Peter Franzén


Peter Vilhelm Franzén is a Finnish actor, author, screenwriter, and director. He is best known for his role as King Harald Finehair in Vikings.

Personal life

Franzén grew up in Keminmaa, in Northern Finland. Franzén has described his childhood as difficult due to his violent and alcoholic stepfather. Later, Franzén's relationship to his abusive stepfather was a major focal point in his semi-autobiographical novel, Above Dark Waters. He met his actress wife Irina Björklund while studying in Theatre Academy of Finland. In 1999 the couple moved to Los Angeles, where they lived until 2013, after which they moved to France. They have a son, born in September 2007.

Career

As an actor, Franzén has appeared in over 50 films and TV series. For his role in Dog Nail Clipper, Franzén was awarded a Jussi Award for Best Actor as well as earning praise from film critic Jay Weissberg from Variety magazine who called the actor "one of the most talented and versatile thesps in Finland".
In his career he has appeared in Finnish, Estonian, German, English, Swedish, and Hungarian speaking roles. In 2015, Franzén was cast as King Harald Fairhair from the fourth season of Vikings. Franzén has also been cast in Amazon Prime Video's The Wheel of Time TV series.

Filmography

Films

YearFilmRoleDirectorNotes
1994Kissan kuolema – Death of a CatSakuRaimo O. Niemi
1996Tie naisen sydämeenKaukoPekka Parikka
1998A Summer by the RiverKottarainenMarkku PölönenWon — Jussi Award for best supporting actor
1998Trains'n'RosesLako's loverPeter Lichtefeld
1999Ambush Lieutenant Eero PerkolaOlli SaarelaNominated — Best Actor in Jussi Awards
Won — Best Actor in Rouen Nordic Film Festival
1999Rikos ja rakkausJussi RosenströmPekka Milonoff
2000BaddingOssi MäkiMarkku PölönenFranzén's second collaboration with Markku Pölönen
2000Bad Luck LoveReinoOlli Saarela
2001Drakarna över Helsingfors Sammy CederPeter Lindholm
2001Jewel of the SaharaYoung François RenoirAriel VromenShort
2001Rollo and the Spirit of the Woods LakeijaOlli Saarela
2001On the Road to Emmaus Mankka-ArviMarkku PölönenNominated — Best Supporting Actor in Jussi Awards
2002Names in Marble Sulo KallioElmo Nüganen
2002Lovers & Leavers MarkoAku Louhimies
2003At Point Blank JuhaPeter Lindmark
2003Bad Boys Otto TakkunenAleksi MäkeläFranzén's first collaboration with Jasper Pääkkönen
2004Dog Nail ClipperMertsiMarkku PölönenWon — Jussi Award for best actor
2004Honey BabyWaiterMika Kaurismäki
2004HotetMagnusKjell Sundvall
2004Popular MusicVoice-overReza Bagher
2004Täna öösel me ei magaHarriIlmar Taska
2006Babas bilarPekka KukkaRafael Edholm
2006Matti: Hell Is for Heroes Nick NevadaAleksi MäkeläFranzén's second collaboration with Aleksi Mäkelä
2006Mystery of the Wolf Antero VenesmaaRaimo O. Niemi
2007The MatriarchLaszloMarkku Pölönen
2008CleanerBronsonRenny Harlin
2008Three Wise MenSanta ClausMika KaurismäkiFranzén's second collaboration with Mika Kaurismäki
2009HellsinkiKrisuAleksi MäkeläWon — Jussi Award for best supporting actor
2009RalliraitaSukoMarkku Pölönen
2010Priest of EvilTimo HarjunpääOlli SaarelaNominated — Best Actor in Jussi Awards
2010PrincessSaastamoinenArto Halonen
2011Body of WaterEliasJoona Tena
2012Road NorthPertti PaakkuMika KaurismäkiNominated — Best Supporting Actor in Jussi Awards
2012The Path of the Righteous MenTaisto RaappanaAnders Engström
2012Purge Hans PekkAntti Jokinen
2013Open Up to Me SamiSimo HalinenNominated — Best Actor in Jussi Awards
2013Heart of a Lion TeppoDome Karukoski
2013Above Dark Waters KakePeter FranzénDirectorial debut
2015The GunmanReinigerPierre Morel
2015Lapland Odyssey 2JormaTeppo Airaksinen
2015HomecomingTomiMika Kaurismäki
2015Johan Falk 15: Blood DiamondsMiloPeter LindmarkStraight to DVD
2015Johan Falk 17: The EndMiloRichard HolmStraight to DVD
2016The MineRaimoAleksi Salmenperä
2018Ashes in the SnowGeneral KomarovMarius A. Markevicius
2020MeanderAdam-
2021Omerta 6/12Aku Louhimies
2021Tale of the Sleeping GiantsNarratorMarko Röhr
2023Boudica: The Queen of WarWolfgar-
2023The AbyssTage VibeniusRichard Holm

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1996MaigretLeo Liikanen1 episode
Franzén's first collaboration with Irina Björklund
1999The Wild ThornberrysGuard Episode: "On the Right Track"
2001V.I.P.NaziEpisode: "Val's Big Bang"
2003Irtiottoja
2003MadventuresHimselfEpisode: "U.S.A. – California"
2004CSI: MiamiIvan RaduEpisode: "Legal"
2006Studio ImpossibleVarious characters
2007–2012Karjalan kunnaillaJake Rosenius
2009True BloodHrolfEpisode: "Never Let Me Go"
2016Beck – GunvaldRisto Kangas1 episode
2016–2020VikingsKing Harald FairhairMain role. Named Harald Finehair in the series.
2021Love, Death & RobotsSnowEpisode: "Snow in the Desert"
2021The Wheel of TimeStepin3 episodes
2022, 2024Helsinki SyndromeElias Karo14 episodes
2024Twilight of the GodsGlaumar 2 episodes
2024–2025ConflictCaptain Rami OhrankämmenMiniseries; 6 episodes

Video Games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2023Alan Wake IIIlmo Koskela/Jaakko KoskelaVoice and likeness

Writing

In 2010 Franzén published a partly autobiographical novel Tumman veden päällä.
In 2013 Franzén wrote Samoilla silmillä, a sequel to Tumman veden päällä.
In 2017 Tammi published Särkyneen pyörän karjatila, third book by Franzén.

Directing

In 2013 Franzén directed the film "Above Dark Waters", based on novel he had written in 2010. In 2020, he directed and narrated a viking-themed short movie called "Age of Vikings: Fated" which was shot in Old Swedish.

Singing

In 2021 Franzén sang the song Þat Mælti Mín Móðir, that was performed by the Swedish band Hindarfjäll. The song first appeared in the TV-series Vikings where it was sung by Harald Fairhair. Here Franzén reprises his performance, singing the song in the Old Norse language.

Awards and honours

In 2013 Franzén was awarded the Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland.