Nielsen was born in Frederikshavn, Denmark to an insurance clerk mother and a bus driver father. She was raised nearby in a small seaside village named Elling. She began her acting career working alongside her mother on the local revue and variety scene. At 18 she travelled to Paris, France where she worked as an actress and model, which led to further work and study in Italy — at drama school Read more...

Nielsen's feature film debut was the Jerry Lewis French film, Par Où T'es Rentré? On T'a Pas Vu Sortir in 1984, followed by a role in the Italian mini-series Colletti Bianchi in 1988. She appeared in the 1991 Italian Vacanze di Natale '91 and the French film Le Paradis Absolument in 1993.

She moved to the United States and starred in films as Permanent Midnight (1998), Rushmore (1998) Read more...

Since fall of 2003 she has been dating Metallica drummer and fellow-Dane Lars Ulrich. On May 21, 2007, Lars and Connie had a son named Bryce Thadeus Ulrich-Nielsen. Nielsen also has a son, Sebastian (b. 1991), from a previous relationship.

She speaks seven languages: Danish, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian and Swedish.

Her favorite bands include The Clash and she is a fan Read more...