Asta Nielsen (Vesterbro, Copenhaguen, Dinamarca, 11 de setembre de 1881 - Frederiksberg, Dinamarca, 25 de maig de 1972) fou una actriu de cinema danesa i la primera gran estrella del cinema mut alemany. Setanta de les seves 74 pel·lícules es van fer a Alemanya, on se la coneixia simplement com a "Die Asta".

Asta Nielsen is often considered the 'first international movie star', and was an explosively popular female lead through the 1910s and 20s. Though born in Denmark, she mostly worked in Germany and starred in over 70 films, usually directed by her husband Urban Gad. She was known for her boyish looks and had her breakout in the erotically charged 'Afgrunden' (1910).