Noomi Rapace: Everyone thought I would be silent and grumpy

Noomi Rapace felt misunderstood when she first worked in America.

The 46-year-old actress was born in Sweden and was perceived to be "angry and aggressive" during her younger years - but Noomi insists that wasn't the case at all and that she was simply misunderstood.

The movie star - who achieved international stardom with her portrayal of Lisbeth Salander in the Swedish film adaptations of the Millennium series - told Variety: "The first time I went to the U.S., well, the Americans can be blunt. They would say: ‘Oh, you are funny. You are not angry and aggressive.’ I went: ‘Why would I be?’

"Everyone thought I would be silent and grumpy, ready to fight and argue about everything, and I never recognised myself in that description.

"I used to have a lot of rage towards myself when I was younger, and then because of Millennium and my experimental stage plays [people saw me a certain way]. My characters are on fire and on the age of madness, and that’s me but that’s not only me.

"I listened to an interview with Jim Carrey once. He said that some people will cover and disguise their pain with laughter and smiles. And I’ve been doing that more in real life."

Noomi has actually loved various characters that she's played during her career, including Lisbeth Salander.

Asked which characters she loved, the actress replied: "Lisbeth Salander, definitely, because she was one of the first ones that lived in me. On screen, because I did theatre before. It really defined me.

"Maybe Elisabeth Show in [Ridley Scott’s Prometheus] and Maria in Lamb. And my character in Constellation. It was about motherhood and being away too long, and realising your child is not really your child. It has been my biggest fear: chasing you dream and having a child waiting for you."

Meanwhile, Noomi previously explained that she has to commit herself wholeheartedly to any roles she accepts.

The acclaimed actress told The Talks: "I really can’t do things halfway. Sometimes I wish I could though, I wish I could be a bit more mellow or that I could work at 60 percent, but it doesn’t work for me.

"That’s why I really get along with filmmakers because they often have the same kind of all or nothing, let’s go attitude. They have a fearless approach rather than playing it safe. That’s why I really get along with people that have a bit of a mad approach: let’s see how far we will go and how far this will take us."