Biography
Versatile Swedish actor of films, stage and television, Christian Magdu was raised from the age of three in Sweden, after his family migrated from Romania. His mother, Carmen, is a physical education teacher and his father, Marian, was a doctor; he has a sister, Dalila, living in England. He attended high school in the town of Skövde, Sweden, where he began training as an actor with the famous director, playwright and acting coach, Leif Olson. From there he went on to attend a theatre school in Gothenburg, Wendelsberg.
After living in Gothenburg for some time and appearing in several plays, productions and commercials, he moved to Skara in 2000 to attend the famous and competitive Skara Skolscen. Later he moved to the town of Falkenberg to work with acclaimed actor/director Gun Jönsson. In 2002 he began working on his first two feature films, Camp Slaughter (2004) and Year One (2006).
Since relocating to Stockholm in 2004, Magdu has established himself as a household name across the Nordics, building a strong resume particularly within the crime and action genres. He has appeared in major Swedish productions such as the Johan Falk: Slutet (2015) film series, I Guds namn (2007), and Oskyldigt dömd (2008)-a role for which he famously prepared by spending time in a high-security prison. His commitment to bringing both authenticity and deep dramatic truth to his characters has led to roles in critically acclaimed and award-winning projects. These include the Guldbagge-nominated feature Starring Maja (2009), which won at the Newport Beach Film Festival, and Never an Absolution (2005), a Crystal Bear prize-winner at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Expanding his footprint internationally, Magdu is a member of the American screen actors guild SAG-AFTRA and has worked in the United States, including an appearance in HBO’s hit vampire series True Blood (2008).
In recent years, he has demonstrated his remarkable artistic range through standout performances in two of Scandinavia's biggest television hits. He delivered a memorable performance as the smooth, brooding antagonist Yussuf in seasons 5 and 6 of the Kristallen-winning series Gåsmamman (2015), and followed it with a starkly contrasting, warm, and heartbreaking turn as Andrei in the Norwegian smash-hit Exit (2019).
Entering a new master phase of his career, Magdu has transitioned into creative entrepreneurship. As co-owner of the production companies CHRISMA Film and Rock Hammer Films AB, he is no longer just interpreting stories but actively shaping them. This evolution is highlighted by the action-thriller We Die Tonight (2025), directed by Richard Holm, where Magdu takes on the dual responsibility of playing the male lead role and serving as the film's sole producer.
