Sisse Marie Holzmann Søby brings to life the Queen of Denmark, Thyra, in the first season of the long-awaited series. As she prepares to return to the role for the second season, she made time to sit down with me for an exclusive interview. Meet the remarkable Danish woman who crossed an ocean in pursuit of her dream — and arrived in America to play a queen in Amazon’s epic Viking historical series.
Bloodaxe is a sweeping new historical drama from Amazon Prime Video, created by Michael Hirst, the visionary behind the beloved series Vikings, and his son Horace Hirst. Set in the tenth century, it tells the story of the legendary Norwegian warrior Erik Bloodaxe (Xavier Molineux) and his formidable wife Gunnhild, «Mother of Kings» (Jessica Madsen), as they wage war for the throne of Norway. Among the principal cast is Sisse Marie, who portrays Thyra, Queen of Denmark — wife to King Gorm and mother to Toke and Harald Bluetooth — a commanding and calculating woman who will stop at nothing to preserve her family’s grip on power. The first season is set to premiere in early 2027, yet the studio’s confidence in the project is so absolute that a second season was commissioned before the first had even aired — a rare distinction in the industry. Filming for the second season begins this summer in Dublin.
But who was the real Queen Thyra?
A woman of extraordinary strength and foresight, she stood beside King Gorm the Old as Denmark was forged into a unified kingdom in the tenth century. Far more than a consort, Thyra was a sovereign force in her own right — shrewd, resolute, and quietly steering the tides of power from behind the throne. History remembers her as a devoted mother, a fierce guardian of her land, and a woman whose unseen influence shaped the fate of a nation. It is this complex, multidimensional figure that Sisse Marie brings to the screen today.
I watch as Sisse moves effortlessly through the sun-drenched living room of her warm and welcoming home nestled high in the hills above Los Angeles — pausing to kiss her little daughter, turning to embrace her husband and whisper something tender. The house is filled with the scent of coffee and fresh bread. I am invited to the table, and looking into the deep blue eyes of this radiant young woman — a true and proud daughter of her country — I ask my first question.
The role of the Queen of Denmark is an entirely new chapter. What did you feel the moment you learned the part was yours?
I was overjoyed when I received this role. It was a long journey to get here, and truthfully, this is the role I have always dreamed of playing. I feel a profound and very personal connection to Queen Thyra. She is from Jelling — the very place where my own roots lie, according to my DNA. Before filming began, I visited the Jelling Stones, and just beside them, the church where my great-great-grandmother and great-great-grandfather are buried.
It felt surreal, and deeply intimate. I knew in my bones that this was the character I was meant to embody. I felt that no one else could have brought this queen to life in quite the same way — the parallels with my own history and heritage run too deep. In many ways, I feel I have spent my entire career waiting for this role.
Vikings are most often remembered for their raids and conquests — yet behind every great kingdom stood women of exceptional courage and quiet, unshakeable strength. The women of Viking Age Denmark were not merely witnesses to history; they were its architects. They governed estates, held legal rights, conducted trade, and preserved the values that passed from one generation to the next. Queen Thyra herself stands as living testament to that legacy: a woman who did not simply stand beside a king, but helped build an entire nation. Centuries later, that spirit endures. And perhaps it is no coincidence that it is a modern Danish woman — one who crossed an ocean and built a life entirely on her own terms — who reminds the world just how truly remarkable these women were.
You have had a rich journey as a singer, a television host, and an actress. Which of those experiences has served you most in preparing for this role?
I feel that this role has become the culmination of every life experience I have ever gathered.
I wanted to portray Thyra as a layered and deeply complex woman. She is a queen who desires the very best for her family, but she is equally driven by a sense of legacy. It matters profoundly to her that her sons succeed and leave their mark upon history.
Though women in the Viking Age wielded considerably more influence than in the centuries that followed, it was still, at its core, a man’s world. Thyra understands this, and she is constantly striving to exert as much power as her reality will allow. She is, without question, the one who orchestrates everything from behind the scenes. King Gorm may appear to be the most powerful figure in the kingdom, but the truth of their relationship is far more intricate than that.
How are you preparing for the second season? What has shifted in your approach since the first?
We have just received the wonderful news that a second season has been confirmed even before the first has aired. I think that speaks volumes about how truly extraordinary this project is.
Michael Hirst and Horace Hirst have created something genuinely magnificent, and every member of the cast is giving everything they have. I am still in the early stages of preparation, but my approach is already quite different from what it was in the first season.
The most significant difference is this: I now know with absolute certainty who Thyra is. The writers understand how I inhabit her, and together we have discovered who this queen truly is — what she is capable of, and where her light and darkness reside. That gives us enormous freedom to explore.
