''Stella Blómkvist'' is an Icelandic crime television series which was first broadcast in 2017. It is produced by the Icelandic company

Sagafilm Sagafilm is an Icelandic production company for TV, commercials and feature films. It was founded in 1978 and is the oldest film production company in Iceland. Documentaries *Out of Thin Air (2017) * Raise the bar (2021) Films *Fish out of water ...

. The show is loosely based on books of the same title by an anonymous Icelandic writer. The series was written by Jóhann Ævar Grímsson, Nanna Kristín Magnúsdóttir and Andri Óttarsson, and directed by Óskar Thór Axelsson. After the success in Iceland the show became available in 2018 on

Viaplay Viaplay is a Swedish video streaming service owned by Viaplay Group. History Originally owned by Modern Times Group, it was launched in May 2007 as Viasat On Demand. It was rebranded as Viaplay in 2011. Viaplay released its first origina ...

in the

Nordic countries The Nordic countries (also known as the Nordics or ''Norden''; ) are a geographical and cultural region in Northern Europe, as well as the Arctic Ocean, Arctic and Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic oceans. It includes the sovereign states of Denm ...

, in 2019 on

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in the United States and in 2020

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acquired the rights for broadcasting in Australia. After four years, a second season of the show premiered in Iceland on 30 September 2021 and became globally available in the months afterwards. In April 2024, it was announced by broadcaster

Síminn Síminn hf. (, ; also known as Iceland Telecom Ltd.), previously named Landssíminn (, ), is an Icelandic telecommunications company. It offers communication services for both private and corporate clients, including mobile ( 4G/ 5G), landline, i ...

through an Instagram private message that the show would not be renewed for a third seaso

Synopsis

The show follows lawyer Stella Blómkvist who is called to defend a client suspected of murdering Halla, a young woman who works as an assistant for Sverrir, the Icelandic Prime Minister. Initially, the case seems pretty clear-cut, but Stella soon finds out that someone is trying to frame her client for the murder and higher powers are eager to close the case as soon as possible, to cover up their own involvement. When she receives an anonymous tip which suggests that the Prime Minister himself might have committed the murder she starts her own investigation, which leads her to uncover a web of corruption, involving Icelandic politicians and high ranking Chinese officials. In season two Sverrir has been removed from power and Dagbjört, the woman with whom Stella had an affair in season one, has taken his place as the new Prime Minister of Iceland. She has imposed strict anti-abortion laws and has transformed the country into a semi-authoritarian state. Against this grim backdrop we see Stella struggle with her break-up with Dagbjört, while continuing to solve cases for her clients as a lawyer. She tries hard to forget Dagbjört, but this appears near impossible as the political turmoil in the country forces them to work together once more.

Cast and characters

Main

Heida Reed Heiða Rún Sigurðardóttir (; born 22 May 1988), known professionally as Heida Reed, is an Icelandic actress and model. She is known for playing parts in '' One Day'' (2011), '' Jo'' (2013), ''Silent Witness'' (2014), the BBC drama '' Poldark'' ...

as Stella Blómkvist * Sara Dögg Ásgeirsdóttir as Dagbjört *

Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson (born 26 February 1980) is an Icelandic actor known for his roles in the TV series ''Game of Thrones'' (2016), '' Vikings: Valhalla'' (2022) and '' Succession'' (2023), and in the films '' Atomic Blonde'' (2017) and ...

as Sverrir * Kristín Þóra Haraldsdóttir as Gunna * Þorsteinn Guðmundsson as Raggi *

Steinunn Ólína Þorsteinsdóttir Steinunn Ólína Þorsteinsdóttir (born 2 July 1969) is an Icelandic actress, TV show host, producer and writer. Biography Early life Ólína grew up in Reykjavík with her mother, actress Bríet Héðinsdóttir, and her father Þorsteinn Þo ...

as Edda

Recurring

* Bjarni Snæbjörnsson as Alexander * David Yu as Guo Dai *

Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson Sveinn Ólafur Gunnarsson is an Icelandic stage and film actor who starred in and co-wrote 2011's '' Either Way'', Ragnar Bragason's '' Metalhead'' and Baltasar Kormákur's '' The Deep''. Career Gunnarsson stars in the film Rams which premiered ...

as Valdi * Hannes Óli Ágústsson as Haukur * Kristín Lea as Halla (s1) * Jóhann Kristófer Stefánsson as Sæmi * Hilmar Guðjónsson police agent Steini * Bing as Xi Feng * Hanako Footman as Alba Noel (s2) * Saga Garðarsdóttir as Myrra (s2) *

Adi Ezroni Adi Ezroni (; born November 16, 1978) is an Israeli actress, model, producer, TV host, and film studio executive. Media career She was born in Israel to a Jewish family. She served as a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces. Subsequently, Ezroni ...

as Mossad Agent (s2) * Ahd Tamimi as Nadim (s2)

Episodes

References

{{Reflist 2017 television series debuts 2010s Icelandic television series 2010s crime television series 2020s crime television series Bisexuality-related television series 2010s LGBTQ-related drama television series 2020s LGBTQ-related drama television series