Research Guru / Moderator
Posted:
Mar 1, 2008, 3:19 PM
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Danish theatrical doyenne Bodil Udsen dead at 83
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Danish actress Bodil Udsen, known in her country as "Theatre's Grand Old Lady," died Tuesday morning in her native Copenhagen after a brief hospital stay. She was 83.
Udsen's closest family and friends gathered around her during her last hours.
She was the recipient of many prizes, including the 1985 Robert -- Denmark's equivalent of the Oscar -- for best actress for her role as Farmor in Min farmors hus. Her career spun from theater to the big screen, but she was probably best known in Denmark for her performance as waitress Emma in the 1970s TV series Huset på Christianshavn.
Born Bodil Birgitte Udsen on January 12, 1925, she had several voice roles in Danish animated feature films. She was Samson's mother in 1984's Samson og Sally (Samson and Sally); Big Mama in Aberne og det hemmelige våben (The Ape; 1995); Emma in H.C. Andersen og den skæve skygge (H.C. Andersen's The Long Shadow; 1998); and Bedstemor in Cirkeline og Verdens mindste superhelt (Cirkeline 3; 2004), which was nominated for three Robert awards.
She was also Lisabetta in the 1974 Danish animated TV-movie Fra Poetens pen - et udpluk af nye og gamle tekster skrevet af Poul Sørensen and the Witch in the 1993 short Fyrtøjet (The Tinderbox), based on a Hans Christian Andersen story.
Known for her dramatic roles as well as revue and cabaret, Udsen was known for her warm-hearted laughter, and lovable personality.
She also gained early notoriety for her fierce temper. It was something she was known for throughout her life, and which essentially got her kicked out of The Danish Royal Theatre School at the age of 20.
After a student job in the theater community, she was spotted by actor and comedian Stig Lommer, who brought her to the ABC Theatre in 1952. Ever since, she was part of Danish cultural history.
Her stage appearances largely differed from her film and TV work, which mainly consisted of comedy roles.
She played everything from Martha in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and the title role in Medea to Alice in August Strindberg's Dance of Death. She also drew major attention for her role as Maria Callas in Master Class, and she played the proud mother in Ole Bornedal's I am Dina (2002).
In live-action movies, she collaborated with the likes of Anneke Von Der Lippe (Barbara), Philip Zanden (Family Matters), Mette Munk Plum (Baby Doll) and Ole Ernst (Peter von Scholten).
At 80, Udsen was still acting, and was celebrating 6o years in show business.
She married three times, but never had any children. Her last husband, grocer Jens Therkildsen, died in 1999. Queen Margrethe of Denmark awarded Udsen the Order of the Dannebrog in 1975.
Bodil Udsen requested that her funeral be private.
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