numerous Danish television series and films early in his career. From 2006 to 2008, he gained wide recognition (particularly in Germany) for his role in the Danish police drama Anna Pihl.[4] He subsequently starred in several German language roles both on television (Küstenwache, SOKO Wismar, Notruf Hafenkante, Sibel & Max, and Cologne P.D.) and in film (Jungle Child, Rettet Raffi!, Alle unter einer Tanne, and Überleben an der Scheidungsfront).

He played the leading role of the art museum curator Christian in Ruben Östlund's 2017 film The Square, which won the Palme d'Or at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.[11] He also won the European Film Award for Best Actor, being the first Dane to do so.[12]

In November 2018, Bang was cast to play Count Dracula in the BBC mini-series Dracula, created by the film-makers involved in Sherlock.[13] In an interview for The Guardian, it was observed that, while "sexy" and "insatiable", it is also "a very witty performance" from Bang.[14]

On 14th April 2020, it was announced that Bang would be working on the pilot of Little Room (previously called The Agoraphobics Detective Society), which was produced by Maggie Montieth and directed/written by Dolly Wells, Suzi Ewing and Heidi Greensmith. Bang and the other cast members filmed themselves from home on Zoom, and were responsible for the props, wardrobe, hair and makeup, and sound.[15][16][17] The pilot was released online by Pinpoint Presents on 27th May 2020, and viewers were asked to donate to The Film and Television Charity and the Motion Picture & Television Fund, to help those in the film, TV and cinema industries who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.[18]

Music career

This Is Not America is the name of Bang's musical side project.[19] He describes it as “[…] a sanctuary and a creative playground where there is no director making the decisions.”[20] Bang writes and composes the songs himself, and his musical style can be described as a mix of Gangway, Pet Shop Boys and Depeche Mode.[21][22] Music videos and album art for This Is Not America are produced with help from his wife Lis Kasper Bang who does the filming and photography.[21][23][24]

Bang started composing music for fun with a recording studio on his computer in 2002.[25] He records the piano and guitar pieces himself (he learnt these instruments when he was younger) and then programs them with other sounds on his computer.[22][26] Bang chose the alias This Is Not America to circumvent DR's policy of not broadcasting tracks by actors, and to prevent his acting career from influencing how people perceive his music.[25][27][28] The name comes from a song by David Bowie, who is one of Bang's great role models.[22] His first three singles Don’t Come Crying, Shameless and Run were played on P3 for a year before the station found out that they were made by the actor[26][29], however his songs were still played on various DR radio stations for a few more years.[30] These singles were later released on the debut album Dislocated on 7th April 2010.[31][29]

Two of Bang's co-stars have featured on some This Is Not America tracks. In 2015, he released the single Still of the Night, featuring Charlotte Munck, his co-star in the Danish police drama Anna Pihl. While filming The Square, Bang discovered that co-star and musician Marina Schiptjenko shared the same taste in music, so he showed her some of his music and sent her a few demos. Once filming finished, they recorded five songs together in his home studio in Copenhagen.[27] So far, the duo has released Who Am I, I Don’t Care and Here We Go.

