Son of actor/director Chris Bro and actress Helle Hertz, Nicolas graduated from the National Theatre School in 1998. In 1999 he was awarded the Reumert Talent Award and has received three other Reumert awards for his theatrical performances in Skrigerne, Mephisto (2007) and Hamlet (2008).

Nicolas has starred in many Danish films and has won three Danish Film awards. He received his first Bodil for Best Supporting Actor in Dark Horse (2005) and his second for Best Actor for Offscreen (2006) - a film for which he was also the cinematographer. He received a Zulu award for Best Supporting Actor for Skymaster (2006) and is well-remembered for his portrayal of sex-crazed, mentally-confused Otto in the Danish TV series Unit One.

Nicolas has recently finished filming two Danish films with At World's End co-stars; The Truth About Men with Birgitte Hjort Sorenson and The Beast with Nicolaj Lie Kaas.  He has also been announced as part of the cast for Steven Spielberg's upcoming World War I epic War Horse which is based on the novel by Michael Morpugo.