Laura Sofie Coucheron Gundersen (née Svendsen) (27 May 1832 â€" 25
December 1898) was a Norwegian actress, counted as the first
native-born tragedienne, and also, in some aspect, as her country's
first professional native actress and prima donna. She was associated
with Christiania Theater from her debut in 1850 until her death,
except for the seasons 1870-72, when she played at Møllergatens
Theater. Laura Sofie Coucheron Svendsen was born in Bergen, Norway.
Her parents were Jacob Buchmann Svendsen (1792-1840) and Beate Marie
Coucheron (1799-1837). Both of her parents died while she was quite
young. She had firm ambition to be an actor from her early years. In
1849, at the age of seventeen, she borrowed money from a relative and
traveled to Christiania (now Oslo).In 1849, Norwegian actors were not
employed at the official theatres in Oslo; the greatest theater in the
1840s, the Christiania Theatre, was founded by Danes and the language
of the stage was Danish. Norwegian actors were treated to smaller
roles. The reason given was that the Norwegian actors lacked
education, as there were no acting schools in Norway. That year,
however, Laura Gundersen was employed as the first and only Norwegian
actor to play at the Christiania Theatre in Oslo, and became as such
historical. Dating from 1856, the Christiania Theatre committed to
employ more native actors.
December 1898) was a Norwegian actress, counted as the first
native-born tragedienne, and also, in some aspect, as her country's
first professional native actress and prima donna. She was associated
with Christiania Theater from her debut in 1850 until her death,
except for the seasons 1870-72, when she played at Møllergatens
Theater. Laura Sofie Coucheron Svendsen was born in Bergen, Norway.
Her parents were Jacob Buchmann Svendsen (1792-1840) and Beate Marie
Coucheron (1799-1837). Both of her parents died while she was quite
young. She had firm ambition to be an actor from her early years. In
1849, at the age of seventeen, she borrowed money from a relative and
traveled to Christiania (now Oslo).In 1849, Norwegian actors were not
employed at the official theatres in Oslo; the greatest theater in the
1840s, the Christiania Theatre, was founded by Danes and the language
of the stage was Danish. Norwegian actors were treated to smaller
roles. The reason given was that the Norwegian actors lacked
education, as there were no acting schools in Norway. That year,
however, Laura Gundersen was employed as the first and only Norwegian
actor to play at the Christiania Theatre in Oslo, and became as such
historical. Dating from 1856, the Christiania Theatre committed to
employ more native actors.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.