Vicky Krieps says she deliberately stepped away from an expected Hollywood trajectory after her breakout role in Phantom Thread. Rather than pursue the conventional path to Tinseltown, the actor has devoted substantial energy to independent European cinema, a decision she describes as driven by a long‑standing instinct to take risks and maintain creative control.
Phantom Thread, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, brought international recognition, but Ms. Krieps has spent the last decade maintaining a dual career. She has taken roles in larger productions such as The Girl in the Spider’s Web and M. Night Shyamalan’s Old, while continuing to appear in low‑budget French and other European films where she says she finds greater room to experiment.
Vicky Krieps recounts that early in her career she faced direct pressure to avoid choices that might impede commercial prospects: when she became a mother in her twenties she was advised against having the child on career grounds, and later she says some people “actually laughed at” her decision to prioritise non‑Hollywood projects. She has spoken openly about resisting prescriptions for how she should behave publicly and professionally.
Ms. Krieps also rejects the ceremonial aspects of celebrity culture. She has said she prefers to avoid red‑carpet theater and when she does appear will sometimes make gestures to underline her discomfort with the spectacle, adding: “Guys, this is really ridiculous and the shouting is a bit much. Just talk nicely to me.” Her choices reflect a consistent emphasis on artistic freedom over commercial expectation.
Vicky Krieps continues to pursue projects that align with that approach, balancing occasional mainstream work with a sustained commitment to independent European filmmaking. Industry observers note the combination of international visibility and selective project choices has allowed her to retain control over the roles she accepts and the creative directions she follows.
