Nymphomaniac was initially rated NC-17 and contains many sexually explicit scenes and disturbing violence.
Mia Goth is one of the most exciting actresses working in Hollywood today. In each role, she fully immerses herself in the character, delivering raw performances that are haunting and unforgettable. Best known for starring in Ti West’s films X, Pearl, and MaXXXine, Goth is incredibly savvy at picking her roles and has worked with some of today’s most acclaimed directors, including Luca Guadagnino, Brandon Cronenberg, and Gore Verbinski. But it was her 2013 debut film, Nymphomanic, directed by Lars von Trier, one of cinema’s most acclaimed and controversial filmmakers, that gave Goth one of her most memorable roles.
Nymphomaniac is a provocative character study that delves into human desire and obsession. The film follows Joe (Charlotte Gainsbourg), a self-diagnosed nymphomanic, as she reflects on her life and relationships, primarily focused on her sexual experiences. The movie, which was split into Volume I and Volume II, is intense and often difficult film to watch, but like all of von Trier’s movies, it is exquisitely crafted and deeply captivating. In addition to Goth, the film features an all-star cast including, Shia LeBouf (Goth’s real-life partner), Willem Dafoe, and Uma Thurman.
Who Does Mia Goth Play In Nymphomaniac?
Goth Plays P, A Small But Crucial Role In Lars Von Trier’s Film
Mia Goth appears in Volume II of Nymphomanic. While it’s not a large role, she makes a lasting impression, delivering a quiet and vulnerable performance that is pivotal to the film. Goth plays P (Patricia), a teenager who becomes an apprentice at the protagonist Joe’s debt collection business. Their relationship starts off tense, as Joe reluctantly teaches P her trade, but like almost all relationships in the film, it soon turns sexual.
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Things become more complicated when Joe discovers that P has started a relationship with her partner Jerôme. This leads to the most disturbing scene in the film (in a movie filled with many disturbing scenes), where Joe confronts P and Jerôme, and things quickly take a violent and extremely dark turn. Goth plays her role perfectly, delivering a memorable and haunting debut performance.
Nymphomanic Changed Mia Goth’s Life
Goth Loved Her Experience Working With Lars Von Trier
Nymphomaniac was the first time that Mia Goth worked on a film set. After modeling during her teens and facing constant rejection from auditions, she was ecstatic to finally book a role. Goth has gushed about the experience filming Nymphomanic in many interviews over the years. Speaking with Far Out magazine in 2023, Goth said:
“I desperately wanted to be on that set. It was my first movie, and I had been auditioning for two years. I knew who Lars was and the sort of films that he made, and I was just so hungry for that. One of the happiest times in my life was on that set.”
Goth has acknowledged that filming Nymphomaniac was challenging but praised von Trier for creating such a collaborative atmosphere. Working with an esteemed filmmaker on her first film also put her on a path to wanting to work with more auteurs in the future. It is one of the main factors she considers when evaluating a new project. Goth discussed the influence von Trier had on her future career in an interview with Collider in 2022:
“It feels divine almost, if I can say that. It created a blueprint for me in terms of the kind of material that I wanted to work on with the types of directors and that kind of caliber of cast. I was incredibly fortunate to have that as my first project. It really kind of set the field for me in terms of what it is I’m aspiring to do.”
Mia Goth’s Big Roles Since Nymphomaniac
After Working With Lars Von Trier, Goth Has Worked With Other Incredible Filmmakers
Since working on Nymphomaniac, Goth has gone on to star in 15 films. She gravitates towards horror genre projects, which has earned her a reputation as a contemporary “scream queen.” Goth has stated she believes that horror films deserve more Oscars. Her movies are known for having strong characters and uncompromising visions from their directors, qualities that Goth admits are incredibly important to her. In her Collider interview, she expanded on why working with talented filmmakers is so crucial when considering a new project:
“I’m very director oriented. That’s the number one for me and then it goes to character and then to script and to story and everything else around that. But, for me, if you don’t trust the director who’s leading the ship, then nothing of any value I think is going to be made.”
Some of her most notable roles include a psychiatric patient in Gore Verbinski’s The Cure for Wellness, a gothic horror film that pays homage to Universal’s classic monster movies; High Life, a space set horror film from French master Claire Denise, where she and Robert Pattison starred as criminals aboard a spaceship on a mission to extract energy from a black hole; and Brandon Cronenberg’s Infinity Pool, a brilliant shock fest set at a vacation resort with incredible performances from Goth and co-star Alexander Skarsgård.
However, it was Goth’s work in Ti West’s ambitious X trilogy that cemented her stardom and showcased her brilliance as a versatile and bold performer. Each film takes place in a different time period and serves as a love letter to different Hollywood genres, yet they are all connected by Goth’s X performances as both Pearl and Maxine. The trilogy is retro-fueled homage to horror history, exploring themes of aging, ambition, and regret. West allowed Goth to be a real collaborator on the project, carefully honing the journey of her characters.
What’s Next For Mia Goth?
Goth Teams Up With Horror Master Guillermo Del Toro
Next up for Mia Goth is a starring role in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein for Netflix, one of the most anticipated horror movie of 2025. This is a passion project for del Toro who has been working to bring his vision of Mary Shelley’s classic to life since 2004. The film continues Goth’s passion for the horror genre and collaborating with acclaimed filmmakers. In Frankenstein, Goth stars Elizabeth, the fiancée of Dr. Victor Frankenstein, played by Oscar Isaac. Saltburn and Euphoria star Jacob Elordi is playing Frankenstein’s monster.
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As of December 2024, Goth is still reportedly attached to Marvel’s upcoming Blade film. However, because of the film’s troubled development, it remains uncertain when it will arrive or if Mia Goth’s character, Lilith, will still be a part of the project.
Nymphomaniac: Vol. II (2013) is the continuation of Lars von Trier’s exploration of the life of Joe (Charlotte Gainsbourg), a self-diagnosed nymphomaniac. Picking up from where the first volume left off, this film delves deeper into Joe’s experiences and relationships as she recounts her story to Seligman (Stellan Skarsgård). The narrative addresses themes of sexuality, guilt, and personal anguish, ultimately providing a conclusion to Joe’s tumultuous journey.
- Release Date
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December 25, 2013
- Runtime
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124 Minutes