I feel the second season holds even greater possibilities, and I am thrilled beyond words to have the opportunity to go deeper into her story. I believe audiences will encounter Thyra on an entirely new level.
You live in Los Angeles, far from Denmark. How do you preserve your sense of identity and your roots while building a life in another country?
I have spent much of my life in motion, so for me, what matters most is not where I am, but whether I remain true to myself wherever I happen to be.
I always try to ask myself: how can I give more than I take? How can I share inspiration, warmth, and love with those around me?
I love being Danish, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunities that life in America has opened for me. I feel truly fortunate — I have been given the best of both worlds. You can take the girl out of Denmark, but you can never take Denmark out of the girl.
I was also fortunate enough to find a partner with Danish roots. Our two-year-old daughter is growing up speaking Danish at home, and that is something I treasure immensely. She is discovering the beauty of two cultures — and I consider that an extraordinary gift.
Was there ever a moment when you thought, «This is simply too hard»? And what carried you through?
Of course there were such moments. The entertainment industry is not always an easy path — but I have never truly experienced it as a burden, because I honestly cannot imagine myself doing anything else.
Creativity has always been woven into who I am. Whether it is a song, a character, or a story — I am captivated by the process of making something out of nothing. A few words on a page can transform into a fully realized human being, an entire life — and that has always filled me with wonder.
There are certainly moments when you question whether everything will fall into place, whether you are moving in the right direction. But what sustains me is the simple truth that I deeply and genuinely love what I do. I live to create.
I am also, at my core, extraordinarily resilient. If one door closes, I will find another way. I have never believed that a closed door means the end of the road.
What advice would you give to a woman who has moved to a new country and is afraid to start over?
First of all, I would stop thinking of it as starting over — and begin thinking of it as a fresh beginning. That single shift in perspective can change everything.
I believe it is essential to remain connected to your roots, because they offer a firm and steady foundation. At the same time, moving to a new country is a rare and precious opportunity to truly discover yourself.
Ask yourself: what are my values? What genuinely matters to me? Who do I want to become? What does the finest version of myself look like?
The more clearly you understand who you are, the less frightening change becomes. My advice is this: listen to yourself. Know yourself, truly and deeply. Once you have that clarity, you can build a meaningful life anywhere on earth.
How do you balance the demands of filming with raising a two-year-old daughter? Is there a secret?
My secret is that one of the most important decisions you will ever make in life is choosing the right partner.
I am extraordinarily fortunate — the man beside me is remarkable in every way.
Alexander is also the most wonderful father in the world. When I find myself on set for fifteen hours at a stretch, I know with complete peace of mind that our daughter is surrounded by love and joy — and that knowledge is everything to me.
Filming can be deeply intense. There are days of impossibly long hours, stretches of time when I am often away. But then the breaks come, and in those moments I am fully, completely present with her — giving her my undivided attention, making every moment count.
When I miss her, I remind myself why I am doing this. I want to create meaningful work, to tell stories, to bring to life powerful women who inspire others. I hope that one day my daughter will look at everything I have created and see, with her own eyes, that women can pursue great dreams, build fulfilling careers, and still be devoted, loving mothers.
In so many ways, I do this for her as well.
Your husband is a businessman. How do you build a true partnership when both of your lives are so full?
I think it all comes down to shared priorities and a genuine, wholehearted investment in each other’s world.
We both love to create and to build — so there is never a sense that Alexander is living one life and I am living another. He is deeply invested in my career, and I am equally invested in what he is building. We celebrate each other’s victories, work through challenges side by side, and truly delight in conversations about our respective work.
Because of that, our lives feel not like two separate journeys running in parallel, but like one shared adventure.
We are also incredibly blessed to have wonderful grandparents who adore spending time with our daughter. That kind of support is immeasurable — it allows us to be fully present, both as a family and in our careers.
What has motherhood taught you that no role ever could?
Being a mother is, without question, the most important role of my life. As much as I love my career and wish to give it everything I have, my daughter will always come first.
She teaches me to become better every single day. She has taught me to set boundaries — particularly with other people. I have always had a tendency to be something of a people-pleaser, but motherhood has shown me that sometimes you must say no. If something takes away the time and energy that belongs to my daughter, the answer must be no.
She has taught me so much, across so many dimensions of life — and I love her for every lesson.
One of the most profound revelations has been the way motherhood has transformed my craft as an actress. Since becoming a mother, my work has become so much more truthful. I now have access to emotions and depths of feeling I simply did not possess before. I no longer have to dig so hard to find them — they are simply there. In many ways, motherhood has made me a far better actress.
