Asta Nielsen

Asta Sofie Amalie Nielsen 18811972 is considered one of the most influential figures in early film history Born on September 11 1881 in Copenhagen she grew up in modest circumstances Her father died when she was young and the family had to move frequently Despite these difficult circumstances Nielsen developed a strong affinity for the stage even as a young girl She took acting lessons and gained her first experience at small theaters before becoming a mother to a daughter in 1901 The decisive turning point in her career came in 1910 with the Danish film Afgrunden The Abyss Her passionate modern performance made her internationally famous overnight Unlike many of her contemporaries Nielsen did not act in an overly theatrical manner but relied on subtle facial expressions and psychologically rich body language This new style of acting made her one of the first major international stars of silent film Shortly thereafter she moved to Germany where she became one of the most soughtafter actresses between 1911 and the early 1920s Together with director Urban Gad to whom she was married for a time she starred in a series of successful films Nielsen often portrayed strong independent female characters who challenged social normsan approach that was both unusual and courageous at the time Among her bestknown works are Die arme Jenny 1912 Engelein 1914 and especially her extraordinary portrayal of Hamlet 1921 in which the title character is raised as a woman With the advent of sound film Nielsen increasingly withdrew from the cinema She was convinced that her expressiveness was better showcased in silent film and later focused on theater work art and writing In 1946 she published her memoirs The Silent Muse in which she reflected openly on her life and work Asta Nielsen remained a cultural icon into her old age She spent her final years living a secluded life in Denmark and died on May 25 1972 in Frederiksberg Her influence on the art of film is still felt today she is regarded as a pioneer of a modern natural acting style and as one of the first women to possess true star power in the international film industry