Michalis Koutsogiannakis is a Greek-Swedish actor who moved to Sweden in 1979, where he began his academic journey studying sociology at Stockholm University. During a trip to Australia, he encountered a Greek theatre group in Sydney, which offered him a role in one of their productions—an experience that inspired his passion for the stage.
Upon returning to Sweden, Koutsogiannakis pursued theatre studies at Stockholm University and, in 1989, furthered his training at Ingemar Lindh’s Institute for Performing Arts in Italy. His stage career has since spanned several of Sweden’s most prominent theatres, including the municipal theaters in Borås, Uppsala, Gothenburg, and Malmö, as well as the Riksteatern, Gothenburg Opera and the Royal Dramatic Theatre (Dramaten) in Stockholm. 2004-2022 he was a permanent member of the ensemble at Helsingborg City Theatre.
After the world premiere in Stockholm in 2016, Mamma Mia! The Party, by Björn Ulvaeus, has filled tavernas both in London and Gothenburg. Over one million guests later, the party is now back at Tyrol in Stockholm and Koutsogiannakis has been hosting more than 1000 shows as Nikos.
Koutsogiannakis gained national recognition in 2000 with his breakthrough role as Massoud in the acclaimed TV series The New Country, earning a Guldbagge Award nomination for Best Actor in 2001. He continued to receive critical acclaim with his role as a prisoner in Tusenbröder – Återkomsten (2003), and in 2009, he portrayed Dragan Armanskij in the internationally renowned film adaptations of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest.
In 2014, Koutsogiannakis was awarded the prestigious Thalia Prize by Kvällsposten for his powerful portrayal of Caligula in Albert Camus’ play Caligula, as well as for numerous other standout performances at Helsingborg City Theatre
In 2021, Koutsogiannakis was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Norwegian Amanda Awards for his role in Betrayed (Den største forbrytelsen), a Holocaust drama directed by Eirik Svensson and produced by Fantefilm. The film was the second most nominated that year, receiving a total of nine nominations, including nods for Jacob Oftebro (Best Actor), Pia Halvorsen (Best Supporting Actress), and acclaimed composer Johan Söderqvist.
