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Who is Hera Hilmar?
Icelandic actress Hera Hilmarsdottir was born under the zodiac sign Capricorn on 27 December 1988, in Reykjavik, Iceland. She has 29 acting credits and is perhaps known best for starring as Maghra in all 24 episodes of the science fiction action series “See”, which also starred Sylvia Hoeks and Jason Momoa, and was created by Steven Knight. Set in a dystopian future in which humans can no longer see, the series follows the lives of twins born with sight; it aired from 2019 through 2022, and won eight of its 20 award nominations.
From the cover story for @voguemagazine's April issue celebrating a talented group of women from across the globe! Photo by Mikael Jansson https://t.co/LDHGB9NyXJ pic.twitter.com/ltgt5goUpd
— Hera Hilmar (@HeraHilmar) March 14, 2019
Education and early life
Hera was raised in Reykjavik as an only child by her father Hilmar Oddsson who’s a popular film director, and mother Thorey Sigthorsdottir who’s a successful actress; her grandfather was Oddur Bjornsson, a famous playwright and theatre director.
Thanks to her parents both being involved in the film industry, Hera was only six when she launched her acting career, portraying a supporting character in the 1995 biographical movie “Tar Ur Steini”, which starred Ruth Olafsdottir and Prostur Leo Gunnarsson, and was directed by her father Hilmar; the film follows the life of Icelandic composer Jon Leifs.
Hera went on to play Barn in the 1998 crime comedy film “No Trace”, which starred Dofri Hermannsson and Gudmundur Thorvaldsson, and was once again directed by her father. It follows the lives of five friends from Reykjavik, and the film was nominated for two awards.
Hera had no roles in the following nine years, wanting to instead focus on her education. She studied at a local high school in Reykjavik, then upon matriculating in 2007, moved to England and enrolled at the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in drama in 2011.
Roles in movies
Hera played a supporting character in the 2007 drama “Veðramót”, which starred Hilmir Snaer Gudnason and Tinna Hrafnsdottir, and was written and directed by Gudny Halldorsdottir. It follows a young girl who’s begun working at an institution for juvenile delinquents in Northern Iceland, and the movie won one of its five award nominations.
Some of Hera’s following roles were in the 2008 short drama “Two Birds”, the critically acclaimed 2012 romantic drama “Anna Karenina”, which won an Oscar for Best Achievement in Costume Design and the 2013 comedy “We Are the Freaks”. Also in 2013, she portrayed Wikileaks Staffer in the biographical crime drama “The Fifth Estate”, which starred Daniel Bruhl and Benedict Cumberbatch, and was directed by Bill Condon. It tells the true story of when sensitive information was leaked onto the internet to ‘expose the deceptions and corruption of power’; the movie won two of its five award nominations.
In 2014, Hera appeared in both the drama “Life in a Fishbowl” and the family comedy “Get Santa”.
In 2016, she portrayed Trix in the popular action thriller “Alleycats”, which starred Sam Keeley, John Lynch and Eleanor Tomlinson, and was directed by Ian Bonhote. It follows bike courier Chris who’s witnessed a murder, and has now been dragged into the world of politics, corruption and illegal bike racing.
Some of Hera’s most recent film roles have been in the 2020 short drama “Oskin”, the comedy “Driving Mum” and the 2022 romantic drama “A Letter from Helga”.
Roles in TV series
Hera’s debut TV series role was playing a supporting character in a 2007 episode of the drama “Aramotaskaup”, then the year 2010 saw her play Una in four episodes of the mystery drama “Hamarinn”, which starred Unnur Birna Jonsdottir and Bjorn Hlynur Haraldsson, and follows the lives of people working on a controversial hydroelectric project; the series won one of its five award nominations.
The year 2012 saw Hera appear in two episodes of the romantic thriller mini-series “World Without End”, and all three episodes of the drama mini-series “Leaving”, and from 2013 through 2015, she starred as Vanessa in 25 episodes of the biographical adventure drama “Da Vinci’s Demons”. The series also starred Gregg Chilingirian and Tom Riley, was created by David S. Goyer, and follows the life of Leonardo Da Vinci; it won six of its 22 award nominations.
Hera’s since appeared in only three TV series, portraying Emma in two episodes of the 2016 biographical historical mini-series “Harley and the Davidsons”, Ondine in the 2018 episode “The One That Holds Everything” of the drama “The Romanoffs”, and Isabella in four episodes of the 2021 podcast “The Cipher”.
Other credits
Hera worked as an art department assistant and production assistant on the 2009 comedy movie “The Good Heart”; she also worked as a production assistant on the 2010 drama movie “Brim”.
Some of her talk-show appearances have been in “Red Carpet Report”, “IMDb on the Scene – Interviews” and “Made in Hollywood”.
Awards and nominations
Hera’s won four of her six award nominations. She won a 2014 Zurich Film Festival Award for International Feature Film, for “Life in a Fishbowl”, two Edda Awards, Iceland for Actress of the Year in 2015 and 2017 for “Life in a Fishbowl” and “The Oath”, respectively, and a 2015 Berlin International Film Festival Shooting Star Award.
Love life and relationships
Hera avoids sharing the details of her love life with the public and this is perhaps why there are today various rumors circulating the internet, most of which concern her sexual orientation and current relationship status.
Some of Hera’s fans believe her to be lesbian, claiming that this is why the famous actress hasn’t mentioned a single man whom she’s perhaps dated; some have even claimed to have seen Hera and her girlfriend spending time together in Reykjavik, but no evidence has been provided to support these claims.
There are also some who believe that Hera’s today a married woman, but wants to keep the marriage a secret, however, she hasn’t addressed these rumors either.
Hera seems to be single as of October 2023, hasn’t married and doesn’t have children.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Hera wrote, produced and starred in a play while attending high school.
Her last name ‘Hilmarsdottir’ isn’t a family name; she’s kept it as an Icelandic naming tradition, as it translates to ‘Hilmar’s daughter’.
Hera can speak with a fluent British accent.
She’s a huge fan of Icelandic singer Bjork.
More than 130,000 people are following Hera on Instagram today, and she’s posted over 850 pictures and videos onto the network; most of her content are pictures of nature taken by her.
Hera’s physically highly active, as she enjoys swimming, jogging and doing yoga.
She’s a philanthropist, and has worked with several Icelandic charity organizations which aim to help children.
One of Hera’s favorite actors is Jason Momoa, and some of her favorite movies include “Slumberland”, “Conan the Barbarian” and “Johnson Family Vacation”.
Appearance and net worth
Hera’s age is 34. She has brown hair and blue eyes, weighs around 130lbs (60kgs) and is 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall.
Hera’s net worth’s been estimated at over $1 million, as of October 2023.
