Henny Moan
Encyclopedia
Henny Moan is a Norwegian
actress from Finnmark
. She has had a long career in theatre, but is best known for her roles in certain classics of Norwegian cinema
, such as the Oscar-nominated Ni liv (1957) and De dødes tjern
(1958). Moan was for a period married to the author André Bjerke
.
where she worked at a gas stationwithout telling anyone where she was going. She moved to Oslo where she applied to Teaterhøyskolen (the Theater Academy). Here she was accepted in the first intake in the history of the school, in 1953.
Moan has always been characterised by her short-cropped hair, a style she came up with in 1954, at a time when this was still quite uncommon for girls. She claims she originally did it because it was convenient, and because she had worn her hair like that as a child, to avoid lice
and to make the hair grow out thicker.
From 1959 to 1972 Moan was married to celebrated Norwegian author André Bjerke
. With Bjerke she had the daughter Vilde in 1960, who later wrote a book about her childhood. Henny and André lived together until their daughter was nine, at which point they separated.
(the Norwegian Theater), Oslo Nye Teater
and at Nationaltheatret
(the National Theatre), in roles such as "Marguerite" in Dumas
's The Lady of the Camellias
, and "Miss Julie" in Strindberg
s play
by that name. In 2006 she won the award "Aase Byes ærespris" for her effort in Ibsen
-roles. She played her last part before retirement early in 2007. After retiring she started working on her autobiography.
She is also known for her work in movies, and had a role in the Oscar-nominated Ni liv in 1957. This film was in 2005 named the best movie in the history of Norwegian film
, by a jury of movie critics. After this she received offers from Hollywood
, but decided to stay in Norway. While married to Bjerke, she took part in the adaptation of his novel De dødes tjern. Here she appeared in what was to become an iconic scene of Norwegian cinema, where she walks in a white, translucent dress along a tarn
in the forest. More recently she had a brief part in Bent Hamer
's critically acclaimed O' Horten
.
On television she is known from the science-fiction series "Blindpassasjer" (1978), written by Tor Åge Bringsværd
and Jon Bing
. Before this she played the part of "Edvarda" in a 1973 TV-series based on Knut Hamsun
's novels Benoni and Rosa. Moan also worked with television drama for several years.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
actress from Finnmark
Finnmark
or Finnmárku is a county in the extreme northeast of Norway. By land it borders Troms county to the west, Finland to the south and Russia to the east, and by water, the Norwegian Sea to the northwest, and the Barents Sea to the north and northeast.The county was formerly known as Finmarkens...
. She has had a long career in theatre, but is best known for her roles in certain classics of Norwegian cinema
Cinema of Norway
Norway has had a notable cinema industry for some time. In the early 21st century a few Norwegian film directors have had the opportunity to go to Hollywood to direct various independent films.-1940s:*Tante Pose *Bastard *Tørres Snørtevold...
, such as the Oscar-nominated Ni liv (1957) and De dødes tjern
Lake of the Dead
Lake of the Dead is a 1958 Norwegian horror film directed by Kåre Bergstrøm. The film stars Henki Kolstad, Henny Moan and Georg Richter.-Plot:The film takes place 20–23 August 1958...
(1958). Moan was for a period married to the author André Bjerke
André Bjerke
Jarl André Bjerke was a Norwegian writer and poet. His debut was in 1940 with a collection of poems, Syngende Jord . He has written a wide range of material: poems , mystery novels , essays, and articles...
.
Biography
At the age of 17 she left her home in FinnmarkFinnmark
or Finnmárku is a county in the extreme northeast of Norway. By land it borders Troms county to the west, Finland to the south and Russia to the east, and by water, the Norwegian Sea to the northwest, and the Barents Sea to the north and northeast.The county was formerly known as Finmarkens...
where she worked at a gas stationwithout telling anyone where she was going. She moved to Oslo where she applied to Teaterhøyskolen (the Theater Academy). Here she was accepted in the first intake in the history of the school, in 1953.
Moan has always been characterised by her short-cropped hair, a style she came up with in 1954, at a time when this was still quite uncommon for girls. She claims she originally did it because it was convenient, and because she had worn her hair like that as a child, to avoid lice
Head louse
The head louse is an obligate ectoparasite of humans. Head lice are wingless insects spending their entire life on human scalp and feeding exclusively on human blood...
and to make the hair grow out thicker.
From 1959 to 1972 Moan was married to celebrated Norwegian author André Bjerke
André Bjerke
Jarl André Bjerke was a Norwegian writer and poet. His debut was in 1940 with a collection of poems, Syngende Jord . He has written a wide range of material: poems , mystery novels , essays, and articles...
. With Bjerke she had the daughter Vilde in 1960, who later wrote a book about her childhood. Henny and André lived together until their daughter was nine, at which point they separated.
Career
Moan has acted both at Det Norske TeatretDet Norske Teatret
Det Norske Teatret is a theatre in Oslo. The theatre was founded in 1912, after an initiative from Hulda Garborg and Edvard Drabløs. It opened in 1913, touring with two plays, Ervingen by Ivar Aasen and Rationelt Fjøsstell by Hulda Garborg...
(the Norwegian Theater), Oslo Nye Teater
Oslo Nye Teater
Oslo Nye Teater in Oslo is one of Norway's most visited theatres.The theatre opened in 1959 as a merge between Det Nye Teater and Folketeatret, and consists of four stages; Oslo Nye Hovedscenen, Oslo Nye Centralteatret, Oslo Nye Trikkestallen and Oslo Nye Caféscenen.-External links:*...
and at Nationaltheatret
Nationaltheatret
The National Theatre in Oslo is one of Norway's largest and most prominent venues for performance of dramatic arts.The theatre had its first performance on 1 September 1899 but can trace its origins to Christiania Theatre, which was founded in 1829...
