Birgitte Hjort Sørensen Explained
Birgitte Hjort Sørensen (born 16 January 1982) is a Danish actress. She has been nominated for three Robert Awards and one Bodil Award. Born in Hillerød and raised in Birkerød, Sørensen aspired to an acting career after watching the West End production of the musical Chicago while at school. She graduated from the Danish National School of Performing Arts. Her acting debut was in a minor role in the television series The Eagle in 2005. She followed this by playing Roxie Hart in a Copenhagen production of Chicago, and later on the West End. Sørensen's breakthrough role was as journalist Katrine Fønsmark in the television political drama Borgen (2010–2013, 2022).
Early life
Sørensen was born in Hillerød on 16 January 1982. She grew up in Birkerød.[1] Both her parents are doctors and she has two elder sisters. Her early education was at the Bistrup School in Birkerød and Øregård Gymnasium in Hellerup.[2] At the latter, she was the student council chair and editor of the school magazine.[3] Sørensen decided in her early teens not to follow her parents' footsteps in pursuing a career in medicine after work experience with her mother at a geriatrics ward. She commented, "Being met with that number of people who can no longer go to the bathroom or eat by themselves, it was traumatising. I lived too much with their misery."[4]
While on a school trip to London at the age of 19, she watched the West End production of the musical Chicago which motivated her to become an actress. Sørensen spoke of the experience in an interview for The Guardian, "It was so amazing and sexy, and I sat there thinking, 'I want to be on that stage one day.'".[4] Her motivation was solidified by her participation in a mini-musical school organised by the Gladsaxe Theatre which provided a six month introduction to musical theatre.[5] [6] She continued her studies at the Danish National School of Performing Arts, during which time Sørensen made her acting debut in 2005 as a receptionist on the television series The Eagle. The school forbid its students from having jobs so Sørensen feigned illness to appear on the television show.[7] Two years later she played the lead role of Roxie Hart in the 2007 production of Chicago at the Det Ny Teater in Copenhagen. The musical was critically acclaimed[8] and became the highest grossing Danish theatre production of the year.[9] For her performance she received a Reumert prize.[10] Sørensen then reprised the role in the West End production in 2008 at the Cambridge Theatre.[11] [12]
Career
In 2010, she made her breakthrough by playing the idealistic journalist, Katrine Fønsmark, in the DR fictional political drama Borgen which charted the rise of Denmark's first female prime minister.[4] [13] [14] In order to prepare for the role, she spent a summer training with television news teams and reporters.[15] Sørensen received critical acclaim for playing a strong female protagonist on the show, and international recognition especially in the United Kingdom.[16] [17] [18] [19] For the show's third season, Sørensen received a nomination for the Robert Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Television).[20] She also garnered her first nomination for the Robert Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for playing a criminal psychologist's secretary in the action film Ved verdens ende (2009) with Nikolaj Lie Kaas, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.[21] [22] [23] In 2012, Sørensen portrayed painter Marie Krøyer in the biographical film The Passion of Marie which earned her second Best Actress nomination at the Robert Awards.[24] The following year, she appeared as Virgilia in the play Coriolanus with Tom Hiddleston at Donmar Warehouse, London.[25]
In 2015, Sørensen appeared in the "Hardhome" episode of the HBO fantasy drama series Game of Thrones playing Karsi, a wildling chieftain. In the same year, she starred with Anna Kendrick in the musical comedy sequel Pitch Perfect 2 as Kommissar, the leader of a rival German a cappella group. She was also nominated for the Bodil Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Someone You Love, in which she played a mother suffering with drug addiction.[26] [27]
Sørensen played Andy Warhol's muse Ingrid in Martin Scorsese's HBO television series, Vinyl (2016).[28] In the latter part of the same year, she made her Broadway debut in the play Les Liaisons Dangereuses.[29] She reprised her role as Katrine Fønsmark in Borgen in 2022 when the show returned for a fourth season on Netflix.[30]
Personal life
She is in a relationship with television writer and producer Kristian Ladegaard Pedersen.[31] They met when she auditioned for a role as a television host and have two daughters.[32]
Filmography
Film
Television
Stage
Notes and References
- News: Bla Bog Birgitte Hjort Sørensen . . 25 January 2013 . Danish . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150707005604/http://borsen.dk/nyheder/avisen/artikel/11/39602/artikel.html . 7 July 2015 .
- News: Birgitte Hjort Sørensen: Hvad gør man, når Mick Jagger spørger en til råds? . Danish . . 7 February 2016 . 29 April 2017 . Funch . Anne . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160503093842/http://www.b.dk/livsstil/birgitte-hjort-soerensen-hvad-goer-man-naar-mick-jagger-spoerger-en-til-raads . 3 May 2016 .
