Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson began his career in Icelandic theater before transitioning to international film and television. He studied acting at the Iceland Academy of the Arts and quickly gained recognition for his powerful stage presence. His breakout role came in HBO’s Game of Thrones (2017), where he played Lem, a member of the Brotherhood Without Banners.
He later appeared in Atomic Blonde (2017) alongside Charlize Theron, and in Netflix’s Cursed (2020) as the fearsome warrior. More recently, he starred in Vikings: Valhalla (2022–2024), further cementing his reputation as a versatile actor capable of portraying intense, larger-than-life characters. His career reflects a balance between Icelandic productions and global projects.