Personal life

He married the stylist Lis Louis-Jensen in 2010.[32] He is stepfather to her two children, and step-grandfather to her two grandchildren.[33][34]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1998 On Our Own Politibetjent
1999 Fast Lane Jesper
2001 Now Look at Me Ungdomsfoto Short film
2003 Regel nr. 1 John T
2005 The Comedian Oliver Short film
2005 Nynne Henrik
2005 Far til fire gi'r aldrig op Gymnastiklærer
2006 A Soap Mand 2
2007 Carls engle Man in Cemetery Short film
2008 Take the Trash Lars
2008 Make My Day Doctor Short film
2009 Bastarden Benjamin Short film
2011 Jungle Child Herb
2011 Biler 2 Professor Zündapp Danish dub of Cars 2
2012 Lærkevej - til døden os skiller Per
2013 Educating Peter Faderen Short film
2014 Unga Sophie Bell Klaus
2015 Rettet Raffi! Henry Wiese
2017 The Square Christian Bang dubbed himself in the German language version
2018 Hotel Boy Stefan Short film
2018 The Girl in the Spider's Web Jan Holtser
2019 The Glass Room Viktor
2019 The Burnt Orange Heresy James Figueras
2019 The Last Vermeer Captain Joseph Piller
TBA The Northman Feng Postponed due to COVID-19[35]
TBA The Bay of Silence Will Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Taxa Kriminalbetjent Episode: "Del 8"
1998 Betjent Episode: "Del 29:
1998 Betjenten Episode: "Del 31"
1998-1999 Christian, kriminalbetjent 2 episodes
2000 Madsen og Co. Henrik Episode: "Ud på ski"
2000 Skjulte spor Preben 1 episode
2000 Pyrus i alletiders eventyr Udyret Episode: "På med pilen"
2001 At the Faber Bjarne 4 episodes
2002 Rejseholdet Villy Episode: "Assistancemelding A-3/01"
2002 Nikolaj og Julie Kevin 1 episode
2002 Langt fra Las Vegas i nærheden af Meyerheim Dennis TV Movie; Uncredited
2003 Langt fra Las Vegas Dennis Randrup Episode: "Mere møs til Dennis"
2003 The Country Doctor Jørn Episode: "Wiedersehen in Dänemark"
2006-2008 Anna Pihl Martin Krøyer Main cast
2008 Max Claes Bang, Skuespiller Episode: "Magiske Mester Max"
2008-2009 2900 Happiness Borgmester Hans Holm Main cast
2010 Borgen Tore Gudme Episode: "Det muliges kunst"
2010 Küstenwache Tomas Jorgensen Episode: "Am Abgrund"
2012 SOKO Wismar Urmas Savi Episode: "Zuckerbrot"
2012 Notruf Hafenkante Holger Lüder Episode: "Unter Brüdern"
2013 Dicte Arne Bay Episode: "Liv og legeme - del 1"
2013 The Bridge Claudio 3 episodes
2014 Alle unter eine Tanne Micha TV Movie
2015 Überleben an der Scheidungsfront Lars Knudsen TV Movie
2015-2016 Sibel & Max Dr. Tobias Olsen Main cast
2016 Cologne P.D. Jens Jensen 2 episodes
2019 The Affair Sasha Mann 7 episodes
2020 Dracula Count Dracula Main cast
2020 Syv kontinenter, en klode Narrator Danish dub of Seven Worlds, One Planet
2020 Little Room Oskar Amundsen 1 episode

Theatre credits

Year Title Role Venue Notes
1994 Faust Various Betty Nansen Teatret
1996 Tudseakvariet Faderen Børneteatret Skægspire
1997 En ren formalitet Kommisæren Statens Teater Skole
Freden Various Det Danske Teater
Pelleas & Melisande Pelleas Kaleidoskop
1998 Kondylomer Anders
1999 La Dispute Mesrin Husets Teater
Leg med Ild Knud Teater Styhr & Kjær
Aalborg Teater
2000 Håndværkerne Various Husets Teater
2001 Vennebogen Georg Aarhus Teater
Dansemus Albert Halling
Jean de France Tjeneren Aalborg Teater
Revisoren Various
2002 Fruen fra Havet Den Fremmede
Ondskaben Erik Monologue
Kiss me Kate Hank Calloway
Ondskaben Erik Monologue
2003 Købmanden fra Venedig Lorenzo
Boblerne i bækken Morten
Skylddrup, Skamdrup og Vamdrup Hans-Erik, Skyldrup
2004 Jorden rundt på 80 dage Various
De lærde damer Vadius
Hamlet Rosenkrantz Hamletscenen, Kronborg
Ondskaben Erik Folketeatret Monologue
2005 Gregersen Sagaen - Visse hensyn Erik Aarhus Teater
Nattur Han Husets Teater
2006 Ondskaben Erik Aarhus Teater Monologue
Gregersen Sagaen - Faste forhold Erik
Den grønne elevator Jakob Kanonhalløj
2007 Rene linjer Erik Aarhus Teater
Ondskaben Erik Kanonhalløj Monologue
Idioten Rogozjin Aarhus Teater
2008 Famalien Gegersen - Hele historien Erik
Privatliv Victor Grønnegårds
Glade Dage Willie Hamletscenen, Kronborg
2009 Blekingegade Holger Jensen Husets Teater
Ondskaben Erik Docken Monologue
Nørregade Teatret
2010 Håndværkerne Karl Aalborg Teater
Saunaen Bjoern Får 302
Borupgaardteatret
Dansk Pistol Teater
Jomfru Ane Teatret
I morgen i Qatar Wüntrop Husets Teater
2011 Hundesvømning Johann Folketeatret
2012 Ondskaben Erik Monologue
Lykkebjørn Nikolaj
Squash Christian Får 302
2013 Æblet Ronni Mammutteatret
2014 Sne Grøn Husets Teater
Ondskaben Erik Folketeatret Monologue
The Evil Erik Riverside Studios Monologue; English version of Ondskaben
Min Arm Team Teatret Monologue; Danish version of My Arm
L'histoire du soldat The Devil/Narrator Copenhagen Phil
2015 Danske Permafrost AKT1 Danmarks Lydteater Live in the Dome of Visions, Copenhagen
The Evil Erik St. James Theatre Monologue; English version of Ondskaben
Min Arm Team Teatret Monologue; Danish version of My Arm
2016 Sidst på dagen er vi alle mennesker Betty Nansen Teatret
The Evil Erik Folketeatret Monologue; English version of Ondskaben
Ren (Medea) Jason Husets Teater
2017 Ondskaben Erik Sønderborghus Monologue
Folketeatret
Min Arm Betty Nansen Teatret Monologue; Danish version of My Arm
The Evil Erik Edinburgh International Children's Festival Monologue; English version of Ondskaben
Byen Chris Odense Teater
Jul i republikken Prince Henrik Aveny-T Was intended to be broadcast on DR P1
2018 The Evil Erik Deutches Theater (Berlin) Monologue; English version of Ondskaben
Theatre Arts Admin Collective, South Africa
2019 Maxim Teatern
2020 Deutches Theater (Berlin)

