Sophie van Winden was born in Amsterdam, but she spent her early years in a small village in France, where she developed a strong foundation for her future endeavors. Later, she moved with her parents to Leiden, where she welcomed her younger brother and sister into the family. As a child, she was already drawn to the world of theatre, attending classes in Amsterdam at the tender age of seven.
Growing up amidst the pages of her parents' antiquarian bookstore, Sophie was surrounded by stories and developed a deep love for literature. After completing her secondary education at the Stedelijk Gymnasium in 2001, she enrolled at the Theatre Academy in Maastricht, where she honed her craft and prepared for a career in the performing arts.
Sophie's first major role came in 2005, when she starred in the feature film Leef!, for which she received a Golden Calf award for Best Supporting Actress. This breakthrough performance marked the beginning of a successful career in film, television, and theatre.
Over the years, Sophie has appeared in numerous productions, including feature films, television series, and stage plays. In 2005, she joined the Noord Nederlands Toneel, followed by a stint at the National Theatre, where she played leading roles in Romeo and Juliet, Tirza, Bed Bound, and Faust, all directed by Johan Doesburg.
While maintaining a strong presence on stage, Sophie has also continued to work in film, taking on a wide range of roles. She starred in the television series Rembrandt en ik (2011),playing the tragic and pure role of Saskia van Uylenburgh, the wife of Rembrandt van Rijn. She also appeared in the art-house movie Code Blue (2011),directed by Urszula Antoniak, as a down-to-earth character.
In 2011, Sophie left the National Theatre to take on the title role in Eileen (2011),a production that took her to the jungle of Ecuador and Colombia, where she played a Farc soldier. To prepare for the role, she learned Spanish and received rave reviews for her performance. She then played the role of the robust detective Caya Middelburg in the popular television series Overspel (2011),followed by appearances in Real Estate Embezzlement (2013),Kenau (2014),and Prey (2016).
In recent years, Sophie has continued to take on a wide range of roles, including a main part in the television series Ik weet wie je bent (2018),directed by Hanro Smitsman and Thomas Korthals Altes, and the short film Child (2018),from Joren Molter, in which she played the role of Ella. Throughout her career, Sophie has demonstrated her versatility and range as an actress, captivating audiences with her performances in film, television, and theatre.
