Rie Rasmussen is a Danish actress, film director, writer, model, and photographer.
Film
After attending film school as a writer-director, Rasmussen made her breakthrough in the film industry when she acted in Brian De Palma's erotic thrillerFemme Fatale, which starred former supermodel Rebecca Romijn. Rasmussen was given the role after the director was impressed by short stories she had written about her life experiences. She wrote and directed two short films, one of which, Thinning the Herd, was part of the official selection of more than 20 film festivalsaround the world, including the Quentin Tarantino Film Festival in Austin and the Cannes Film Festival, where it was screened in competition for the Palme d'Or du court métrage. She also appears in Luc Besson's Angel-A in the title role. Her first feature film, Human Zoo, she wrote, directed and produced. Human Zoo was officially selected at the 2009 Berlin Film Festival and opened the Panorama section. It is a drama loosely based on the story of her adopted Vietnamese sister struggling to acquire citizenship, set against the backdrop of the conflict in Kosovo. The film highlights the problems with immigration and learned aggression. It unfolds in a non-linear storytelling structure with extreme violence throughout.
Art
In addition to her acting work, Rasmussen is an accomplished visual artist. Her oil on canvas pieces are erotic celebrations of the human form. Her book of art and photography, Grafiske Historier was published under the pseudonym Lilly Dillon. As a photographer her images have been published in prestigious magazines such as Vogue Italia, Vogue Paris, and Vs.
Fashion
Rasmussen's role in Femme Fatale attracted attention to her in fashion circles, and she was chosen as the face of Gucci under director Tom Ford. She has described her approach to modelling as portrayal of a character, saying it is very much like acting. She has worked with fashion houses like Donna Karan, Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Chanel, and Victoria's Secret. While working as a model she continued to write scripts and short stories, and directed smaller surf-skate videos. Most of her sketches and photos published in Grafiske Historier are from her time travellingthe world or shooting magazines.
