Sandra Yi Sencindiver (born 30 January 1980) is a South Korean-born Danish-American actress, writer, and artistic director.
Sandra Yi Sencindiver | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 30, 1980[1] Busan, South Korea |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Television | The Bridge Foundation |
Early life
editBorn in Busan, South Korea, Sencindiver and her twin sister were adopted by an American father and Korean mother, before her father later remarried a Danish woman which saw her moving to Denmark at the age of nine years-old. As a child, she was encouraged to learn classical piano, sing, dance, and act. She wrote her first play at ten years-old.[2]
Career
editShe started in Danish theatre when she was cast at the age of 20 years-old in a production of Miss Saigon.[2]
In Denmark, she appeared in successful series including The Bridge and The Killing. She also did voice work for the Assassin's Creed video game series, including the entries subtitled Valhalla and Dawn Of Ragnorök.[3] She also appeared in Backstrom. She is the artistic director of the theatre company danskdansk (Danish Danish). She wrote and appeared in her own short film Watch in 2023.[4]
Her television credits include the second series of Foundation as Rue Corintha.[5][6] and is also known for Amazon Prime Video series The Wheel of Time as Lady Amalisa, a part she described as "so rich and fun to do".[2]
In 2024, she portrayed fashion mogul Yuji Lee in Geek Girl for Netflix.[7] That April, she was cast in the upcoming Alien: Earth television series.[8]
Personal life
editShe has campaigned against structural reasons for a lack of diversity in the Danish film and television industry. She formed the diversity action group A Bigger Picture (Et Større Billede) alongside actresses Laura Allen Müller, Malaika B. Mosendane, Şiir Tilif, and Dorcas Joanna Hansen. Sencindiver has received invitations to meet and discuss a plan of action with the Danish Minister of Culture, the Danish Producers’ Association and The Association of Danish Film Directors, and major Scandinavian production companies and the Danish Film Institute.[9][10]
Filmography
edit| † | Denotes works that have not yet been released |
Film
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | The Shooter | Sagsbehandler | |
| We Are, Human, After All | The Woman | Short film | |
| 2015 | The Stranger | Lucy | Short film |
| 2017 | Shadow Boxer | Sygeplejerske 1 | Short film |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | The Killing | Journalist 2 | Episode: "Afsnit 15" |
| 2009 | 2900 Happiness | Milla | 20 episodes |
| 2010 | The Protectors | Mia | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | The Bridge | Susanne | 8 episodes |
| 2019 | Follow the Money | Lin | 1 episode |
| Below the Surface | Nina Sloth | 6 episodes | |
| DNA | Sally | 2 episodes | |
| 2020 | Backstrom | Jaidee Kunchai | 5 episodes |
| 2021 | The Wheel of Time | Lady Amalisa | 2 episodes |
| 2023 | Foundation | Rue Corintha | 9 episodes |
| Oxen | Sara Kaspersen | 3 episodes | |
| 2024 | Geek Girl | Yuji Lee | 8 episodes |
| 2025 | Alien: Earth † | TBA |
Video games
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Assassin's Creed: Valhalla | Ljufvina / Yanli | |
| 2022 | Assassin's Creed Valhalla - Dawn of Ragnarök |
References
edit- ^ "Sandra Yi Sencindiver". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Crazy Rich Asians inspired a career 'renaissance': Sandra Yi Sencindiver, Apple TV+ and Amazon actress, has a message for her country, Denmark, about on-screen representation". South China Morning Post. August 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ Booth, Ned (April 19, 2024). "Noah Hawley's 'Alien' Series For FX Adds 'Foundation' Actress Sandra Yi Sencindiver". The Playlist. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ Byard-Jones, Rosi (August 23, 2023). "A call from Denmark for diversity in the arts". Japan Times. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ Hailu, Selome (February 1, 2022). "'Foundation' Season 2 Adds 10 to Cast and Debuts First Look". Variety. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (April 19, 2024). "FX's 'Alien' Series Adds 'Foundation' Actress Sandra Yi Sencindiver". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ Hibbs, James (April 23, 2024). "Geek Girl first look – House of the Dragon star Emily Carey's new Netflix series". Radio Times. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ Romanchick, Shane (April 19, 2024). "The New 'Alien' Series Just Added a Fan-Favorite From 'Foundation'". Collider. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ Ntim, Zac (March 2, 2023). "How Danish Actresses Enraged Lars Von Trier & Sparked A Diversity Debate By Scrubbing White Actors From Film Posters". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ Keslassy, Elsa (March 7, 2023). "Danish Industry Addresses Structural Racism, Lack of Diversity in Movies, TV Series". Variety. Retrieved April 23, 2024.