You work out regularly and take a natural approach to beauty and wellbeing. What does a typical self-care day look like for you?
My self-care ritual is perhaps a little elaborate — there is so much that replenishes me.
The very first thing that happens each morning is that my daughter runs to me, wraps her arms around me and says: «I want to hug Mommy.» Beginning each day held in that kind of love fills me with gratitude before I have even risen from bed.
One of the first things I do is step outside into the sunlight with her. Then I drink a large glass of water with electrolytes, creatine, and a few supplements. Hydration is something I take very seriously.
I am also rather spoiled in the most wonderful way — my partner makes me nourishing protein buckwheat pancakes every single morning, and I usually enjoy them with coffee before heading to the gym.
Four days a week I do strength training; on the remaining days, Pure Barre. I also aim to walk at least ten thousand steps each day.
Recovery is a central part of my routine. Several times a week I use red light therapy, and I spend time in my home sauna almost every day.
Nutrition is another cornerstone. Our entire family follows a plant-based lifestyle, which simplifies everything beautifully. I focus on plant-based protein — tofu, edamame, legumes, and other nourishing whole foods.
Recently, I underwent a biological age assessment, and my biomarkers revealed that I am biologically approximately seventeen and a half years younger than my chronological age — which was both joyful and genuinely encouraging to discover.
Beyond all of this, I love horse riding, walking in nature, and time with the people I love. For me, health is not only about exercise and nutrition — it is about building a life that brings you joy.
Tell us about your partnership with Neurogan Health. Why this company, specifically?
I love working with Neurogan Health because health, wellness, and longevity are passions I hold with complete sincerity.
I am endlessly fascinated by what we can do to feel better, to stay vital, and to age with grace and beauty. At Neurogan Health, we are constantly exploring innovative products and ingredients that help people look and feel their very best.
This partnership feels so natural because it aligns perfectly with who I am. I am always reading, always researching, always learning something new about optimizing health. Honestly, it is as much a passion of mine as it is a profession.
I am genuinely proud to be part of a company committed to helping people feel better at every stage of life.
What does «looking good» mean to you — is it about appearance, or something far deeper?
For me, looking good begins with feeling good.
I know that may sound like a cliché, but it is the most absolute truth I know. When I sleep well, I look better. When I feel happy and full of energy, I radiate — naturally, effortlessly.
Everything I do in service of my health is, at its heart, about building a strong and resilient foundation. I want to have energy, to reduce unnecessary inflammation, to feel powerful within my own body, and to be fully capable of showing up completely in my life.
Of course I want to look beautiful — but that is simply the natural consequence of feeling well. The feeling of health, happiness, and balance will always come first.
If you could write a letter to yourself ten years ago, what would you say?
I would say: «Girl, you are going to be alright.»
Yes, you will make mistakes — but that is part of the journey, and it is one of the most beautiful parts.
I would tell myself: keep moving forward, even when it is hard. Run toward the fire. Walk through the discomfort. Through the uncertainty and the confusion.
Growth happens precisely when you are willing to face the things that frighten you.
There will be moments when you do not know clearly who you are or where you are headed — but trust yourself. Keep going. If anyone can do this, it is you.
Who is your greatest source of inspiration — in life and in your work?
So many people inspire me, but I must speak first of my partner.
Alexander is brilliantly intelligent, deeply hardworking, and guided by values he holds with absolute conviction. I admire profoundly the way he approaches both life and business, and I frequently seek his perspective and counsel.
Beyond him, I draw constant inspiration from artists, creators, and people who are courageous enough to be fully, unapologetically themselves.
Authenticity moves me more than almost anything. The people who dare to show the world exactly who they are — who walk their own path without compromising their truth — these are the people I hold in the deepest esteem.
What do you hope your daughter will see in you when she grows up?
I hope she will see someone who never stopped chasing her dream.
I grew up in a small village in Denmark, and today I live in Hollywood, starring in a major Amazon series, playing the role of my dreams. I hope she will see that almost anything is possible — if you are willing to work, and willing to keep going.
I want her to understand that setbacks do not make you a failure. Not everything will unfold the way you planned — and that is all right. Sometimes the very thing you did not receive is what leads you to where you were always meant to be.
Above all, I want her to possess resilience. To trust herself, to trust in God, and to pursue what she desires regardless of what others may think.
I want her to know that life holds very few genuine limitations — only the ones we place upon ourselves. If she follows her heart, remains faithful to her values, and treats people with kindness, she is already on the right path.
That is the example I hope, with everything I have, to set for her.
Interview by Yana Sanakina
