Oda Laurenze Helmine Nielsen née Larsen (1851â€"1936) was a highly
acclaimed Danish actress who performed both in private theatres in
Copenhagen and at the Royal Danish Theatre. Inspired by French
actresses, she played the roles of attractive young women, for example
in the title roles of Frøken Nitouche and Victorien Sardou's Dora.
She later took on roles where she sang, imitating the French singer
Yvette Guilbert. This increased her popularity not only in Scandinavia
but also in the United States where she performed for Danish
audiences. One of her favourite roles in later life was Grevinde
Danner (Countess Danner) in Sven Leopold's Hos Grevinden.Born on 7
August 1851 in LiepÄ ja, Latvia, Oda Laurenze Helmine Larsen was the
daughter of the ship owner Jens Larsen (1820â€"85) and Caresia Møller
(1822â€"74). In 1871, she married the telegraphy executive Jens
Petersen (1843â€"80) and in 1884, the actor Martinius Nielsen
(1859-1928).Nielsen's début was in May 1870 at the Casino Theatre,
Copenhagen, when she acted anomynously in Erik Bogh's Vaudeville play
Et enfoldigt Pigebarn. Despite her lack of any previous stage
experience, she proved a great success, thanks to her natural grace
and her good singing voice. After a few more roles at the Casino, in
1871 she married an executive from the Store Nordiske Telegrafselskab
whom she accompanied to Paris where he was stationed until his death
in 1880. Now familiar with the theatrical repertoire in Paris, she
returned to the Casino in 1881, playing the title role in Victorien
Sardou's Dora, arousing comparisons with the French actress Sarah
Bernhardt.Such was her success that she was also invited to act at the
Royal Danish Theatre but she actually preferred appearing at the
Casino and later at the Dagmar Theatre. Here, in 1884, she was
enormously successful in the operetta Frøken Nitouche, appearing 500
times. That year she married the actor Martin Nielsen, joining him in
performances of plays by Adam Oehlenschläger, Ludvig Holberg and
Henrik Ibsen at the Royal Theatre over the next six years. Her husband
then took over the management of the Casino Theatre and merged it with
the Dagmar, benefiting from the support of his wife. Her popularity
continued to increase, especially when she imitated the French singer
Yvette Guilbert in works such as Sardou's Madame Sans-Gêne. In 1906,
she went to the United States on a singing tour, performing for Danish
audiences.
acclaimed Danish actress who performed both in private theatres in
Copenhagen and at the Royal Danish Theatre. Inspired by French
actresses, she played the roles of attractive young women, for example
in the title roles of Frøken Nitouche and Victorien Sardou's Dora.
She later took on roles where she sang, imitating the French singer
Yvette Guilbert. This increased her popularity not only in Scandinavia
but also in the United States where she performed for Danish
audiences. One of her favourite roles in later life was Grevinde
Danner (Countess Danner) in Sven Leopold's Hos Grevinden.Born on 7
August 1851 in LiepÄ ja, Latvia, Oda Laurenze Helmine Larsen was the
daughter of the ship owner Jens Larsen (1820â€"85) and Caresia Møller
(1822â€"74). In 1871, she married the telegraphy executive Jens
Petersen (1843â€"80) and in 1884, the actor Martinius Nielsen
(1859-1928).Nielsen's début was in May 1870 at the Casino Theatre,
Copenhagen, when she acted anomynously in Erik Bogh's Vaudeville play
Et enfoldigt Pigebarn. Despite her lack of any previous stage
experience, she proved a great success, thanks to her natural grace
and her good singing voice. After a few more roles at the Casino, in
1871 she married an executive from the Store Nordiske Telegrafselskab
whom she accompanied to Paris where he was stationed until his death
in 1880. Now familiar with the theatrical repertoire in Paris, she
returned to the Casino in 1881, playing the title role in Victorien
Sardou's Dora, arousing comparisons with the French actress Sarah
Bernhardt.Such was her success that she was also invited to act at the
Royal Danish Theatre but she actually preferred appearing at the
Casino and later at the Dagmar Theatre. Here, in 1884, she was
enormously successful in the operetta Frøken Nitouche, appearing 500
times. That year she married the actor Martin Nielsen, joining him in
performances of plays by Adam Oehlenschläger, Ludvig Holberg and
Henrik Ibsen at the Royal Theatre over the next six years. Her husband
then took over the management of the Casino Theatre and merged it with
the Dagmar, benefiting from the support of his wife. Her popularity
continued to increase, especially when she imitated the French singer
Yvette Guilbert in works such as Sardou's Madame Sans-Gêne. In 1906,
she went to the United States on a singing tour, performing for Danish
audiences.
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