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Johanna ter Steege

Johanna ter Steege

Actor · Born May 10, 1961 (65) · Wierden, Overijssel, Netherlands

Johanna ter Steege is a Dutch stage and screen actress. She won the European Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her movie debut in The Vanishing (1988). Among her other films are Robert Altman's Vincent & Theo (1990), István Szabó's Meeting Venus (1991) and Sweet Emma, Dear Böbe (1992), Bernard Rose's Immortal Beloved (1994), and Bruce Beresford's Paradise Road (1997). In 1994, after Julia Robert and Uma Thurman declined, Stanley Kubrick cast her for his adaptation of Louis Begley's novel Wartime Lies. Kubrick abandoned the project after Steven Spielberg's success with Schindler's List.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 10, 1961 (65)
From
Wierden, Overijssel, Netherlands
Works as
Actor
Titles
13 on Motif · 49 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Up 15% in 30 days

What are Johanna ter Steege's films like?

Across their 10 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
34%
Self
32%
Survival
17%
Morality
11%
Ideas
6%
Purpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeMortality2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 1 · Serious 3 · Dark 6

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 8 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 6 · Intense 3

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 5 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 4 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 1

Heavy: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their heavy movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 1 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 6

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 6 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

5 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 2 of 5 analyzed roles.

Ally
2 of 5
Shapeshifter
1 of 5
Hero
1 of 5
Shadow
1 of 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
6
Tense
5
Contemplative
4
Bittersweet
3
Dread
2
Other
7

How their films linger

Bittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Johanna ter Steege's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 3 of their 13 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Subscription and free streaming for Johanna ter Steege's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

49 credits, 13 with a Motif page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • We Were Here Once (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2026)

    as Jasmine

  • Boomers(2026)

    Actor

    Motif score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Under the Naked Sky (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2023)

    Actor

  • Zo doo wiejleu dat: een eeuw Twente op film (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2023)

    Director

  • Twente op Film - Zo doo wiejleu dat (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2022)

    Director

  • The Marriage Escape (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    as Gedda

  • Maya(2018)

    as Johanna

    Motif score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Yesterday (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2018)

    as Klara

  • What Doesn't Kill Us (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2018)

    as Sophie

  • Brussel (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 10 episodes · as Moniek van Dalen

  • De mannen van dokter Anne (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 8 episodes · as Ine Visser

  • History's Future (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)

    as Therapist

  • The most beautiful thing in the world (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2015)

    as Do's mother

  • Sluizer Speaks(2014)

    Actor

    Motif score: 93rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • To Life(2014)

    as Lili

    Motif score: 51st percentile of all films

  • De Baby (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2012)

    as voice

  • Lilet Never Happened (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2012)

    as Claire

  • The Contract (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2012)

    as Moena

  • Isztambul (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2012)

    as Katalin

  • Cool Kids Don't Cry(2012)

    as Akkie's Mother

    Motif score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Tirza (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2010)

    as Alma

  • Le Bel Âge (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2009)

    as Madeleine

  • Last Conversation (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2009)

    as Anna

  • Ruwe honing (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • Kunststof TV (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Trap (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2008)

    as Moeder

  • Magic Paris (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    as Kate

  • Someone Else's Happiness (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    as Ann

  • Guernsey(2005)

    as Bobby

    Motif score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Sergeant Pepper (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    as Anna Singer

  • Sea of Silence (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    as Ita Werner

  • The Year of the First Kiss (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    as Tristans Mutter

  • Mariken (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    as Gräfin

  • Hanna lacht (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    as Mom

  • A Woman of the North (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    as Emilie van Thuile

  • Rembrandt (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    as Saskia Uylenburgh

  • Paradise Road(1997)

    as Sister Wilhelminia

    Motif score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Forever and Ever(1997)

    as Susanna Eggers

    Motif score: 40th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Phantom Heart (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    as Mona

  • Dalziel and Pascoe(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · as DS Anna Breukink

    Motif score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Tot ziens (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    as Laura

  • Immortal Beloved(1994)

    as Johanna Reiss

    Motif score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Birth of Love (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    as Ulrika

  • De bunker (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    Actor

  • Sweet Emma, Dear Böbe (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    as Emma

  • Meeting Venus(1991)

    as Monique

    Motif score: 60th percentile of all films

  • I Can No Longer Hear the Guitar (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    as Marianne

  • Vincent & Theo(1990)

    as Jo Bonger

    Motif score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Vanishing(1988)

    as Saskia Wagter

    Motif score: 95th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 90th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 49 titles from 1988 to 2026; peak year 1988.

Biggest box office

Immortal Beloved (1994)

$9.9M worldwide

Highest rated

The Vanishing (1988)

Motif 95th

Film career

19882026

Peak 1988 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting47 of 49: 47 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Motif score68thDirecting2 of 49: 2 only directing, 0 with another role

By decade

1980s1 · acting1990s14 · acting2000s13 · acting2010s15 · acting2020s6 · 4 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 0% of 7 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Johanna ter Steege's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 71st percentile, the median of all 12; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 59th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Motif score across 13 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th3

Shape of the crowd

5 of their 13 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor

Sluizer Speaks (2014)

87th percentile spread · 15% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Vanishing (1988)

Motif 95th · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 77/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 48. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Johanna ter Steege work with?

People who share at least 2 of Johanna ter Steege's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Gene Bervoets shares the most, 2.

Actors

Mixed roles