Being a Catalyst for Change
Be The 5: Nijolak Coster-Waldau
Each month, we feature someone who has inspired us with their high level of Emotional Maturity, meaning they're “being the 5” and choosing not to take things personally, responding reactively or approaching the situation in a way that contributes to the problem.
Nijolak Coster-Waldau, image courtesy of Wikipedia
This month, we're featuring Danish actor, producer, and screenwriter Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. Nikolaj gained world-wide fame with his role as Jamie Lannister in the HBO series “Game of Thrones” - a character that started off as a villain but became a fan-favorite because of his amazing redemption arc. And yet, few fans know that the person who brought Jaime to our screens is not just a prolific artist but also an activist who has devoted himself to empowerment, equality, and change.
CLIMATE CHANGE
In 2016, Nikolaj became an ambassador for the UNDP. Since then, he has been traveling to disaster-stricken countries and raising awareness of climate change, as well as the necessity to work together as individuals and communities to build a sustainable economy.
Nikolaj’s work as a UNDP ambassador is notable because he uses his fame to shine light on issues and people that most of us tend to overlook. He travels to locations that struggle with poverty, beach erosion, forest fires, and interviews experts and local residents - essentially stepping into the spotlight just enough to grab your attention before stepping aside.
He amplifies the voices of people we don’t usually hear from: people living in pain or in danger, as well as people who work hard to solve the world’s greatest problems.
EMPOWERMENT AND EQUALITY
“I can be the person deflecting the spotlight onto the person next to me who is an expert dedicating his or her life to helping others.”
Nikolaj’s humanitarian work is focused on climate change, poverty, and women’s empowerment. But he doesn’t see these causes as separate. He understands that climate change and poverty are strongly connected. And most of all, he understands that we cannot win this fight if we are not all equal.
“The facts are very simple. If you look at it globally, whenever women are empowered and included, those societies and countries thrive.”
One of his first engagements as a UNDP ambassador was as a referee for a women’s amateur soccer game in Nairobi, Kenya. He has also openly supported the MeToo movement and spoken out against sexual assault and harassment. In 2018 he was among several Danish artists who signed a manifesto demanding zero tolerance for sexism, sexual harassment and sexual assault in the Danish film and stage arts industry. He was also part of a European Union-United Nations initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls.
DANDI
In September 2020, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau announced that he’s launching a new platform for grassroots giving called Dandi. In his 4 years as a UNDP ambassador, he had observed the challenges in fundraising that charities face - and he facilitated the creation of an app that will aim to solve these challenges with the help of technology and transparency. Nikolaj is a great example of a person with deep compassion who keeps looking for ways to bring about positive change.
HIS FAMILY
Nikolaj has been happily married for over two decades to Greenlandic singer and actress Nukâka. They have two daughters who have also taken up acting like their parents and have been part of Danish short films and TV series.
Nikolaj’s social media shows a happy man who loves his family. What makes him remarkable is his tireless dedication to extend his happiness to the world, by empowering women and poverty-stricken communities - and shining the spotlight on issues we still struggle to face.
Thank you, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, for having the courage to be real, raw, and honest - representing true authenticity and vulnerability.
This article was originally published here.
