Noomi Rapace, a renowned Swedish actress, was born in Hudiksvall, Gävleborgs län, Sweden to Nina Norén, a Swedish actress, and Rogelio de Badajoz (Rogelio Durán),a Spanish Flamenco singer.
Her parents' relationship did not last, and at the tender age of five, Noomi relocated to Iceland with her mother and stepfather, where she resided for three years. This period had a profound impact on her life, as she was cast in a small role in the Icelandic film 'Í skugga hrafnsins' at the age of eight, thereby igniting her passion for acting.
At the age of 15, Noomi left home and joined the prestigious Stockholm Theatre School, marking the beginning of her journey as a professional actress. Her early career was marked by her recurring role as Lucinda Gonzales in the Swedish TV series Tre kronor (1994),as well as her impressive stage performances.
Noomi's breakthrough role came in 2007 with the critically acclaimed film Daisy Diamond (2007),which earned her widespread recognition. Her portrayal of Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009) brought her international acclaim, and she won the Best Actress prize at Sweden's esteemed Guldbagge Awards. She reprised her role in the sequels, The Girl Who Played with Fire (2009) and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (2009).
In 2011, Noomi made her English-language film debut in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011),alongside Robert Downey Jr. She also starred as Elizabeth Shaw in Ridley Scott's Prometheus (2012).