Ingrid Wan (née Bișu) is a Romanian–American actress, producer, and screenwriter, best known for her appearance in the dramedy Toni Erdmann (2016). She is also known for co-writing the horror film Malignant (2021).

Ingrid Bisu
Born
Ingrid Bișu

(1987-09-15) September 15, 1987 (age 37)
Bucharest, Romania
Nationality Romania
 United States
Occupations
  • Actress
  • producer
  • writer
Years active2003–present
Spouse
(m. 2019)

Early life and family

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Bisu was born on 15 September 1987 in Bucharest to Romanian-German parents. She grew up in the German community in Romania, attending the German kindergarten, high school, and college in Bucharest.

In 2003, at the age of 16, Bisu had her first photoshoot in the teenage magazine "Cool Girl" and then landed her first commercial for Orange S.A. Mobile, which was broadcast in Israel and Romania.

Career

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Early career (2003-2014)

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Bisu made her debut in Romanian TV series Căsătorie de Probă (Marriage of Probation).[1][2] Following this, she was featured in a number of Romanian magazines[3] and television interviews.[4][5] Bisu played an unnamed character in the 2005 critical and commercial failure BloodRayne[6][7][8] and had other small roles in sitcoms such as La Bloc (In the Building) and Arestat la domiciliu (House Arrested) with Pro TV.

In 2006, Bisu played the lead role of Alice in the drama television movie O Lume A Durerii (A World of Pain),[9] which depicted the struggles of teenage girls in Romania at the time. Her performance gained the attention of director Cristian Mungiu, who cast Bisu as Viviana in one segment of the anthology film Tales from the Golden Age. The film, written by Mungiu and directed by five other directors, was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.[10] In 2007, Bisu enrolled in the Hyperion Academy of Dramatic Arts in Bucharest. During this time she appeared as Naomi in the drama series 17: O poveste despre destin (17: A Story About Destiny) on Prima TV, and as Bianca in the comedy series Nimeni nu-i perfect (Nobody's Perfect).[11]

After roles in the horror film Slaughter and the Christmas comedy Ho Ho Ho, Bisu played a minor role in the movie What War May Bring, directed by Claude Lelouch.[12] She then appeared in the film Portrait of the Fighter as a Young Man, directed by Constantin Popescu, where she played the real-life figure Matilda Jubleanu.[13]

In 2011, Bisu starred in Outbound, a Romanian film with co-story credit by Cristian Mungiu, debuting at the Locarno International Film Festival, Viennale.[14] The same year, she became a presenter on Romanian national morning TV show on Kanal D Romania.[15] Cafeaua de dimineață (Morning Coffee), was a two-hour live morning news program.[16][17]

In 2012, Bisu played minor roles in Romanian films Sunt o babă comunistă (I Am an Old Communist Hag), directed by Stere Gulea, and Roxanne, directed by Vali Hotea.[18] In 2013, she played Minerva in the American horror movie Dracula: The Dark Prince starring Jon Voight.[19] The same year, she played an uncredited role in the science fiction film The Zero Theorem, directed by Terry Gilliam, with Matt Damon and Christoph Waltz.[20] In 2014, she played Brittany White, the host of a surreallist five-hour live comedy web program, fictionally broadcast from Ohio (but filmed in Bucharest), called The Super Yolo Sho.[21]

International crossover (2016-Current)

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In 2016, Bisu appeared in Toni Erdmann as Anca, the assistant of the lead character played by Sandra Hüller. Directed by Maren Ade, the film received over 56 nominations and 33 award wins. Bisu's character was mentioned by A.O. Scott as being central to understanding the main themes of the film in his review for The New York Times.[22]

In 2018, Bisu then co-starred in the horror film The Nun, a spinoff of The Conjuring 2, playing Sister Oana. She met future husband James Wan on set. [23][24][25]

In 2021, she co-wrote, executive produced, and had a supporting role in Malignant, alongside her husband.

