Woman Unknown

Marie, a young nanny and housemaid, is about to marry the wealthy older widower, Christian, for whom she is working. But Marie guards a shameful secret. During World War II, she was in an intimate relationship with a German soldier. Now Marie’s past threatens to catch up with her, and she is forced to do everything in her power to preserve her new status as lady of the house in post-war anarchy.

Born in 1977, she graduated from the Danish National School of Performing Arts in 2002. Graduated as a director from the National Film School of Denmark in 2009. el-Toukhy has directed a number of radio and television shows. She made her feature debut with the romantic comedy Long Story Short (2015), an ensemble drama with Mille Lehfeldt, Trine Dyrholm, Jens Albinus and Danica Curcic. The film won a Bodil for best script and best actress as well as a Robert for best supporting actress. el-Toukhy's second feature film, Queen of Hearts (2019), written by the director in collaboration with Maren Louise Käehne, won the audience award at Sundance along with the main prize at Göteborg for best Nordic film as well as best actress and the audience award. The film also took home the Nordic Council Film Prize 2019. She has directed several episodes of the TV series The Legacy, Ride Upon the Storm, and The Crown. Woman Unknown (2026) is her latest film.

Year of Production: 2026

Time: 126’

Country: Denmark

Language: Danish. Original version with Spanish subtitles

Director: May el-Toukhy

Cast: Mathilde Arcel, Carsten Bjørnlund

Production: Mikael Rieks, Tine Grew Pfeiffer, Katrine Vogelsang

Script: May el-Toukhy, Maren Louise Kähne

Director of Photography: Jasper Spanning

Production Companies: Nordisk Film Production A/S, SIA Nafta Films, Film i Väst

International Sales: Trust Nordisk

Golden Lion for Best Film and Volpi Cup for Best Actress in Venice
Selected for Toronto and BFI London

Premiere in Madrid