Alice Maud Krige (Afrikaans: [ˈkriχə]; born 28 June 1954) is a South African actress. Her big break came in 1981, when she starred as the Gilbert and Sullivan singer Sybil Gordon in the British historical film Chariots of Fire, and as Eva Galli / Alma Mobley in the American supernatural horror film Ghost Story. She received a Laurence Olivier Award for her performance in the West End theatre production of Arms and the Man (1981) and later joined the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Krige starred in various British, South African, European, and American films throughout her career. She starred in King David (1985), Barfly (1987), Haunted Summer (1988), See You in the Morning (1989), Sleepwalkers (1992), and Institute Benjamenta (1995). She played the role of the Borg Queen in the science fiction film Star Trek: First Contact (1996), for which she received a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress, and reprised the role in Star Trek: Voyager (2001), Star Trek: The Experience: Borg Invasion 4-D (2004), Star Trek: Lower Decks (2021), and Star Trek: Picard (2023). Subsequent notable film appearances include The Little Vampire (2000), Silent Hill (2006), Skin (2008), Solomon Kane (2009), The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010), Thor: The Dark World (2013), A Christmas Prince (2017) and its two sequels, and Gretel & Hansel (2020). She played Veronica Ghent in the psychological horror drama film She Will (2021).
On television, Krige played Lucie Manette in the 1980 historical drama film A Tale of Two Cities, appeared in The Professionals (1982), the miniseries Ellis Island (1984) and Dream West (1986), the Holocaust drama Wallenberg: A Hero's Story (1985), and as Patsy Cline in the comedy-drama Baja Oklahoma (1988). In later years, Krige played Lady Jessica in Frank Herbert's Children of Dune (2003), Natalie Wood's mother in The Mystery of Natalie Wood (2004), Joan Collins in Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure (2005), and Lady Russell in Persuasion (2007). Her regular roles include Tyrant (2014–15), The Syndicate (2015), and The OA (2016–19).
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Early life and education
Krige was born in Upington, Cape Province (now Northern Cape), South Africa on 28 June 1954, the daughter of Patricia, a professor of psychology, and Louis Krige, a physician. She is of Afrikaner and German descent. The Kriges later moved to Port Elizabeth, where Alice grew up in what she has described as a "very happy family", with two brothers, one of whom became a physician and the other a professor of surgery.
Krige attended Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa with plans to become a clinical psychologist. She turned to acting after taking an acting class at Rhodes, then completed a Bachelor of Arts degree and a BA Hons degree in drama, with distinction. She went on to London to attend, and graduate from, the Central School of Speech and Drama.
Career
Krige made her professional debut playing the female lead in the 1976 South African romantic drama film Vergeet My Nie directed by Elmo De Witt.
She moved to England in 1979, when she made her debut on British television appearing in an episode of BBC2 Playhouse. The following year, Krige starred as Lucie Manette in the American historical television film A Tale of Two Cities opposite Chris Sarandon. She went on to play Sybil Gordon in the British historical film Chariots of Fire and Eva Galli/Alma Mobley in Ghost Story, both released in 1981.
She then joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, playing Cordelia in King Lear and in Edward Bond's Lear, Miranda in The Tempest, Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew, and Roxanne in Cyrano de Bergerac. She also appeared in plays such as Thomas Otway's Venice Preserv'd at the Almeida Theatre in London, and Toyer at the Arts Theatre in the West End.
After her big screen breakthrough, Krige went on to star in a number of made-for-television movies and miniseries. She starred in the three-part CBS miniseries Ellis Island in 1984 based on 1983 novel of the same title. She starred alongside Richard Chamberlain in the television film Wallenberg: A Hero's Story (1985) and the miniseries Dream West (1986). Her other television films include Second Serve (1986), Baja Oklahoma (1988) playing country singer Patsy Cline, and Max and Helen (1990).
Krige played Bathsheba in the 1985 epic film King David opposite Richard Gere. The film was not well received by the critics and was also a box-office failure, grossing $5.9 million worldwide against its $21 million production budget. In 1987, she starred alongside Mickey Rourke and Faye Dunaway in the black comedy film Barfly, which received positive reviews from critics. The following year she played Mary Shelley in the period drama film Haunted Summer. In 1989, Krige played the female lead opposite Jeff Bridges in the romantic comedy-drama film, See You in the Morning.
In 1992, Krige starred in the horror film Sleepwalkers written by Stephen King and directed by Mick Garris. Later that year she guest-starred in an episode of popular teen drama series, Beverly Hills, 90210 playing beautiful ranch owner named Anne who dated Luke Perry's character. She appeared in a made-for-television movies Judgment Day: The John List Story (1993), Jack Reed: Badge of Honor (1993), Sharpe's Honour (1994), Donor Unknown (1995), Devil's Advocate (1995), Hidden in America (1996), Indefensible: The Truth About Edward Brannigan (1997), and Deep in My Heart (1999). She starred in the 1991 miniseries Strauss Dynasty about Strauss family of Vienna, and well as Scarlet and Black (1993) and Joseph (1995). She received CableACE Award nomination for her performance in the anthology series The Hidden Room in 1992. In 1995, she starred in the critically acclaimed drama film Institute Benjamenta directed by Brothers Quay. She later appeared in Habitat (1997), Twilight of the Ice Nymphs (1998), The Commissioner (1998) and Molokai: The Story of Father Damien (1999).
Recognition
She earned a Plays and Players Award, as well as a Laurence Olivier Award for Most Promising Newcomer, after appearing in a 1981 West End theatre production of George Bernard Shaw's Arms and the Man.
For her performance as the Borg Queen in Star Trek: First Contact, she received a 1996 Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress.
In April 2004, Krige was awarded an honorary Litt.D. degree from Rhodes University.
In 2015, Krige received the Special Jury Award at the International Film Festival for Peace, Inspiration and Equality in Jakarta, along with Andy Garcia and Jimmy Carter for her performance in the film Shingetsu, in which she played a war-traumatised surgeon of Doctors Without Borders, opposite Gunter Singer.
Personal life
Krige married writer and director Paul Schoolman in 1988.