Discography

Albums

  • 2010: Dislocated

EPs

  • 2011: EP1
  • 2014: Keep on Dancin’
  • 2015: Still of the Night
  • 2020: Here We Go
  • 2020: Butterflies in December
  • 2020: You & I (Forever Live or Die)

Singles

Year Title Album/EP
2008 Don't Come Crying Dislocated
2009 Shameless
Run
2011 Virgin Mary EP1
2012 Imaginary Friend Re-released on Butterflies in December in 2020
Jealousy N/A
2014 No One Keep on Dancin'
Care
2015 1983 Still of the Night

Re-released on Butterflies in December in 2020

Still of the Night (feat. Charlotte Munck) Still of the Night
I'm Not Ready Yet
Will Santa Be There for Christmas? N/A
2018 They Say It's Wrong N/A
Who Am I (feat. Marina) N/A
I Don't Care (feat. Marina) N/A
2020 All Said and Done N/A
Here We Go (feat. Marina) Here We Go
Don't Come Crying (2020 edit)
Butterflies in December Butterflies in December
You & I (Forever Live or Die) You & I (Forever Live or Die)
You & I (Forever Live or Die) - Gregers Remix

Music videos

  • 2009: Run
  • 2014: No One
  • 2015: I’m Not Ready Yet
  • 2018: Who Am I (feat. Marina)

Other

Bang has also performed a number of songs as himself:

  • 2007: Claes Bang - Når En Sailor Går I Land (Otto Brandenburg cover)
  • 2014: Nogen Andre - September (feat. Claes Bang)
  • 2014: Martin Valsted - Bilist (feat. Claes Bang)
  • 2017: Claes Bang - Party at the Castle (The Square Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Bibliography

Audiobooks

Year Title Author Publisher Notes
2013 Fryser jeg Martin Kongstads People'sPress
2016 Tykkere end vand Carin Gerhardsen
Frøken Peregrines hjem for sælsomme børn Ransom Riggs Gyldendal Danish version of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Hollow City Danish version of Hollow City
Sjælenes bibliotek Danish version of Library of Souls
2017 Chefen Aksel Heltoft Lindhardt og Ringhof
Blodets bånd Henning Prins
Dengang vi var os René Jacobsen Gyldendal
Værelse til leje Eddie Thomas Petersen People'sPress
2018 Kokken der holdt op med at rødme Martin Kongstads Politikens Forlag
2020 Spræng-Smith - I BOPA-sabotøren Knud Børge Jensens fodspor Søren Knudsen Storyside Knud Børge Jensen is Bang's father in law
Kallocain Karin Boye Penguin

Afterwords

  • 2020: Dracula by Bram Stoker, translated to Danish by Benny Andersen, published by Gyldendal

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref(s)
2017 European Film Awards Best Actor The Square Won [36]
Pingyao International Film Festival People's Choice Award Best Actor Won [37]
2018 Guldbagge Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role Nominated [38]
Zulu Awards Best Actor Nominated [39]
Ekko Shortlist Awards Best Actor Hotel Boy Nominated [40]
2020 Mofibo Audiobook Awards 2020 Novel of the Year Kokken der holdt op med at rødme Nominated [41]
TV Choice Awards Best Actor Dracula Nominated [42]

