Former Irish model Nadia Forde lands role in Finnish political thriller series Conflict

Forde, who starred in Once Upon a Time in London, will play Claire Belfort, the daughter of a high-profile American family who becomes embroiled in the unfolding drama.

The story is about an unknown military unit invading a peaceful coastal town in Finland. All residents are taken hostage, including Annika Berg, a Finnish army soldier.

Ms Forde previously spoke about how the loss of her mother focused her on only pursuing things in life that were important to her happiness. Acting was a revelation for the Dublin native.

“Do I want to do that, don’t I want that, what makes me happy?” she said.

“I think mortality shows how short life is. And why waste a moment not doing what you want to do?”

“I remember being booked for Panto and just loving it. Last night I cried, heartbroken it was over.”

Nadia completed her formal acting training at Bow Street Drama School. There she also found out that she enjoyed being behind the camera.

“I think there’s a liberating moment in acting. It’s not about how I look, it’s about the figure. That really shed a lot of skin for me.”

“It’s like, ‘It’s okay to have lines, not look a certain way.’ And I think if you look at it that way, I’m more myself now than I was then. No extensions. No tan, nothing.”

“And even when you’re younger you’re like, ‘I need more makeup, I need this, I need that.’ Actually, it’s like, ‘I’m different, and that’s okay,’ said Nadia.

Conflict was announced two years ago and the six-part series is currently filming in Helsinki. The premiere will take place next year in Finnish, Swedish and English.