Carice van Houten is a Dutch actress and singer who is famous for her role as Melisandre in the HBO series Game of Thrones. Carice van Houten has also starred in several acclaimed films, such as Black Book, Valkyrie, and The Fifth Estate. She is 47 years old, 5 feet 6 inches tall, and has a net worth of $5 million.
She is in a relationship with Australian actor Guy Pearce, and they have a son named Monte. In this article, we will explore her bio, age, net worth, and love life in more detail.
Table of Contents
Carice van Houten: Quick Facts
| Name | Carice Anouk van Houten |
| Date of Birth | September 5, 1976 |
| Place of Birth | Leiderdorp, Netherlands |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Occupation | Actress and Singer |
| Net Worth | $5 million |
| Height | 1.68 m or 5 ft 6 in |
| Weight | 61 kg or 134 lbs |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
| Parents | Margje Stassen and Theodore van Houten |
| Siblings | Jelka van Houten |
| Children | Monte Pearce |
| Marital Status | In a relationship |
| Partner | Guy Pearce |
| Awards | Golden Calf Award, Rembrandt Award, Saturn Award, Empire Award, Primetime Emmy Award nomination |
| Social Media | Instagram(leavecaricealone) 1.1M Followers |
Biography
Carice van Houten was born on September 5, 1976, in Leiderdorp, Netherlands. She is the daughter of Margje Stassen, a board member of Dutch educational TV, and Theodore van Houten, a writer and broadcaster. She has a younger sister, Jelka van Houten, who is also an actress.
Carice van Houten Age
As of 2023, Carice van Houten is 47 years old. She celebrates her birthday on September 5 every year. She is a Virgo by zodiac sign.
Height
Carice van Houten is 1.68 meters or 5 feet 6 inches tall. She has a slim body and weighs around 61 kilograms or 134 pounds. She has dark brown hair and blue eyes.
Education
Carice van Houten attended St. Bonifatius College in Utrecht, where she played the lead role in a school production of Tijl Uilenspieghel. She then studied at the Maastricht Academy of Dramatic Arts for one year before transferring to the Kleinkunstacademie in Amsterdam, where she graduated in 1999.
Carice van Houten Net Worth
Carice van Houten has a net worth of approximately $5 million as of 2023. Her main source of income is her acting career, which she started in 1997. She has appeared in several TV shows and movies, both in Dutch and English languages, but her most notable role was Melisandre in Game of Thrones, for which she earned international fame and recognition.
Carice van Houten also earned money from singing, endorsements, and appearances. Some of her highest-grossing films are:
| Film | Year | Worldwide Box Office |
| Black Book | 2006 | $27.4 million |
| Valkyrie | 2008 | $200.3 million |
| Divergent | 2014 | $288.9 million |
| Fantastic Four | 2015 | $167.9 million |
| Game of Thrones (TV series) | 2012-2019 | $3.1 billion |
Background
Carice van Houten grew up in a creative family and was exposed to the arts from a young age. She made her film debut in 1997 with the TV film 3 Ronden. She then had her breakthrough role in 2006 with the film Black Book, directed by Paul Verhoeven.
Early Life
Carice van Houten was interested in performing arts since childhood and participated in school plays and musicals. She also learned to play the guitar and piano and sang in a band called Bad Candy. She was influenced by silent films and foreign cinema and admired actors like Greta Garbo and Liv Ullmann.
Career Beginnings
Carice van Houten started her acting career with TV films and series, such as Suzy Q, Storm in Mijn Hoofd, and Luifel & Luifel. She won her first Golden Calf Award for Best Acting in a Television Drama for Suzy Q in 1999. She then won another Golden Calf Award for Best Actress for Undercover Kitty in 2001. She made her international debut with the film Father’s Affair in 2003.
Carice van Houten Personal Life
Carice van Houten is currently in a relationship with Guy Pearce, an Australian actor who co-starred with her in the film Brimstone. They have been dating since 2015 and have a son named Monte Pearce, who was born in August 2016. Before Pearce, Carice van Houten dated German actor Sebastian Koch, whom she met on the set of Black Book. They were together from 2006 to 2009.
Carice van Houten is fluent in Dutch, English, German, and French. She is a supporter of Amnesty International and Greenpeace and has participated in several campaigns for human rights and environmental issues. She has a tattoo of Darth Vader on her ankle, as she is a fan of Star Wars.
Carice van Houten Controversy
- Carice van Houten was arrested in June 2023 at a massive protest for climate change action in the Netherlands.
- She was among the 1,500 people who participated in the Extinction Rebellion demonstration in Amsterdam, demanding urgent measures to tackle the environmental crisis.
- She was later released without charges.
- Carice van Houten also faced backlash from some fans of Game of Thrones for defending the show’s finale, which was widely criticized for being disappointing and rushed.
- She called the fans “ungrateful” and “extremist” for hating the finale and petitioning for a remake.
5 Most Interesting Facts about Carice van Houten
- Carice van Houten is fluent in four languages: Dutch, English, German, and French.
- She is a singer and has released two albums: See You on the Ice (2012) and Particle of Light (2014).
- Carice van Houten is a fan of Star Wars and has a tattoo of Darth Vader on her ankle.
- She is a supporter of Amnesty International and Greenpeace and has participated in several campaigns for human rights and environmental issues.
- Carice van Houten is related to the Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte, who is her distant cousin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How did Carice van Houten get the role of Melisandre in Game of Thrones?
A: Carice van Houten was offered the role of Melisandre by the showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, who were fans of her work in Black Book. She accepted the role without reading the books or watching the show.
Q: What is Carice van Houten’s relationship with her sister Jelka van Houten?
A: Carice van Houten and Jelka van Houten have a close relationship and often work together. They have appeared in several films and TV shows together, such as Jackie, The Happy Housewife, and Fresh Meat.
Q: Is Carice van Houten married?
A: No, Carice van Houten is not married. She is currently in a relationship with Guy Pearce, an Australian actor.
Q: What awards has Carice van Houten won or been nominated for?
A: Carice van Houten has won several awards and nominations for her acting career, such as five Golden Calf Awards, two Rembrandt Awards, a Saturn Award, an Empire Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
Q: What are some of Carice van Houten’s upcoming projects?
A: Carice van Houten is set to star in a thriller film called The Glass House, which is expected to be released in 2023. She is also involved in a TV series called Red Light, which she co-created and co-produced with Halina Reijn.
Conclusion
Carice van Houten is a talented and versatile actress and singer who has impressed audiences with her performances in various genres and languages. She is best known for her role as Melisandre in Game of Thrones, but she has also shown her skills in films like Black Book and Valkyrie. Carice van Houten is a loving mother, a supportive sister, and a passionate activist. She is one of the most interesting and inspiring actresses of her generation.
