Where Is Brigitte Nielsen From?

Brigitte Nielsen was born on July 15, 1963, in Rødovre, Denmark, a suburb of Copenhagen. Standing at an imposing 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm), she had the look of a runway powerhouse from an early age.

Brigitte Nielsen in the 1980s: From Model to Movie Star

Nielsen’s career took off when she was discovered on the street as a teenager because of her striking height, red hair, and sharp bone structure.

By the early 1980s, she became a high-fashion model, walking runways across Europe and working with some of the biggest designers of the decade. However, the grueling schedule and constant competition left her looking for a new challenge.

Brigitte Nielsen’s Big Break: Red Sonja

Nielsen’s transition from modeling to acting happened almost by chance. While in Milan, she received a call from legendary producer Dino De Laurentiis, who had seen her on the cover of Photo Magazine.

De Laurentiis invited her to audition in Rome for the lead role in Red Sonja (1985), an action-fantasy film co-starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. She landed the part, trained in sword fighting and horseback riding, and quickly adapted to life in front of the camera.

Brigitte Nielsen and Sylvester Stallone: Rocky IV and Marriage

At the height of Red Sonja’s promotion, Nielsen set her sights on Hollywood. Hoping to land a role in a Sylvester Stallone blockbuster, she sent him a headshot.

The meeting that followed changed everything. Soon, Nielsen and Stallone were inseparable, despite Stallone still being married to his wife of 17 years, Sasha Czack.

Brigitte Nielsen in Rocky IV

As Rocky IV went into production, Stallone wrote the role of Ludmilla Drago just for Nielsen. While Ludmilla didn’t need to train for a fight, Nielsen still put in hours at the gym alongside Stallone.

“With Sylvester,” she said at the time, “it’s get up early, start on the Nautilus machines. Then sit-ups. Maybe several hours a day.”

A Fast Romance and a Rocky Marriage

Just one month after Rocky IV premiered, Nielsen and Stallone married in December 1985. She was 22 years old, he was 39.

The relationship, however, was volatile from the start. Public fights, tabloid scandals, and the intense pressure of fame tore them apart. The couple divorced in 1987, after just 19 months of marriage.

Looking back, Nielsen admitted the marriage happened too fast. In a 2014 interview with Oprah, she said, “The biggest misconception was that I married him for money. He begged me to marry him.”

Brigitte Nielsen’s Career After Stallone

After Rocky IV, Nielsen continued acting but found herself blacklisted by Hollywood following her high-profile divorce.

She still worked steadily, appearing in action films like:

• Cobra (1986) – Alongside Stallone
• Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) – Opposite Eddie Murphy
• 976-EVIL 2 (1991)
• Galaxis (1995)
• She’s Too Tall (1998)

In the 2000s, she moved into reality TV and music, even recording a duet with RuPaul called “You’re No Lady” (2002).

Brigitte Nielsen in Creed II: A Surprising Return

More than 30 years after Rocky IV, Nielsen made an unexpected return as Ludmilla Drago in Creed II (2018).

In the film, Ludmilla is no longer Drago’s supportive wife—she left him years ago. Now, she lives a wealthy, privileged life, abandoning both Ivan and their son, Viktor Drago, after Ivan’s loss to Rocky.

Nielsen’s return was a major surprise for fans, as even Dolph Lundgren didn’t know she’d be in the film until she showed up on set. Her performance gave emotional weight to Ivan Drago’s storyline, showing that his fall from grace cost him everything.

Brigitte Nielsen Becomes a Mother Again at 54

In June 2018, at the age of 54, Nielsen gave birth to her fifth child, a daughter named Frida.

She and her husband, Mattia Dessi, whom she married in 2006, welcomed Frida after years of fertility treatments. Nielsen became one of the oldest women in Hollywood to give birth, proving once again that she does things on her own terms.

Brigitte Nielsen Today

Now in her 60s, Nielsen continues acting, modeling, and making appearances in film and TV.

She has spoken openly about her career struggles, personal battles, and her late-in-life motherhood, showing a new side of herself beyond the 1980s action star image.