References

  1. ^ /ritzau/ (9 December 2017). "Claes Bang Wins Europe's Version of the Oscars' "Best Actor Award"". B.dk (in Danish). Berlingske. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  2. ^ Dracula (TV Mini-Series 2020– ) - IMDb, retrieved 2020-01-22
  3. ^ a b Alfthan, Camilla (2018). "Big Bang" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2020-05-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ a b c d "Appetize Magazine No. 1" (PDF) (in Danish). 2010-02-17. Retrieved 2020-05-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ "Claes Bang: Der Späti". Zeit Magazin (in German). 2018-02-14. Retrieved 2020-05-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ Zeitung, Berliner (2020-03-29). "Claes Bang: Niemals stillstehen". Berliner Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2020-05-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "The lowdown on Dracula star Claes Bang". Evening Standard. 2020-01-02. Retrieved 2020-01-12.
  8. ^ "Claes Bang optræder i folks lejligheder med sin bedste rolle". www.bt.dk (in Danish). 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  9. ^ "Claes Bang in The Square". Danish Film Institute. 2017-05-11. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  10. ^ "Fierce Fresh Fabulous". Theatre Arts Admin Collective. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  11. ^ Mitchell, Wendy (2017-05-23). "Cannes Interview: 'The Square' actor Claes Bang". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  12. ^ /ritzau/ (9 December 2017). "Claes Bang Wins Europe's Version of the Oscars' "Best Actor Award"". B.dk (in Danish). Berlingske. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  13. ^ ‘The Girl in the Spider’s Web’ Star Claes Bang Stakes Claim As Dracula In Hartswood’s Netflix & BBC Drama
  14. ^ Gilbey, Ryan (2019-12-17). "Claes Bang on playing a sexy Dracula: 'He's insatiable – and not just for blood!'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-01-12.
  15. ^ "Claes Bang, Brian Cox and more to film whodunnit series pilot from home". Radio Times. 2020-04-14. Retrieved 2020-05-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ "Little Room – A Whodunnit For Today". Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  17. ^ "Brian Cox, Claes Bang And More Starring In The Agoraphobics Detective Society". Empire. 2020-04-15. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  18. ^ "Dracula's Claes Bang and Brian Cox star in new charity lockdown pilot". Radio Times. 2020-05-27. Retrieved 2020-05-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ "Sceneliv Magasinet" (PDF) (in Danish). Dansk Skuespillerforbund. February 2010. Retrieved 2020-05-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ "This Is Not America". Spotify. Retrieved 2020-05-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ a b Gilbey, Ryan (2019-12-17). "Claes Bang on playing a sexy Dracula: 'He's insatiable – and not just for blood!'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-05-18.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ a b c ""this is not america" – synthpop som i 80'erne". Kulture for Unge (in Danish). 2009-03-12. Retrieved 2020-05-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ "ART — Lis Kasper". liskasper.dk. Retrieved 2020-05-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ Claes, Bang (2018-04-07). "Facebook post". www.facebook.com (in Danish). Retrieved 2020-05-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ a b "Jeg tager det hele". Berlingske.dk (in Danish). 2008-11-07. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  26. ^ a b Claes Bang 'tricked' Danish radio to get airplay. Associated Press. 2017-12-08. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  27. ^ a b "Dansk stjerne har kæmpe succes i USA - men får ingen tilbud fra Danmark". ekstrabladet.dk (in Danish). 2018-04-17. Retrieved 2020-05-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. ^ "Q&A med Claes Bang: "Jeg var nødt til at opfinde et alias til min musik, så jeg kunne svindle P3"". heartbeats (in Danish). 2020-02-05. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  29. ^ a b "ELLE mand: Claes Bang". ELLE (in Danish). 2010-04-16. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  30. ^ "Claes Bang | Musik | DR". www.dr.dk. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  31. ^ "Claes Bang: 'Det er både fantastisk og flovt at blive friet til'". Femina (in Danish). 2010-04-20. Retrieved 2020-05-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  32. ^ Grube, Lisbeth (2010-10-02). "Claes Bang blev viet til vands". Billed Bladet (in Danish). Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  33. ^ Nykänen, Text: Elna; ersson. "His name is Bang, Claes Bang | Scandinavian Traveler". Scandinavian Traveler - For the modern traveler from Scandinavian Airlines. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
  34. ^ Bekker, Luise Marie (2020-04-05). "Se det søde billede: Claes Bang bedstefar igen". BILLED-BLADET (in Danish). Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  35. ^ https://www.nme.com/news/film/coronavirus-has-had-a-dramatic-impact-on-northern-irelands-film-industry-2661620
  36. ^ "30th European Film Awards: The Winners". The European Film Awards. 2017-12-11. Retrieved 2020-05-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  37. ^ "PYIFF 2018". www.pyiffestival.com. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  38. ^ "2017 års nomineringar". Guldbaggen (in Swedish). 2018-01-04. Retrieved 2020-05-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  39. ^ "TV 2 ZULU: Zulu Awards". Canal Digital (in Danish). Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  40. ^ Bedste mandlige skuespiller: Hotel Boy - Ekko Shortlist Awards (in Danish), retrieved 2020-05-26
  41. ^ "Danmarks første lydbogspris Mofibo Awards hylder forfattere og indlæsere" (in Danish). 2020-02-26. Retrieved 2020-06-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  42. ^ "TV Choice Awards". TV Choice Awards. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
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