- News: Birgitte Hjort Sørensen: Tør nu opsøge det skræmmende . Danish . Berlingske . Masri . Lena . 19 April 2014 . 29 April 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150210004912/http://www.b.dk/relationer/birgitte-hjort-soerensen-toer-nu-opsoege-det-skraemmende . 10 February 2015 .
- News: Borgen's other woman . . 8 November 2013 . 3 May 2017 . Urwin . Rosamund . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160718092823/http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/borgens-other-woman-8928987.html . 18 July 2016 .
- News: Is this the real First Lady of 'Borgen'?. https://web.archive.org/web/20160402065954/https://www.spectator.co.uk/2013/12/birgette-hjort-sorensen-is-an-alpha-female-despite-her-attempts-to-prove-otherwise/. 2 April 2016. The Spectator. 14 December 2013. Evans. Lloyd.
- News: Skuespil-talenter vokser i Væksthuset. BT. 30 July 2001. 10 May 2017. Danish. https://web.archive.org/web/20191213191859/https://www.bt.dk/underholdning/skuespil-talenter-vokser-i-vaeksthuset. 13 December 2019. live.
- News: Birgitte Hjort Sørensen . . 10 November 2016 . 1 May 2017 . Brown . Emma . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161111150354/http://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/birgitte-hjort-sorensen . 11 November 2016 .
- News: Danish. kritikerhit Anmelderne er vilde med 'Chicago'. Politiken. 17 September 2007. 10 May 2017.
- News: Chicago stor-hitter. Danish. Jyllands-Posten. 10 May 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20160129200340/http://jyllands-posten.dk/kultur/ECE3458329/Chicago-stor-hitter/. 29 January 2016. live.
- News: Galla med det bedste af dansk teater. Danish. 27 April 2008. Jyllands-Posten. 10 May 2017.
- News: Wilson. Benji. The Borgen supremacy: Birgitte Hjort Sorensen interview . . 4 January 2013 . 6 July 2015 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150713043547/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/9776569/The-Borgen-supremacy-Birgitte-Hjort-Sorensen-interview.html . 13 July 2015 .
- News: Ravn. Signe. Chicago-stjerne til Broadway . Danish . . 25 November 2008 . 6 July 2015 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150708192302/http://www.billedbladet.dk/kendte/danmark/chicago-stjerne-til-broadway . 8 July 2015 .
- News: International Star You Should Know: Birgitte Hjort Sorensen . Variety . 25 March 2016 . 4 May 2017 . Keslassy . Elsa . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161207011113/http://variety.com/2016/film/global/danish-actress-birgitte-hjort-sorensen-1201737653/ . 7 December 2016 .
- Web site: Dam. Freja. From The Kingdom to The Killing . . 10 May 2012 . 3 July 2015 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150707002412/http://www.dfi.dk/Service/English/News-and-publications/FILM-Magazine/Artikler-fra-tidsskriftet-FILM/75/From-The-Kingdom-to-The-Killing.aspx . 7 July 2015 .
- News: My perfect weekend: Birgitte Hjort Sorensen, actress . The Daily Telegraph . Parker . Olivia . 28 January 2013 . 22 April 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130615025708/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/9824056/My-perfect-weekend-Birgitte-Hjort-Sorensen-actress.html . 15 June 2013 .
- News: Merrick . Jane . Birgitte Hjort Sorensen: Borgen's back! Meet one of its stars . . 30 December 2012 . 6 July 2015 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150710075123/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/birgitte-hjort-sorensen-borgens-back-meet-one-of-its-stars-8433329.html . 10 July 2015 .
- News: Tate . Gabriel . Birgitte Hjort Sørensen interview: 'I like to find out I've been wrong' . . 13 November 2013 . 6 July 2015 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150712202917/http://www.timeout.com/london/tv-reviews/birgitte-hjort-sorensen-interview-i-like-to-find-out-ive-been-wrong . 12 July 2015 .
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- News: Backstage With Danish Actor Birgitte Hjort Sørensen . Brownell . Ginanne . . 11 September 2014 . 6 July 2015 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150707013702/http://www.wsj.com/articles/borgens-birgitte-hjort-sorensen-on-pitch-perfect-2-antonio-banderas-and-knitting-1410470519 . 7 July 2015 .
- Web site: Et Brag Af Et Dansk Filmar Skal Fejres!. PDF. 7. Danish Film Academy. Danish. 7 January 2014. 5 May 2017.
