In 2009, Mikael Nyqvist starred in original film versions of the first three Millennium novels by Swedish author Stieg Larsson - and soon after became a Hollywood superstar. Here he is playing investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," the first film in the series - a role that was reprised by Daniel Craig in a 2011 remake.

In this award-winning comedy-drama, Nyqvist plays Rolf, an alcoholic but apologetic and soon-to-be lonely husband who sees his wife and children move to a suburban commune that is rapidly falling apart. In a review from 2001, "The Guardian" called out the then little-known actor for his "terrific performance."

In this breakout role, Nyqvist plays the famous international conductor Daniel Daréus, who retires early after suffering a heart attack and returns to his village in northern Sweden - and slowly overcomes his dark past through the power of music. The film garnered a Best Foreign Language Film nomination in 2005.

In this 2010 thriller, Nyqvist plays Lars Hakansson, a Swedish Embassy official in Mozambique who helps the mother of a Swedish freelance investigative journalist find out why her son died in strange circumstances in South Africa. Both are soon caught in a web of intrigue related to AIDS and the global pharmaceutical industry.

In 2011's "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol," Nyqvist played the lead villain opposite Tom Cruise's good guy, Ethan Hunt. The versatile actor trained in mixed martial arts for the role and enjoyed working with Cruise. "We found out we have in a way the same trigger," he told "The Wall Street Journal." "When we push the button, him and me, it's only a second and we're up to 100."

In the romantic thriller "Colonia," Nyqvist is pure evil as he plays infamous German sect leader and former Nazi, Paul Schäfer, whose Colonia Dignidad commune in Chile was infamous for its human rights abuses. Here he joins co-stars Emma Watson and Daniel Brühl at the film's Berlinale premiere in 2016.

Nyqvist plays the editor of a local newspaper in this turn-of-the-century romantic drama based on the classic 1912 Swedish novel by Hjalmar Söderberg. He is joined here by other cast members Karin Franz Koerlof, Sverrir Guonason and Liv Mjoenes at the film's premiere at the 2016 Berlinale.

The cinema versions of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," "The Girl Who Played with Fire," and "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest" drew scores of viewers. In Germany, public broadcaster ZDF adapted the films starring Michael Nyqvist and Noomi Rapace into a six-part television series.

Lisbeth Salander is just as well known as a real celebrity - even though she's fictional. The sociopathic IT expert and hacker finds herself on the police's radar after a murder takes place. She is the main protagonist in Stieg Larsson's thrilling "Millennium" trilogy. In the Swedish film version, she's played by Noomi Rapace.

The "Millennium" books have become bestsellers around the world, selling nearly 80 million copies. Protagonist Mikael Blomkvist, played by Michael Nyqvist, is an investigative journalist for "Millennium." He's in the thick of the action, together with Lisbeth Salander. His colleague Erika is played by Lenda Endre.

The film versions of the bestsellers came out in 2009. Niels Arden of Denmark directed part one, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." The second and third parts were directed by Daniel Alfredson of Sweden. Author Stieg Larsson died in 2004, prior to the publication of the books. Character Michael Blomqvist is pictured with his colleague and lover Erika Berger.

The third "Millennium" film came out in November 2009 in Sweden. In "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest," Salander once again battles perversion, hypocrisy and hate. She and Mikael couldn't be more different, but sift through the depths of humanity to solve their case.

After the films were a success in Europe, Hollywood created its own remake with director David Fincher. Part one of the eerie thriller, starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara in the lead rolls, came out in 2011.

Rooney Mara was nominated for an Oscar for her performance as Lisbeth Salander in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." Part two is supposed to be released in 2015, but no date has been set.