In the forthcoming film Doktor Glas, Count Nikolai of Monpezat makes his acting debut as the Danish half-brother of Patrick Gregorius. We speak to the former Vogue Scandinavia cover star about his big screen debut
Here’s one more reason to look forward to Doktor Glas: the film, which presents a modern retelling of the classic Swedish novel of the same name, features the acting debut of Count Nikolai of Monpezat. Playing the Danish half-brother of Patrick Gregorius (Christian Fandango), Nikolai appears in a decadent party scene, populated with some 150 extras. When I meet him between takes, he’s still in costume: a dapper suit and guyliner.
“I’ve always been drawn to the world of cinema, so it just made sense when it came about,” says Nikolai, who popped into Stockholm from his current home base of Australia to film his scenes late last summer. It was Fandango and Isac Calmroth – who do double duty starring in and producing the film – who reached out and offered him the role. Nikolai didn’t think twice. “It was a very spontaneous decision,” he says.
Count Nikolai with Christian Fandango and Thea Sofie Loch Næss on the set of 'Doktor Glas'. Photo: Ulrika Malm
Count Nikolai in the 'Doktor Glas' party scene. Photo: Ulrika Malm
It’s hardly Nikolai’s first time in front of the camera; he has been modelling for years, storming the runway for Dior Homme, appearing in campaigns for Georg Jensen and, of course, gracing the cover of Vogue Scandinavia. Still, acting – something Nikolai wasn’t necessarily “seeking out” – is a bit different. The newness of the experience was instantly appealing. “I’ve never been on a set this big,” he says. “There’s extras, I have lines, the makeup is so extra… it’s a familiar surrounding, but it’s so unfamiliar as well.”
Though both modelling and acting require stepping in front of the camera, Nikolai is quick to note the difference between the two. “I’m very static when I model,” he says. “So now I’m very aware of my facial expressions, what I’m doing with my hands – I’m very conscious of what I’m doing. It’s different.” Luckily, the Doktor Glas cast, which, in addition to Calmroth and Fandango, includes Norwegian Thea Sofie Loch Næss, has provided a welcoming atmosphere. “They’re easy-going and fun,” says Nikolai. “I like the chemistry.”
Count Nikolai and Christian Fandango on the set of 'Doktor Glas'. Photo: Ulrika Malm
As for Nikolai’s future acting career, that remains to be seen. Right now he’s focused on this experience and looking forward to seeing the film for the first time. “The Dr. Glas film was a project that I have really enjoyed working on,” he says. “Working alongside such a talented team in a fun and new setting, has really given me the courage to express myself freely on set. It’s all still very new to me, seeing myself in a feature film for the first time. Before I decide anything about the future, I need to see the final result and take it all in.”
Nikolai is being characteristically humble about the whole thing, but growing up in the Danish Royal Family, he’s no stranger to the spotlight. His modelling career, meanwhile, has only further prepared him to meet the moment. “Having worked as a model, it's not foreign to me – being the centre of attention,” he says. “So I know how to work the camera, and I’m not shy in in front of an audience.”