Inspiring Women : November 2020

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.
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With my partner Eric Olsen