Birgitte Federspiel is a Danish theater and film actress. She starred in the films The Hunger and Babette's Feast. Also, Birgitte could be seen in the "Viking Saga" and "Word".
Biography
Birgitte Federspiel was born on September 6, 1925 in Copenhagen. The actress died on February 2, 2005 at 79 years old. The place of her death was the Danish city of Odense. Her father was the famous actor Einer Federspil. Birgitte was educated at the Fredirikberg Drama Theater, in a studio that trains future actors. Federspil received her diploma in 1945.
After that she took part in theatrical performances in Odense until 1947. Then, for 5 years, she could be seen on the stage of the People's Theater in Copenhagen. Later, Birgitte played in the performances of the New Theater in the capital for another 3 years. Then Federspiel began her film career. In the 1950s, she was awarded the National Film Awards.
Personal life
The first husband of Federspil was the actor Jens Osterholm. He played in the movie "The Fake Traitor." Their marriage fell apart. In 1949, the actress married Henning Ahrensborg. He died in 1951. The Danish actor was only 26 years old. In 1953, Freddy Koch became Birgitte's husband. 1 child was born in their family. The third husband of Birgitte is also an actor. He starred in the movie Red Meadows. On August 10, 1980, Freddie died at the age of 64. He was 9 years older than his wife.
Career
In 1950, Birgitte won the role of Dori in the film Susanna. The film was directed by Torben Anton Svendsen. The following year, she played Gerd Müller in the drama The Schmidt Family. The main roles were played by Ellen Gottschalch, Kjeld Jacobsen, then the future husband of the actress Freddy Koch and Liz Levert. In 1953, the actress could be seen in the film "Adam and Eve". Luis Miche-Renard, Sonya Jensen, Per Buckhey and Inger Lassen got the leading roles in this family film by Eric Balling. The film was shown not only in Denmark, but also in Sweden.
In 1957, Federspiel got the role of Esther in the film "Extra Woman". Birgitte played one of the main characters. Her partners on the set were Clara Pontoppidan, William Rosenberg, John Wittig and Bjorn Watt-Boolsen. In 1959, the actress got the main female role in the drama "Alien is knocking on the door." The film has been shown in Denmark, Sweden, USA and France. The picture has been reprinted twice. The first time was in 1966, and the second in 1981. Then Birgitte was invited to play the role of Lucia in the movie "Charley's Aunt". The leading roles in the family comedy were given to Dirch Passer, Ove Sprogee, Ebbe Langberg, Gita Nerby. In the center of the plot are 2 students who are in love with 2 sisters.
In 1960, the actress played in the film "The Last Winter". This war drama was shown in Denmark, Germany and Finland. The film was presented for the prize of the Moscow International Film Festival. The following year, Birgitte played in the film The Countess. The directors of this family melodrama are Eric Overbuet and Anker Sørensen. Then the actress could be seen in the 1963 film "Gudrun". Laila Andersson, Jorgen Buckhey, Paul Reichhardt and Nils Astaire got the leading roles in the drama. The picture was shown not only in Denmark, but also in the USA. Birgitte played one of the main roles in the 1964 thriller Death Comes to Dinner. In the same year, she could be seen in the military drama "Girl Tina". The film was nominated for a prize at the Moscow International Film Festival.
In 1966, the actress played one of the heroines in the film adaptation of the novel Hunger by the famous Norwegian writer and Nobel Prize winner in literature Knut Hamsun. The plot tells about a young writer who fails to publish his works. He is starving, interrupting from one part-time job to another, but continues to write. The drama has been screened at the Telluride International Film Festival, at the Cinemateca Portuguesa Film Museum in Lisbon, at the Febio International Film Festival in Prague and at the Cannes Film Festival.
In the same year, the actress got the role of the queen dowager in the historical drama "The Viking Saga" co-produced by Denmark, Iceland and Sweden. The picture won a prize at the Cannes Film Festival. She was also presented at the Copenhagen International Film Festival. In 1972, the actress could be seen in the film "Population Growth: Zero". Her character is a psychiatrist. According to the plot of this fantastic thriller, the planet is threatened by overpopulation. Reproduction is now prohibited on pain of death. The painting has been shown in Switzerland, Germany, USA, Japan, Ireland, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands.
The next role Federspil got in the crime comedy "Olsen's Gang Raged". The film has been shown in Denmark, Germany, Sweden and Hungary. Later, the actress played in the crime film "Nineteen Red Roses". This 1974 film was directed and written by Esben Heylund Carlsen. 4 years later, Birgitte got the role of Cornelia in the family film by Finn Henriksen "Fascinating Vacations". Then she was invited to the TV series "Matador", which ran from 1978 to 1982. In 1984, Federspil played the role of Aunt Laura in the drama "My Grandmother's House".
In 1987, Gabriel Axel's painting Babette's Feast was released, in which Birgitte played one of the heroines. The plot tells about the life of the Lorenz family, who recently died. His daughters, one of whom is played by Federspil, are raised as true Protestants. The manager Babette appears in their house. In 1966, the actress played in the short film "Brownie". Then she could be seen in the TV series "Dachshund". In the 1997 film "Barbara" Birgitte played the role of Helene. In the same year she starred in the films Likkefanten and Ogginoggen. In 1998, she played a grandmother in the film Forbidden for Children.