Personal life

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On 22 June 2019, Bisu became engaged to Australian director James Wan.[26] They married on 4 November 2019.[27]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2005 BloodRayne Young Girl
2007 La Nic Cristina Short film
2009 Slaughter Girl in Coffin
Tales from the Golden Age Viviana
Ho Ho Ho Muscle man's girlfriend
2010 Portretul luptãtorului la tinerete Matilda Jubleanu
Eva Eva's Friend #1
What War May Bring Amie2
Periferic Selena
2013 Roxanne Victor's Girlfriend
Sunt o babã comunistã Coafeza
The Zero Theorem Work Colleague Uncredited[citation needed]
Dracula: The Dark Prince Minerva - Female Prisoner
2016 Toni Erdmann Anca
2018 The Nun Sister Oana
2021 The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It Jessica
Malignant CST Winnie Also story writer and executive producer
2023 Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Pier Waitress

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2003 Căsătorie de probă Flori
2004-2006 La Bloc Marilena
2006 O lume a durerii Alice Television film
2008 17 – o poveste despre destin Naomi
2009 Nimeni nu-i perfect Bianca
2011 Cafeaua de dimineață Host Also director, screenwriter, and executive producer
2013 Super Yolo Show Brittany White Also screenwriter
2014 Rămâi cu mine Raluca

References

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  1. ^ "La Acasa incepe diseara un nou serial comic romanesc "Casatorie de proba" - Vedete de la ei - Libertatea.ro". 21 September 2003.
  2. ^ ""Căsătorie de probă" a ajuns la final". Libertatea. 24 May 2004.
  3. ^ eMulte.ro. "Ingrid Bisu, de sapte ani fara carne! - eMulte". Archived from the original on 23 May 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  4. ^ "Ingrid Bisu: "Vreau sa ajung la 80 de ani si sa am cu ce ma lauda nepotilor"".
  5. ^ "5 lucruri pe care nu le stiati despre Ingrid Bisu".
  6. ^ "Ingrid Bisu". IMDb.
  7. ^ "$3.7m global box office on a 25m budget". Box Office Mojo.
  8. ^ "Razzie Nominee and Stinker Winner". Razzies. Archived from the original on 2 February 2007. Retrieved 15 June 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ^ "O lume a durerii (TV Movie 2006)". IMDb.
  10. ^ "Festival de Cannes: Tales from the Golden Age". festival-cannes.com. Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  11. ^ "Distracţie perfectă cu "Nimeni nu-i perfect"!". Libertatea. 2 March 2009.
  12. ^ "Review of Ces amours-la". 6 October 2010.
  13. ^ "Portrait of the Fighter as a Young Man – Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 14 October 2010.
  14. ^ "Outbound – Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 14 October 2010.
  15. ^ "Ingrid Bișu Kanal D". January 2014.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "Ingrid Bisu".
  17. ^ "Andrei Duban si Ingrid Bisu va ofera Cafeaua de dimineata". 1 March 2011.
  18. ^ "IMDB: Locarno". IMDB.
  19. ^ "IMDB: Dracula: the Dark Prince".
  20. ^ "IMDB: The Zero Theorem". IMDB.
  21. ^ "Super Yolo Show". 15 December 2013 – via IMDb.
  22. ^ Scott, A. O. (22 December 2016). "Review: In 'Toni Erdmann,' Dad's a Prankster Trying to Jolt His Conformist Daughter". The New York Times.
  23. ^ "'Toni Erdmann' Star Ingrid Bisu Joins Horror-Thriller 'The Nun'". 3 May 2017.
  24. ^ "Ingrid Bisu Joins The Nun".
  25. ^ "The Nun Adds Toni Erdmann's Ingrid Bisu To Growing Cast". 3 May 2017.
  26. ^ "James Wan on Instagram: "Engaged to this beautiful, amazing woman!"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  27. ^ James Wan Officially Marries Actress Ingrid Bisu. NextShark. 4 November 2019.
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