Lise Fjeldstad

Since 1974 Lise Fjeldstad has belonged to the upper level of The National Theatre of Norway's ensemble and she has represented the theatre at a number of official occasions and visiting performances abroad.

Lise Fjeldstad graduated from The National Academy of Theatre in 1963. The same year she became an employee of The Norwegian Theatre, where she is remembered as Desdemona in Othello (1966), Ragnhild in Fellow Man (1967) and Hedda in Hedda Gabler (1971).

From 1971 to 1974 she was employed at Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation's TV drama department, before returning to The Norwegian Theatre until she in 1975 started working for The National Theatre.

At this theatre she has played many great roles, including Martha in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1988) and Mrs. Alving in Ghosts (1993). She has guest-starred at The National Stage and taken part in several outdoors spectacles, including The Saint Olav Drama at Stiklestad.

As an instructor, Lise Fjeldstad made her debut in The National Theatre with Astrid Saalbach's The Dancing Lesson (1987). Since then she has directed a number of productions in Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio Drama Department, A Doll’s House by Ibsen for The National Academy of Theatre, Lady Inger for The Norwegian Touring Theatre and several productions at The National Theatre, among them Sverre Brandt’s Journey to the Christmas Star a total of five times (the first time in 1989).

Lise Fjeldstad has received several prizes, among them Skoleteatrets Pris 1969, Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio Drama Department’s award Den blå fugl (The Blue Bird, for her efforts as a director) in 1992 and The Per Aabel Honorary Award (Per Aabels ærespris) in 1992. She got the Swedish film award Guldbaggen as best leading actress for the movie Little Ida and Amanda as best leading actress for Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation's The Dance of Death (1991). She was named a Knight of the Order of St. Olav in 1993 and is a member of The Norwegian Academy for Language and Literature.

Lise Fjeldstad won The Hedda Award 2006 in the best supporting actress category for the role of the elderly woman in Jon Fosse's Sleep, staged by The National Theatre in 2005.

The Hedda Jury gave the following reason:

"This year's winner started her career at The Norwegian Theatre, but came to The National Theatre in 1975. In addition to being a very versatile actress, she is also a director. She gets the award for a moving, deeply human interpretation of a role in a very powerful production of a typical ensemble piece. In an ensemble piece no role carries the action alone. But there are times when one role becomes an anchor, not at the cost of the others, but because of that one actor's particular performance.

The award goes to Lise Fjeldstad for her portrait of the elder woman in Jon Fosse's Sleep."

SOURCES:

Lise Lyche. Store norske leksikon. 31.08.2010: http://www.snl.no/.nbl_biografi/Lise_Fjeldstad/utdypning

Sceneweb on The Hedda Award, 15.10.2012, http://www.sceneweb.no/en/awarding/23836/The_Hedda_Award_2006-2006

1960-1963, The National Academy of Theatre

• Anders Jahres kulturpris 2013 - Anders Jahres kulturpris
• Gammleng–prisen 2012 - Veteranprisen
• Oslo bys kulturpris 2008 - Oslo bys kulturpris
• The Hedda Award 2006 - Best supporting actress
• Aase Byes pris 2001 - Aase Byes pris
• Kritikerprisen 1992/93 - Teaterkritikerprisen
• The Per Aabel Honorary Award (Per Aabels ærespris) 1992 - The Per Aabel Honorary Award (Per Aabels ærespris) 1992

• The Hedda Award 2006 - Best supporting actress