5 Michiel Huisman movies and TV shows that deserve a spot on your watchlist

Michiel Huisman is a Dutch actor you have likely seen before, even if you did not know his name. He has built a quiet but successful career. He appears in many big TV shows and popular movies. His work includes fantasy, horror, romance, and war stories.

Huisman began his career in Dutch TV and films. Later, he moved to international projects. He appeared on HBO’s Treme. He later joined Game of Thrones. He starred in Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House and appeared in the romance movie The Age of Adaline. He also starred in Apple TV+ thriller Echo 3.

Over the years, Michiel Huisman has played many types of characters. He has been a charming lover, a broken writer, and a tough soldier. If you want to start watching his best work, here are TV shows and movies where he truly stands out.

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5 Michiel Huisman movies and TV shows

Game of Thrones (2014–2016) – Daario Naharis

Daario Naharis in Game of Thrones was the cocky sellsword with the hair and the swagger. Michiel Huisman jumps in as Daario starting in Season 4, after Ed Skrein dropped out. He comes in, oozing confidence, and instantly starts making moves on Daenerys. And, what do you know, she eats it up.

At first, Daario is all about himself. But something about Dany gets under his skin, and suddenly he is risking his neck for her revolution. He is the guy in the room who wants to just get this done, while everyone else is busy debating morals and politics.

He is not just a fighter, though. He has a mix of honesty and practicality that Daenerys actually listens to, even if her other advisors are busy whispering sweet nothings about “the people.” However, Dany dumps him to stay in Meereen while she goes off to break the wheel. You can see it wrecks him, but he still lets her go. That’s love, or at least the Game of Thrones version of it.

Michiel Huisman had a tough gig stepping into a role after people had already gotten used to a different face. But he owns it. Instantly charming, a little bit dangerous, and he has got real chemistry with Emilia Clarke. If you skipped his run, maybe give it another shot. He makes Daario way more fun than he had any right to be.

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The Haunting of Hill House (2018) – Steven Crain

In Netflix’s horror series The Haunting of Hill House, Michiel Huisman plays adult Steven Crain. The show is created by Mike Flanagan. Steven is the oldest of the Crain siblings. He grows up to become a successful author. He writes books about ghosts and the supernatural. But he refuses to believe that his own family’s haunting was real.

Steven starts as the logical skeptic of the family. He turns his family’s trauma into a bestselling book. This makes his siblings angry and hurt. He explains their ghost stories as mental illness, stress, or bad memories. As the season continues, new truths about the past come out. A fresh tragedy forces the siblings back together. Steven begins to question everything he believed. His story becomes one of guilt and responsibility.

He feels guilty for writing the book, for hurting his siblings, and for what happened the night they escaped Hill House. By the end, he accepts that the supernatural was real. He admits he used the story for success. He tries to repair his broken family relationships.

Michiel Huisman plays Steven with quiet control and inner tension. He looks calm on the outside. But you can feel him slowly breaking inside. It is one of his most emotional and layered performances. The role blends horror, family drama, and grief. If you want to see him lead a deep, complex story, Hill House is a must-watch.

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Echo 3 (2022–2023) – Prince

In Apple TV+ action thriller Echo 3, Michiel Huisman plays Prince. Prince is an elite U.S. special operations soldier. His wife, Amber, is a scientist. She is kidnapped near the Colombia–Venezuela border. Prince teams up with his brother-in-law Bambi, played by Luke Evans. Bambi is also a commando. Together, they search for Amber in the middle of a violent guerrilla conflict.

Prince starts as confident and highly capable. He has a strong marriage. He has a solid military career. He has a tight bond with his unit. As the mission drags on, his emotional armor begins to crack. He feels deep guilt for failing to protect Amber. He clashes with Bambi over tactics and decisions. He runs into political forces that do not care about one missing woman.

Over time, he is pushed to his moral and psychological limits. He begins making more desperate choices. By the later episodes, Prince feels like a man who has given everything. He no longer knows who he will be after the mission ends.

The show gives Michiel Huisman a true action-lead role. It is not just about gunfights and explosions. He also shows fear, anger, tenderness, and inner conflict. Sometimes all of these appear in the same episode. Echo 3 proves he can carry a grounded military thriller with real emotional weight.

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The Age of Adaline (2015) – Ellis Jones

In The Age of Adaline, you have Michiel Huisman playing Ellis Jones, who checks off every box on the “ideal boyfriend” list. He has a warm energy, is super curious, stubborn in that adorable way, and apparently, he is also a philanthropist.

He falls head over heels for Adaline (Blake Lively). Except, she has been 29 for a century. She got stuck in a time loop after some freaky accident. So, she has trust issues, keeps everyone at arm’s length, no attachments, all because she doesn’t want anyone to find out her secret.

Ellis, though, is relentless. He is charming, brainy, and he is not just in it for her looks; he wants to know what is actually going on beneath all those layers. Bit by bit, he wins her over. Eventually, he takes her to meet his family, and that’s where things get nuts. Turns out, Ellis’s dad has some history with Adaline. As in, he was in love with her back in his youth, and she literally hasn’t aged a day.

This discovery shatters his understanding of reality. It also changes how he sees Adaline. Adaline panics and runs away. Ellis must decide if he can live with the truth. In the end, he chooses her. He accepts her past and her condition. They get a second chance together when she finally begins to age normally.

Ellis could have been a flat “perfect boyfriend.” Michiel Huisman makes him feel real and grounded. He balances romantic passion with gentle sincerity. He also adds a hint of awkward charm. This keeps the story from feeling like pure fantasy. If you want to see Michiel Huisman in a sweeping love story, this is the one.

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The Invitation (2015) – David

In Karyn Kusama’s slow-burn horror-thriller The Invitation, Michiel Huisman plays David. David is the charming host of a dinner party in the Hollywood Hills. He and his wife, Eden, invite her ex-husband and old friends over. At first, it seems like a simple reunion. Slowly, the night reveals something much darker. The truth involves a cult-like self-help group.

David begins as calm and enlightened. He speaks softly about healing, grief, and moving on. He gently pushes the group’s belief system onto the guests. As the night continues, cracks begin to show. His need for control becomes clear. His calm starts to feel unsettling. His loyalty to the cult’s deadly plan is absolute.

We learn he was once addicted and lost. The group gave him a sense of purpose. That purpose becomes something he is willing to kill for. By the climax, David has changed completely. He goes from soft-spoken host to an active threat. Everyone at the table is forced to fight for survival.

This is one of Michiel Huisman’s creepiest performances. It is also very understated. He never plays David like a cartoon villain. He plays him as a real man who believes he is doing the right thing. He truly thinks his violence is an act of mercy. If you like slow, tense thrillers with rising dread, this film is essential. Michiel Huisman is a major reason it works so well.