(the National Theatre), in roles such as "Marguerite" in Dumas
Alexandre Dumas, fils
Alexandre Dumas, fils was a French author and dramatist. He was the son of Alexandre Dumas, père, also a writer and playwright.-Biography:...
's The Lady of the Camellias
The Lady of the Camellias
The Lady of the Camellias is a novel by Alexandre Dumas, fils, first published in 1848, and subsequently adapted for the stage. The Lady of the Camellias premiered at the Théâtre du Vaudeville in Paris, France on February 2, 1852. The play was an instant success, and Giuseppe Verdi immediately set...
, and "Miss Julie" in Strindberg
August Strindberg
Johan August Strindberg was a Swedish playwright, novelist, poet, essayist and painter. A prolific writer who often drew directly on his personal experience, Strindberg's career spanned four decades, during which time he wrote over 60 plays and more than 30 works of fiction, autobiography,...
s play
Miss Julie
Miss Julie is a naturalistic play written in 1888 by August Strindberg dealing with class, love, lust, the battle of the sexes, and the interaction among them...
by that name. In 2006 she won the award "Aase Byes ærespris" for her effort in Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen was a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of prose drama" and is one of the founders of Modernism in the theatre...
-roles. She played her last part before retirement early in 2007. After retiring she started working on her autobiography.
She is also known for her work in movies, and had a role in the Oscar-nominated Ni liv in 1957. This film was in 2005 named the best movie in the history of Norwegian film
Cinema of Norway
Norway has had a notable cinema industry for some time. In the early 21st century a few Norwegian film directors have had the opportunity to go to Hollywood to direct various independent films.-1940s:*Tante Pose *Bastard *Tørres Snørtevold...
, by a jury of movie critics. After this she received offers from Hollywood
Cinema of the United States
The cinema of the United States, also known as Hollywood, has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. Its history is sometimes separated into four main periods: the silent film era, classical Hollywood cinema, New Hollywood, and the contemporary period...
, but decided to stay in Norway. While married to Bjerke, she took part in the adaptation of his novel De dødes tjern. Here she appeared in what was to become an iconic scene of Norwegian cinema, where she walks in a white, translucent dress along a tarn
Tarn
Tarn is a department of 5,758 km2 in the Midi-Pyrénées region in the southwest of France, named after the Tarn River. It was formed in 1790 of the three dioceses of Albi, Castres and Lavaur, belonging to the province of Languedoc. In 1906, the population was 330,533...
in the forest. More recently she had a brief part in Bent Hamer
Bent Hamer
Bent Hamer is a film director, writer and producer, born in Sandefjord, Norway in 1956.-Biography:Hamer studied film theory and literature at the University of Stockholm and the Stockholm Film School. In addition to his feature films, he has written and directed a number of short films and...
's critically acclaimed O' Horten
O' Horten
O' Horten is a 2007 Norwegian film directed by Bent Hamer. The film's title character Odd Horten is a habit-bound train driver, who is about to retire. On the day of his retirement he ends up in an unexpected situation, and is forced to reconsider his life. As in other films by Hamer, the themes...
.
On television she is known from the science-fiction series "Blindpassasjer" (1978), written by Tor Åge Bringsværd
Tor Åge Bringsværd
Tor Åge Bringsværd is an author, playwright, editor and translator. He is perhaps best known for his speculative fiction. Together with long-time partner Jon Bing, he is also considered as the first Norwegian author to write science fiction literature. Bringsværd regards himself as an anarchist,...
and Jon Bing
Jon Bing
Jon Bing is a Norwegian writer and law professor at the Norwegian Research Center for Computers and Law , and the Faculty of Law at the University of Oslo. Bing is considered to be a pioneer in international legal information...
. Before this she played the part of "Edvarda" in a 1973 TV-series based on Knut Hamsun
Knut Hamsun
Knut Hamsun was a Norwegian author, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920. He was praised by King Haakon VII of Norway as Norway's soul....
's novels Benoni and Rosa. Moan also worked with television drama for several years.
Select filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Ni liv | Agnes |
| 1958 | De dødes tjern Lake of the Dead Lake of the Dead is a 1958 Norwegian horror film directed by Kåre Bergstrøm. The film stars Henki Kolstad, Henny Moan and Georg Richter.-Plot:The film takes place 20–23 August 1958... |
Liljan Werner |
| 1962 | Cold Tracks Cold Tracks Cold Tracks is a 1962 Norwegian drama film directed by Arne Skouen. The film was selected as the Norwegian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 35th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.-Cast:* Toralv Maurstad as Oddmund... |
|
| 1995 | Kristin Lavransdatter Kristin Lavransdatter (film) Kristin Lavransdatter is a 1995 Norwegian film directed by Liv Ullman, featuring Elisabeth Matheson, Bjørn Skagestad, Jørgen Langhelle, Lena Endre and Sverre Anker Ousdal, based on Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset. It was the Norwegian entry to the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film... |
Ragnfrid |
| 1997 | Barbara | Magdalene |
| 1998 | Thranes metode | Thrane's mother |
| 2007 | O' Horten O' Horten O' Horten is a 2007 Norwegian film directed by Bent Hamer. The film's title character Odd Horten is a habit-bound train driver, who is about to retire. On the day of his retirement he ends up in an unexpected situation, and is forced to reconsider his life. As in other films by Hamer, the themes... |
Svea |