Alicia Amanda Vikander (; born 3 October 1988) is a Swedish actress and dancer. Born in
Gothenburg, Vikander started her acting career in stage productions at the age of seven and went on to study at the Royal Swedish Ballet School|Royal Swedish Ballet. Her professional screen acting career began by appearing in Swedish short films and television series, most notably in the popular TV drama
Andra Avenyn (2008–10). She made her feature film debut in the film
Pure (2010), for which she won the
Guldbagge Award for Best Actress. In 2012, Vikander gained international attention when she appeared in the 2012 adaptation of
Anna Karenina and gained one of he leading roles in the
Academy Award-nominated Danish film
A Royal Affair. In 2013, she was nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star Award and starred in the
Julian Assange biopic
The Fifth Estate. She also received attention for supporting roles in the epic fantasy film
Seventh Son and the action comedy spy film
The Man from U.N.C.L.E..