Connie Nielsen hasn’t aged a day as the actress, 59, returns to Gladiator II 24 years after starring in the original

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Connie Nielsen hasn’t aged a day as the actress wowed at the premiere of Gladiator II on Wednesday night as she returned to the franchise 24 years after starring in the original.

The star, 59, played Lucilla in the original Gladiators in 2000 and has rejoined the cast for the latest installment alongside Paul Mescal and Yuval Gonen.

Connie wowed on the red carpet, looking sensational in a baby blue pleated chiffon dress, with a semi-sheer skirt and thigh-high leg slit.

The Danish actress paired the halter style with a pair of matching satin heels and styled her hair in loose waves.

Gladiator II takes place a few decades after the first part and is about Lucius (Lucilla’s son) who now lives in Numidia, a region in North Africa.

Connie Nielsen hasn’t aged a day as the 59-year-old actress returns to Gladiator II 24 years after starring in the original

The star, 59, has rejoined the cast alongside Paul Mescal and Yuval Gonen for the latest episode

Connie depicted as Lucilla in the original 2000 Gladiators film

The star, 59, played Lucilla in the original Gladiators in 2000 (pictured L) and has rejoined the cast alongside Paul Mescal and Yuval Gonen for the latest installment

Although he was sent to Numidia as a child, the film follows Lucius’ return to Rome to reunite with his mother – and finds himself conflicted in the process.

Connie is one of only two actors returning from the original film, joining Derek Jacobi who plays Gracchus.

And Lucilla has a prominent role in the film, with the actress revealing that director Ridley Scott was a major reason for her return.

Speaking of her return the star described filming as an “amazing process” and said, “just walking into the arena on that first day back was an absolutely surreal experience.”

She added, “I was so excited to tell the story of this woman who created Ridley to preserve within herself a crumbling empire and a crumbling legacy from her father, the loss of a son, and all of this. heart that is loved by a great man named Pedro Pascal.

‘And then this moment when she finds her son again. I mean, these are incredible experiences and situations that Ridley set up for me. How could I be anything other than excited?’

The film, twenty years in the making, was a hit with critics and fans praised Paul’s performance.