SPRING//SUMMER 2017 DANISH ACTRESS BIRGITTE HJORT SØRENSEN THE EMBODIMENT OF STRONG-WILLED DANISH WOMEN Danish actress Birgitte Hjort Sørensen is as zeitgeisty as it gets. As well as riding the wave of Nordic noir, the Borgen star is a talent to watch in her own right. Birgitte was born and grew up just outside Copenhagen with her parents – both doctors – and two elder sisters. “I was a good student, a geek really – editor of the school paper, thought I was going to go to university,” Birgitte Hjort Sørensen says. But at 19 she started going to a local musical theatre class and got the acting bug. She applied to drama school in Copenhagen and got in second time round. Straight afterwards she was cast in the Copenhagen version of Chicago, and a few years later, aged 26, she transferred to London. Today, Birgitte Hjort Sørensen, aged 34, lives in her beloved Copenhagen and has an international career most people would envy. Birgitte Hjort Sørensen is a true embodiment of the new Nordic noir wave and the Nordic cool trend including not only fashion and food but also strong-willed Danish women. Therefore nobody was surprised to find Sørensen among the cast for Borgen, a Danish political drama television series. The story is about how Birgitte Nyborg, a politician, becomes the first female Prime Minister of Denmark against all the odds. The television series has become a major hit both in and outside of Denmark (where it was written) and has even gone on to become one of BBC Four’s biggest ever hits. We think that perfect timing is the reason for the success: now is a moment when it seems that people are interested in how we govern and how we put our societies together. Several Danish crime dramas like The Killing and The Bridge have become international successes. They all feature the straightforward Nordic style, strong-willed women – in the police force, the government or the press. Katrine Fønsmark (played by Birgitte) will begin this series of Borgen juggling a brilliant career as a TV anchor with bringing up a young child. “I suppose with Katrine there’s something about being driven and ambitious that I can recognise. I love my job so much that I don’t mind it taking up most of my life,” Birgitte Hjort Sørensen continues. As an ambitious and independent Danish woman, Sorensen sometimes also has a problem with fashion magazines. “They seem to have these dogmas or uniforms. This is the way you must look; this is this season’s must-have” I really resent the phrase “must-have”. I prefer to decide for myself what I think is beautiful or fashionable,” Birgitte says. Birgitte Hjort Sørensen has travelled the world since her break-through in 2005. But the love of acting began much earlier. While on a school trip to London, Birgitte Hjort Sørensen watched the West End production of the musical Chicago, which motivated her to become an actress. “It was so amazing and sexy, and I sat there thinking, I want to be on that stage one day.” She continued her studies at the Danish National School of Theatre, during which time Birgitte made her acting debut in 2005 as a receptionist on the television series The Eagle. Two years later she played the lead role of Roxie Hart in the 2007 production of Chicago at Det Ny Teater (The New Theatre) in Copenhagen. Birgitte then reprised the role in the West End production in 2008 at the Cambridge Theatre. Continues on next page
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