Inspiring Women : November 2020

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During that period, I was head-hunted to audition for the part of Little Duckling, which I got and performed on Danish national television for seven years. I have always loved that the Duckling is famous, but I was anonymous - thousands of Danish children love the character I breathed life into for so many years. Then as I hit my mid-forties, acting work became (typical for women) hard to find, so I went back to school for 3.5 years, learned Danish sign language and got certified as a sign language interpreter for the deaf. I interpreted professionally for fifteen years until my retirement two years ago, and was the only hearing member of a sign poetry group on the side for many years, touring to deaf festivals all over Europe. Rosalind in As You Like It, Shakespeare Festival 1979 I never re-married, nor did I ever have children, but I have had a ”new” Danish partner for the past 30 years! Since retiring, I have returned to drama and have had a tiny part in my first film, The Kindness of Strangers directed by Lone Scherfig, and have worked with the international theater group HIT (House of International Theater) here. Getting Involved in Theater I knew at age 15 that I wanted to be an actor and I’ve never looked back. The 1970s were turbulent times and theater gave me a way to keep fighting for my vision of a better world. But I had to convince my parents that this was a ”real” career and a ”real” job. I never made my career choices based on earning money, and they didn’t understand that. When I moved to Denmark, I found that my values were much more in harmony with the way people prioritize what is most important in life. I would say my first big break came at the Hartman Theater, with the part of Jumping Mouse and I had other big breaks in Denmark, when I joined Jytte Abildstrøms theater in Copenhagen, and also when I was cast as Little Duckling on national Danish television. My mentor was Jytte (although I had had others in the States). She encouraged me to learn Danish and her love of the Danish language led me to read Hans Christian Andersen, Karen Blixen, Soren Kierkegaard and others in the original language. She also taught me how important a contribution it was to create rich performances for children and to respect their ability to follow a complex story. She taught me that ”play” can be a very serious 66 Me as the Court Jester in The Wise Queen (I’m holding the crown!)
usiness! I also learned the art of puppeteering at her theater – one can connect on a very deep level with puppets, since they are ”alive” but not as threatening to children and some adults as people can be. I have been lucky to have had many exciting roles. It’s hard to say which was the best one. Little Duckling? Jumping Mouse? My solo character in Wild Flowers? I have also had incredibly exciting opportunities as a Sign Language interpreter, standing on stage with the actors interpreting Shakespeare into sign, or interpreting a musical, where you are assigned perhaps four or five different actors and have to capture each actor’s character and voice, using only your own body language and facial expressions. I really feel that my dance training , circus skills and puppeteering experience all come into play when I interpret theater, music and performance happenings. Xmas Cabaret at the House of International Theatre I’ve also had the chance to meet and work with a number of famous people. In the States, I met Tom Jones, who wrote The Fantasticks and I Do, I Do, and all my teachers. I also met Linda Bove of Sesame Street fame. Then in Denmark, I have also met many: Jytte Abildstrom, Daimi (a famous Danish singer), Lars Mikkelsen, Peter Mygind, David Owe and Marie Askehave, Soren Pilmark and director Lone Scherfig. Now if I could work with one other famous person I would have to choose Susan Sarandon. She’s my role model, playing strong, loud, smart women who are true to themselves. Even growing older, she has continued to be herself, as she is. I have had so many wonderful experiences here in Denmark with theater, but also with sign language. Some stand out: Touring with Wild Flowers, a solo puppet show. Filming a Christmas calendar for Danish TV as the Duckling (”Bamse Julerejse”). And interpreting a Shakespeare performance by two remarkable Danish actors into Danish sign language for a deaf audience. I have had wonderful reviews: in the NY Times for Jumping Mouse (in Stamford, CT), for As You Like It, my two solo puppet shows (in Denmark), and for the Duckling (also in Denmark). I haven’t directly had any bad reviews, just reviews where I wasn’t even mentioned. But that’s part of life as an actor! Working in the world of drama gives you the ability to communicate with many different people, the desire to join in and create something together with others. I still passionately believe in the performing arts as a way to comfort us, shake us up, guide us and create visions of a better future, especially for our children. I use singing and the breath work I learned at drama school to de-stress and stay grounded. 67 With my partner Eric Olsen
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1 November 2020, Volume 4, Issue 4
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Contents PROFILES 10 17 23 29 36 Th
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5
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Inspiration From the Editor It’s
Page 9 and 10:
Sisters Act: Women in Drama “A ct
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Getting Involved in TV I think dram
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A Few Final Thoughts I think one of
Page 15 and 16: name. George or Mrs. Sanders or Pro
Page 17 and 18: Cruising from Hollywood to Hamburg
Page 19 and 20: husband. He worked on the ship with
Page 21 and 22: With actor, Gregory Hines at Anita
Page 23 and 24: Nothing Amateur about Acting in Spa
Page 25 and 26: Getting Involved in Theater I had a
Page 27 and 28: Posing in the hospital gown Smearin
Page 29 and 30: Breaking Stereotypes One At a Time
Page 31 and 32: this for about six months before ge
Page 33 and 34: the play as we performed and so I w
Page 35 and 36: for me. After a year of bugging, an
Page 37 and 38: classes in English to the expat com
Page 39 and 40: A Few Final Thoughts My inner child
Page 41 and 42: 41 have times where board seats rem
Page 43 and 44: West of the City, North of the Tham
Page 45 and 46: The Criterion Theatre was designed
Page 47 and 48: actor and as a choreographer. Favor
Page 49 and 50: We have been able to visit many chi
Page 51 and 52: mark and fuelled my desire to work
Page 53 and 54: We performed in the park in front o
Page 55 and 56: Producing Theater for Social Change
Page 57 and 58: Day, the global activist movement t
Page 59 and 60: that job that I’d had as a real e
Page 61 and 62: was showcasing my second album, Ac
Page 63 and 64: to know, what a great filmmaker he
Page 65: Hartman Theater. My teachers were t
Page 69 and 70: the quieter and subtler moments of
Page 71 and 72: A Thoroughly Modern Woman CAITLYN O
Page 73 and 74: visuals to in-person gatherings and
Page 75 and 76: “We are Such Stuff as Dreams Are
Page 77 and 78: Inspiring You Founded in 1931, FAWC
Page 79 and 80: The Cover Photo “The Red Dress”
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Inspiring Women : November 2020

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