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- News: Coriolanus – review . The Guardian . Billington . Michael . 18 December 2013 . 22 April 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170221072925/https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/dec/18/coriolanus-review-donmar-warehouse . 21 February 2017 .
- News: 'Stille Hjerte' er topscorer ved årets Bodil-nominering . . 14 January 2015 . 28 April 2017 . Emil . Bergløv . Danish . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170418164620/http://politiken.dk/kultur/filmogtv/art5561032/Stille-Hjerte-er-topscorer-ved-%C3%A5rets-Bodil-nominering . 18 April 2017 .
- News: Someone You Love (En du elsker): Berlin Review . The Hollywood Reporter . 11 February 2014 . 30 April 2017 . Mintzer . Jordan . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170328021519/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/someone-you-love-en-du-679102 . 28 March 2017 .
- News: Giese . Ditte . Jagger og Scorsese bag serie med Birgitte Hjort . 8 August 2015 . . 3 August 2015 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150928031945/http://politiken.dk/kultur/filmogtv/ECE2778981/jagger-og-scorsese-bag-serie-med-birgitte-hjort/ . 28 September 2015 .
- Web site: Les Liaisons Dangereuses. 28 April 2017. Internet Broadway Database. https://web.archive.org/web/20180628145512/http://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/les-liaisons-dangereuses-506985. 28 June 2018. live.
- News: Danish Political Drama Borgen Is Back at Last, With a Fresh Take on Female Power. Time. 3 June 2022. 6 January 2024. Abend. Lisa.
- News: Actress Birgitte Hjort Sørensen says it's great to be a dane. The New Zealand Herald. 15 February 2019. 1 May 2019. Silverman. Rosa. https://web.archive.org/web/20190502065325/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=12203998. 2 May 2019. live.
- News: Birgitte Hjort Sørensen afslører: Sådan mødte jeg min mand . B.T.. Mortensen. Frederikke Renée. Danish. 28 January 2023. 6 January 2024.
- Web site: Tre Somre (2006) . . 3 July 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150710073441/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b8d36cd50 . 10 July 2015 .
- Web site: Birgitte Hjort Sørensen . . 3 July 2015 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150707002408/http://www.dfi.dk/faktaomfilm/person/en/166165.aspx?id=166165 . 7 July 2015 .
- News: Simon . Alissa . Review: 'Marie Kroyer' . . 22 October 2012 . 3 July 2015 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150707014940/http://variety.com/2012/film/reviews/marie-kroyer-1117948615/ . 7 July 2015 .
- News: Lawson. Mark. Birgitte Sørensen: power player. The Guardian. 26 November 2013. 3 July 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150707011049/http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/nov/26/birgitte-sorenson-power-player. 7 July 2015.
- News: Holden. Stephen. Maybe the Robots Don't Like Protocol. The New York Times. 9 October 2014. 3 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150508072151/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/10/movies/autmata-stars-antonio-banderas-in-a-devastated-world.html. 8 May 2015. live.
- Web site: The Gas Man . Festival Focus . 3 July 2015 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150706224551/http://www.festivalfocus.org/film/97808/the-gas-man . 6 July 2015 .
- News: Felperin . Leslie . 'Pitch Perfect 2': Film Review . . 7 May 2015 . 3 July 2015 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150623143705/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie/pitch-perfect-2/review/794017 . 23 June 2015 .
- Web site: Sommeren '92 . Danish Film Institute . 29 April 2017 . Danish . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160222085914/http://www.dfi.dk/faktaomfilm/film/da/90225.aspx?id=90225 . 22 February 2016 .
- Web site: 3 ting . Danish Film Institute . Danish . 4 June 2017. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161124095451/http://www.dfi.dk/faktaomfilm/film/da/95761.aspx?id=95761 . 24 November 2016 .
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- News: Birgitte Hjort Sørensen: 'People in Britain have really taken to Borgen's strong female leads' . . 16 November 2013 . 5 July 2015 . Day . Elizabeth . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150706225904/http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/nov/16/birgitte-hjort-sorensen-borgen-interview . 6 July 2015 .
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- Web site: Birgitte Hjort efter succes i udlandet: Ensomheden fik mig til at vende hjem. DR. 11 March 2017. 1 May 2017. Lohse. Gregers. Danish. https://web.archive.org/web/20170420182332/http://www.dr.dk/nyheder/kultur/film/birgitte-hjort-efter-succes-i-udlandet-ensomheden-fik-mig-til-vende-hjem. 20 April 2017. live.
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