Connie Inge-Lise Nielsen was born on July 3, 1965, in Elling, Frederikshavn Municipality, Denmark. Her father was a bus driver, and her mother worked as a clerk. She grew up in the village of Elling and later moved to Copenhagen. She began her acting career at a young age, performing in local theater productions.
Nielsen moved to Paris at the age of 18 to pursue acting. She studied at the Cours Florent drama school. She worked as a model and actress in Europe before relocating to the United States.
Nielsen’s breakthrough role came in 1997 with the film The Devil’s Advocate, where she starred alongside Al Pacino and Keanu Reeves. This role significantly raised her profile in Hollywood. She subsequently appeared in a variety of films, establishing herself as a versatile actress.